The Protestant religion truely stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter ; prepared for the press some time before his death ; whereunto is added, by way of preface, some account of the learned author, by Mr. Danel Williams and Mr. Matthew Sylvester.

The Seventeenth accused Point.

That the actions and passions of the Saints do serve for nothing to the Church.

Ans. Most impudent calumny and false∣hood. 1. We hold that the Prayers of all the Saints on Earth, are of great im∣portance for the Churches welfare.

2. And that their Doctrine, Counsel, and Reproof is so too, they being the Lights of the World, and the Salt of the Earth.

3. And that their Example is of grea•• benefit to the Church and World, whi•••• their Light so shineth before men, that the•• may see their good works, and glorifie the•••• Father which is in Heaven.

4. And their Charitable Works of them∣selves, sure are beneficial to the Church: And so is their Defence of the Truth.

5. And their Sufferings Glorifie Gods Power, and his promises of reward; and they encourage others to Victorious Constancy. Do all these serve for no∣thing to the Church?

6. Yea, we are so far from holding what he feigneth, that it is not the least cause of our hatred of Popery, that it liveth by the Defamations, Slander, Per∣secution, and cruel Murder of Saints.

7. Yea, as Abels Blood cryed against Cain, so the Blood of Martyrs, and dead Saints, cryeth for Vengeance against the Persecutors of the Church.

8. And seeing Christ saith, that the Chil∣dren of the Resurrection are like or equal to the Angels, we have reason to believe that even now they are perfected Spirits, Heb. 12.24. And knowing that Angels are very serviceable and beneficial to the Church on Earth, we know not how far the Spirits of the just are so too.

But we have a sufficient Mediator and Advocate with the Father, whose Sacrifice, Merits, and Advocation are perfect, and need no supplement: And the Spirits of the just do praise him as saved by his Me∣rits,

and never boast that they have of their own a Redundancy to save others. But we all with thankfulness confess, that God useth to bless the Houses of the Faith∣ful; the Children for the Parents sake, and hath exprest this in the Decalogue, and by many Promises: Yea, that he would have spared Sodom, had there been but Ten Righteous persons there: And a Po∣tiphars House, and a Prison may be blest in part for Josephs sake. And when Pa∣rents are Dead, this blessing may be on their Children, through many Generati∣ons. And God remembred Abraham, when his Posterity provoked him. David had a special promise for his Seed. None of this is denyed by us.

But, 1. There is no Merit in any mans Works, but their Rewardableness by Gods free Grace and promise, for the sake of Christs meritorious Righteousness, Sacrifice, and Intercession, their Imperfection being pardoned through him, and their Holiness amiable to God.

2. No man shall be saved for anothers Merit, or Holiness, or Works, that is not truly Regenerate and Holy himself.