An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches by reconciling explication without much disputing. Written by Richard Baxter.

CHAP. XVIII. Of the necessity of Faith in Christ, where the Gospel is made known.

§. 1. INfidels take scandal from Christ's making Faith in himself to be so necessary to our Salvation, as if it tended only to his Honour, and were in its own Nature of no necessity to our hap∣piness, but arbitrarily made so.

§. 2. And their reason also against this neces∣sity, is, because believing is an act of the Intellect; and Intellection is not free, and in its self is no mo∣ral Act. A man cannot know or believe what he would, no, though he most earnestly desired it: And will God condemn men for that which they fain would do, and cannot? Especially when mens intellectual Capacities do so greatly differ, that some seem to differ but little from the Brutes.

§. 3. This Scandal ariseth from their not well understanding the Nature and Reasons of our Faith in Christ. 1. They falsely suppose it to be only an Act of the Intellect (where many Divines have given them the Scandal.) 2. They falsely sup∣pose, That the Intellect herein is necessitated to un∣belief. 3. And they consider not the Ends and Uses of our Faith.

§. 4. 1. The true nature of our Faith, is our Trusting in Christ, as our Saviour, who hath reconciled us to God, by his Sacrifice and Merit, that he may bring us to God, by Iustification, Adoption, Sanctifica∣tion, and Glory. It containeth Assent, Consent,

and Affiance, though through penury of Words, we are fain to call it by some one of these names oft-times, as the occasion requireth: But indeed the very sence of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, fides, and Trust, includeth all. And when the Act of the Intellect only is named, it is as including, or informing both the other.

§. 5. 2. Though the Intellect be not free of it self, it is free by participation, being quoad exer∣citum, under the Empire of the Will that is free. And the Will by commanding it to act, search, think, of the Evidences of Verity, may do so much towards the specifying of the Act, as that the meer weakness of Understanding without the fault of a vicious Will, shall keep no man in damnable Un∣belief.

§. 6. For Christ hath many ways provided a∣gainst meer Weakness of our Understanding: 1. By the fewness and plainness of necessary Articles of Faith: 2. By the fulness of Evidence of Credibili∣ty: 3. By great Means and Helps for our Faith, which he appointeth: 4. And by the powerful Helps of his Spirit, which is ready to illuminate us by these means.

§. 7. No man was ever yet known, that could say [I have done my best to have obtained Faith, and did not obtain it.] Though many can say, I earnestly desired to believe, and could not: Because those may desire it, that yet use not the means a∣right and faithfully, and that indulge their own Prejudices, or carnal Lusts, which hinder it.

§. 8. 3: In the saving of Sinners, there is consi∣derable: 1. The great Benefits already given in the Purchase, Merits and Covenant: 2. The grea∣ter Benefits offered, and to be received hereafter:

3. The Means to be used on our part for obtaining them. 4. The danger and loss, if we miss of them. 5. The ultimate End of him that giveth them.

§. 9. And, 1. will not any reasonable Infidel confess, That Thankfulness is naturally due for great and inestimable Benefits? And how can a man be thankful for that which he believeth not was ever done for him, or given him? Or can he be thankful to he knoweth not whom?

§. 10. 2. Do not great Benefits freely offered, require Acceptance? And how can a man accept of that which he believeth not was ever purchased, procured, or offered him? Will you accept a sha∣dow?

§. 11. 3. Christ never meant to carry Slug∣gards asleep to Heaven, but to save them in the use of his appointed means. 1. They must learn and obey his Doctrine; and can they obey it that believe it not? 2. They must take Heaven procured by a Redeemer for their Hope and Portion, and love, de∣sire, and seek it above all: And who will do this, that believeth it not, and the Word that promiseth it? 3. They must take Christ for their Guide, and Mediator, and Intercessor, to bring them thither; and they must forsake all here that stands in com∣petition, that they may obtain it: And can you do this, and not believe and trust him that must save you? Will you venture your life in the Hands of a Physician, and take his Medicines, if you be∣lieve not that he hath Skill and Will to cure you? Will you leave your Country, and follow one o∣ver Seas, that promiseth you a Kingdom, if you trust him not?

§. 12. 4. And who will avoid Sin, Temptati∣ons, and Hell, that believeth not him that tells them of the evil, and of the danger that is before him?

§. 13. 5. And God can have no lower End ulti∣mately than Himself, and the Glory of our Redee∣mer is more excellent than mine or yours. And therefore if We have the Salvation, it is meet and necessary that God and our Redeemer have the Love and Thanks, the Praise and Glory of it.

§. 14. Yet hath not God arbitrarily made Faith more necessary than it is in the true Reason and Aptitude of it to its Ends. He hath not made to all a Faith so necessary of Christ, and his Interces∣sion; and therefore though Infants and Ideots can∣not actually believe, they may be saved by Christ: And though those before Christ believed not all that we must now believe, nor the Gentiles before, so much as the Iews, yet neither of them were thereby excluded from Salvation.

§. 15. Quest. Hath not Christ made the Case of Christians harder than it was before his Incarnation, to Believers, by making so many more Articles of our Faith, and those of necessity to our Salvation?

Ans. No, no more than it is our Misery to accept of more Mercies and Benefits than were offered to others. Our Belief is not of numerous unnecessary difficulties, but it is of such things as we must receive, and be Partakers of; it is the means of our use and fruition: Who would take it for a Misery to be∣lieve that the King will give him a Lordship, or that a rich Man will give him so much Money, if he will come and thankfully accept it? Every act of belief is but a means to some Benefit to be re∣ceived.

§. 16. As Christ is the way to the Father, and the Mediator is to bring us unto God, so Faith in Christ is the Mediate, or healing Grace to help us to Holiness, or the Love of God, which being its End, is as much more noble than Faith in Christ: And Faith kindling Love to God, and Goodness, and Men; and Love kindled by Faith, is the Sum of the Christian Religion. And it is no Disparage∣ment to Christ and Faith in him, to be taken for a Means; or to trust him, as one that will save to the uttermost all that come to God by him.