A27038:211
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.
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.
3. Sometime the word [Power] is taken Ethically and less properly, for a Disposition, Inclination, Habit or Freedom from the contrary habit or disposition. And in this sense, its true, that none but the effectually called have a Power to Believe. But then observe, 1. That this is but a moral less proper, and not a Physical proper Impotency: And therefore Austin chooseth rather to say, ⟨p. 145⟩that all men have power to believe, but all have not a Will, or Faith it self; because we use to difference Power from willingness; and willingness actuateth the Power which we had before. And therefore our Divines choose rather to call Grace a Habit, when they speak exactly, then a Power; and Dr.Twiss derides the Arminians for talking of a Power subjected in a Power. 2. Note that this Impotency is but the same thing with your unwillingness and wilful blindness, in another word. 3. Note that this Impotency is long of our selves as to the Original, and much more as to the not-curing and removing of it. Hath God given you no means towards the cure of this disability, which you have neglected? 4. Note that this Impotency is no just excuse, but an Aggravation of your sin. If you