A funeral-sermon for the reverend, holy and excellent divine, Mr. Richard Baxter who deceased…

Others are not so visibly disobedient as notorious Sinners, but are as really. You may see their Picture in the disobedient Son, mentioned by our Saviour in the Gospel,¹ who when his Father commanded him to go work in the Vineyard, answered, I go, Sir, and went not. 'Tis true, they perform the external part of some Duties, and abstain from the gross acts of some Sins, but 'tis with an exception and a reserve. A Duty that is contrary to their carnal Appetites and Interest, they will not perform; a Sin that bribes them with Profit or Pleasure, a temperamental Sin, they will not part with. Now any indulged habitual Lust is not the Spot of God's Children, but denominates the Sinner a Child of the Devil: for tho the Saints till they are devested of frail Flesh, have ⟨p. 63⟩their Allays, and cannot be exempt from the relics of Sin; yet the Divine Nature communicated to them, is opposite to every Sin, and is an active Principle to subdue Sin.

Others are not so visibly disobedient as notorious Sinners, but are as really. You may see their Picture in the disobedient Son, mentioned by our Saviour in the Gospel,¹ who when his Father commanded him to go work in the Vineyard, answered, I go, Sir, and went not. 'Tis true, they perform the external part of some Duties, and abstain from the gross acts of some Sins, but 'tis with an exception and a reserve. A Duty that is contrary to their carnal Appetites and Interest, they will not perform; a Sin that bribes them with Profit or Pleasure, a temperamental Sin, they will not part with. Now any indulged habitual Lust is not the Spot of God's Children, but denominates the Sinner a Child of the Devil: for tho the Saints till they are devested of frail Flesh, have ⟨p. 63⟩their Allays, and cannot be exempt from the relicks of Sin; yet the Divine Nature communicated to them, is opposite to every Sin, and is an active Principle to subdue Sin.

1. 1Matth. 21.28, 30