A treatise of justifying righteousness in two books ... : all published instead of a fuller answer to the assaults in Dr. Tullies Justificatio Paulina ... / by Richard Baxter.

Aphorism.

Ib. THe very nature of * 1.1 Affliction, is to be a loving Punishment, &c.

Animadvers.

1. This is not consistent with your other words even now cited, wherein you make Afflictions of Love and Punishments con∣tradistinct one to the other.

2. Neither is it true in it self. For are no afflictions incident to the Reprobates? or are they loving Punishments, and san∣ctified to them?

Reply.

1. You should have said, It is not consistent with the words and Doctrine which I oppose; and that's no wonder.

2. I confest before, that here I put the word [Afflictions] instead of [Chastisements;] which I will not excuse, though custom may easily make it intelligible: For that Language is not singular. If therefore you mean it of Afflictions in general, I doubt not but they are more incident to the Repro∣bates than any; or else they should not be damned. If you mean it of [Chastisements,] I answer, 1. As God in a larger sence may be called the Father of all those to whom he sheweth mercy, provideth for them, beareth with them, offereth them Christ,

and Grace, giveth them in his Covenant of Grace a conditional Adoption; and so far he may be cal∣led the Father of Mankind, or of Reprobates (as many Divines on the Preface of the Lord's Prayer:) And so far he may be said to love them, and to chastise them. But not in that strict sence, as he is the Father of Believers, and loveth and chastiseth them.

2. So far as God doth good to Reprobates, he loveth them. But he doth them good, he giveth them mercy. Else they never sin against mercy, which who dare say? therefore they may partake of loving punishments; no doubt punishments may do them good.

3. Yet will I not say, that these are sanctified to them. As if there were no good below that of San∣ctification: But if you will needs extend the word [sanctified] to all good, I contend not. But till God lay by his Philanthropy, I will not say, he loves not all men, at least, in this life.

4. And if you had put the case of [Ʋnbelievers,] and not only of [Reprobates] it might easily have appeared, that they are loving punishments to many Ʋnbelievers; viz. to the Elect before Conversion (as Paul's striking down by the way, and Manasseh's chains were, &c.) for they are means of their Con∣version; and in some sence may be said to be san∣ctified to them, and in another not. And yet God is not then strictly their Father (for they are not adopted till they receive Christ by Faith, John 1. 10, 11.) and therefore they are not so fatherly Cha∣stisements. Where also you see, that it is not Christ's mere bearing the Curse for men, that makes it no Curse, or evil to them: For it is evil

and a Curse to many of the Elect, before Conver∣sion, for whom yet Christ died.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chastise∣ment.