Aphorisms of Justification, Title page 1 – Dedication
APHORISMES OF JUSTIFICATION, With their Explication annexed. Wherein also is opened the nature of the Covenants, Satisfaction, Righteousnesse, Faith, Works, &c. Published especially for the use of the Church of Kederminster in Worcestershire. By their unworthy Teacher, RI. BAXTER.
Hebr. 9. 15. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by meanes of death for the Redemption of the transgressions under the first Testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternall inheritance.
HAGUE, Printed by Abraham Brown, Anno 1655.
To the Learned, zealous, Faithfull Ministers of Jesus Christ, Mr. Richard Vines, Master of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge, and Mr. Anthony Burges, Pastor of Sutton-Cold-field in Warwickshire, Members of the Reverend Assembly of Divines, my very much valued Friends and Brethren in the work and Patience of the Gospel.
Most Dear Brethren,
I Never well understood their meaning, who crave Patronage to their Writings from the meere great ones of the times. If they need or desire a borrowed honour, methinks they quite mistake their way, and go for water to the top of Teneriffe, which they should seek in the valleys or stillflowing Springs. To give them our Writings to instruct them, is agreeable to our Office and duty: but to submit them to their censures, or crave the protection of their Greatnesses, and prefix their names as the Signatures of Worth, as if Truth did ever the more dwell within, where this gilded sign is hang'd without: this seemeth to me, to be as needlesse, as absur'd. The self-idolizing sin of Pride is so naturall to all men, especially when furthered by dignities and wordly pomp, that they are apt enough without a tempter, to take themselves for the summum genus in every Predicament as well as their owne. A little help wil mount them above their Teachers, and a little more above Ordinances; but the top of the ambition is to be above God; that on them as the Alpha all may depend, and to them as the Omega all may ascribe. I think it a more needfull work (not for our honour, but their own safety) to make them understand, that Princes and Parliaments are Schollers in that Schoole where Christ is the Master, and we his Ushers: and that (at least) in respect of our Nuncupative, Declarative power, we are their Rulers in spirituals, whom they are bound to obey, Heb. 13. 7. 17. and that all Ministers are Bishops or Overseers in the language of the holy Ghost, Act. 20. 28. Phil. 1. 1. &c. and not the servants or pleasers of men, Gal. 11. 10.
They leave us the bare name of their Teachers, so that we will teach them nothing but what they have taught us first, and leave out the hard sayings, which they cannot beare. For my part, though I have found as much respect from such as most, yet have I known very few of the most Religious great ones, but if I would deal but half as plainly as my commission and patterns doe require, I should quickly turne their respect into indignation. If the old round dealing Prophets and Apostles were among us, I doubt some pious Gentlemen would take them for sawcy, proud, pragmatical fellowes; and would think their tongues (though not their revenues) did need a reformation. All this is no blemish to Magistracie, the Ordinance of God, but to humane nature, that for the most part can as ill beare a high estate, as a mans brains can endure to stand on the pinacle of a steeple. Nor is this to blame any due honor to such, but to excuse my selfe, that I employ not my breath to fill any empty bladder. For you who are low, and full, I suppose the acknowledgement of your worth is lesse dangerous. As I am more beholden to Reason and Religion, then to Greatnesse, so doe I feel them command my esteem and affections most powerfully. Your names therefore have I chosen to prefix to this paper. 1. As acknowledging you indeed fit censors of my Doctrine; having alwayes valued the judgement of Aristotle in Philosophy before Alexanders; and thinking your approbation more considerable then all the Lords or Commanders in the Land. If you approve, I shall be the more confirmed (and so will my people for whom I write it, who know and honour you.) If you disallow, (for I cannot conceit that there is nothing to be disallowed) I shall suspect, and search againe.
2. I desire also hereby to acquaint the world with the reverend esteem I have of you, and to shew the contemners of the ministry some examples for their confutation: That they who think that England hath not as learned, holy, experimentall, judicious, humble, heart-piercing Preachers, as any other Nation whatsoever, may look upon you and confesse their errour: That for all the dissentions that have so wasted both Church and State, it may appeare in you, wee had some that were lovers of peace; and if all had been so minded, our wounds had bin heal'd. That our ignorant yonglings that rush upon the Ministry (who may see themselves in that glasse, 1. Tim. 3. 6. may consider their distance from such as you, and be humbled. That those who wonder at the spreading of errors in our people, may see in you, we had some that taught them better; And Alexander did unjustly hang Ephestions Physitian because hee dyed. And that our Authors or defenders of Ieroboams worship, whose fingers itch to be doing with the Prophets that gain say them, may see what manner of men they have to deale with, whose worth is sufficient to disgrace the proudest persecutors, and make their names hatefull to all generations: To whom I commend Sir Walter Rawleighs true observation (Hist. of the world par. 1. l. 4. c. 3. …. 6.) [If Antipater upon his conquest had carried all other actions never so mildly, yet for killing Demosthenes, all that read his eloquent Orations, doe condemn him for a bloody Tyrant to this day: Such grace and reputation doe the learned Arts finde in all civill Nations, that the evill done to a man famous in one of them, is able to blemish any action how good soever otherwise it be, or honorably carryed. To such ends as these have I here prefixed your names; and not to interesse you in the dishonour of the imperfections of this slender Tractate.
Farewell, Reverend Brethren, and go on to be exemplary in all spirituall excellencies: And that the Lord of the Harvest would send forth more such, and lengthen and succeed your labours to his Church, is the hearty prayer of.
Your unworthy fellow-servant, RI. BAXTER. Apr. 7. 1649.