A27038:210
A sermon of judgement preached at Pauls before the Honourable Lord Major and aldermen…A sermon of iudgement preached at Pauls before the Honourable Lord Maior and aldermen…
A sermon of judgement preached at Pauls before the Honourable Lord Major and aldermen of the city of London, Dec. 17, 1654 and now enlarged / Rich. Baxter.A sermon of iudgement preached at Pauls before the Honourable Lord Maior and aldermen of the city of London, Dec. 17, 1654 and now enlarged / Rich. Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1655
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A SERMON Of Judgement, Preached at Pauls before the Honourable Lord… › Part 9
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The two and twentieth Excuse. But I have not Power of myself to do any thing that is good: What can the creature do? without Christ we can do nothing. It is God that must give me Ability, or I can have none: and if he had given it me, I had not been an Unbeliever or Impenitent. I can no more Believe of my self, than I can fulfil the Law of my self.
The two and twentieth Excuse. But I have not Power of myself to do any thing that is good: What can the creature do? without Christ we can do nothing. It is God that must give me Ability, or I can have none: and if he had given it me, I had not been an Ʋnbeliever or Impenitent. I can no more Believe of my self, than I can fulfill the Law of my self.
Answ. 1. These are the vain Cavils of learned folly, which God will easily answer in a word. The word [Power] is taken in several senses. Sometime, and most commonly and fitly, for a faculty or strength by which a man Can do his duty if he Will. This Physical Power you have, and the worst of sinners have while they are men on earth. Were they Actually willing, they might Acceptably perform sincere obedience; And were they Dispositively ⟨p. 144⟩willing, they might Actually Believe and will. And thus the ungodly have Power to Believe.
2. Sometime the word [Power] is taken for Authority, or Leave; for legal or civil Power. And thus you have all not only Power or Liberty to Believe; but also a Command, which makes it your Duty, and a Threatening adjoined, which will condemn you if you do not.
2. Sometime the word [Power] is taken for Authority, or Leave; for legal or civil Power. And thus you have all not only Power or Liberty to Believe; but also a Command, which makes it your Duty, and a Threatning adjoyned, which will condemn you if you do not.