C H A P. i6. Mr. Baxter's further oppafation to imput. examined. not to his Notions. But why ? There:: ( faith he) a Medium negative in 4 perfon, ar not obliged , but none between pofitive Lm privative , in one obliged at fuch. Alone is neither ruß , nor privatively unjuß, nor a man, about a thing- never commanded or for bidden hirn. But what is this to the matter ? God's Lary is prefuppofed : we talky nothing, but Moral Ads. The Law furbiddeth omit frons and Commijj?ons; bothare fin. Anf. Though there bend medium be- twixt pofitive and privative , in a perfon obliged , as to particular ads com- manded , or forbidden ; yet there is a Medium , in fuch a perfon , in refe- rence to the Reatur peeme, & rneritum pr,emii. _In reference to every moral aa, Adam was either juft, or unjuft , i. e. either one ; that obeyed , or one that rransgrefled ; but in reference to the punishment threatned & to the Reward promifed, before he fell , he was neither unjuß , that is one that was a Tranfgreffour , & reurculpce pcena; nor was he juß, that is, one that had purchafed the Reward ;. but was in his way thereunto & himfelf faith little lefs (as I judge) in his premonit p. 19. Paying [ 3. But that Law giving life eternal only to obedience to the end of his time of trial, he merited, not that life by Initial obedience. This was Initial Imperfeft l&ighteou fnefs, wan- ting perfeverance; but not a Medium between juft & unjufi , except as tuft fi- gnifieth the meriteof life by perfevering P..jghteoufnefs to the lafß. And fo,.. I ne- ver denied, but in a dsfobl:ged. Subjeíi, there is a Medium: Adam was not bound to do a yeers work the Mil hour ; Sc fo was neither juft , nor privati- vely unjuß, as to the future yeers work; but as to what he was prefently obli- ged unto , he was either Righteous , or a fanner. ] Here upon the matter, is al moftall I defame , or fay. When a, command is given to a perfon , to run fo. many milesin an hour , & a Reward is promifed in cafe he do it, & a pu nishment threatned , in cafe he do it not; while he is running., as to his pre - fent a6ting, he is not difobedient but obedient ;. & fo, info far is juß, &' not unjuß; yet in reference to the Reward he cannot be called juft, untilh he hath finished the courte , in the rime appointed. So Adam, while (lan- ding, though he finned not, yet he had not merited the Reward. Mr. Baxter replieth i. He merited what R.etigard he had , vii, the Continuance of his bleßìngr. ftrft freely givem Anf. That was not all the Reward , which was promifed ,. whereof we are fpeaking; for Adam was not yet in.Patria :. & howbeit him- Pelf was riot clear, as to this, when he wrote his Aphorifine:; yet afterward,, in hisßook againft Mr. Cartwright , pag -, 19. he tels us,. he became convin- ced hereof. z. He raiferh duff to darken the aíre by laying. That it is yet un refolved, what that was , by which Adam muß merite Immutability & Glory whether I. Once obeying or Con feat to his. full Covenant. z. Or once loving God. 3. Or conquering once. 4. Or eating of the tree of life. 5. Qr perfevering in perfeff obedience to the end, that is, ti//God shouldtranfi ato him.' tit this duff falleth. to the ground when he addeth. That this lafl is moß likely.. And indeed it were much ofaliis concernment , to prove , if he could , that all that was re- quired ofAdam , by vertue of that Covenant , was only one Tingle ati of obedience : for then his Notions about full & unjuß , as to Adam , would. have fotne ground but till this be done, all he bath fait is to no pur -- pole. 1v. e 3= i Re
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