A26871:162
Cain and Abel malignity that is, enmity to serious godliness, that is, to an…
Cain and Abel malignity that is, enmity to serious godliness, that is, to an holy and heavenly state of heart and life : lamented, described, detected, and unanswerably [sic] proved to be the devilish nature, and the militia of the devil against God and Christ and the church and kingdoms, and the surest sign of a state of damnation / by Richard Baxter, or, Gildas Salvianus ...Cain and Abel malignity that is, enmity to serious godliness, that is, to an holy and heavenly state of heart and life : lamented, described, detected, and unananswerably [sic] proved to be the devilish nature, and the militia of the devil against God and Christ and the church and kingdoms, and the surest sign of a state of damnation / by Richard Baxter, or, Gildas Salvianus ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1689
Chapter 3: Undeniable Reasons against Malignant Enmity to serious Godliness.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
15. Or is it possible to believe Gods Judgment, and Hells Punishment, and yet to hate those that do their best according to Gods own Counsel to escape it?
16. What monstrous cruelty is it in you to wish poor Souls to do that which God hath told us they shall be damned for? God saith, Without holiness none shall see God, Heb. 12. 14. Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 5. 20. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God, Mat. 5. If ye live after the Flesh ye shall die, but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the Body, ye shall live, Rom. 8. 7, 8. 13. What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy ⟨p. 77⟩Conversation and Godliness? 2 Pet. 3. 11. We receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us serve God acceptably, with Reverence and Godly fear, for our God is a Consuming Fire, Heb. 12. 28, 29. Be steadfast, unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your Labour is not in vain in the Lord, 1 Cor. 15. 58. This is the very tenor of the Gospel: And would you wish men to damn their Souls for nothing? To lose Heaven, and suffer Hell for ever, and all to avoid a pure and holy life? What a bloody motion is this? Worse than if you entreated us all to cut our own throats. Let us try first whether you will do far less at our request? Will you give the poor all your Lands and Estates? Will you run into Fire or Water, or set your own houses on fire when any will but desire it? It's like you have heard of the Woman who being tempted to adultery, desired the tempter first to hold his Finger in the Fire for her; Which when he refused, she told him, it was less reason she should burn in Hell to Satisfy his lust. If you will not part with your Life or Estate when another desires you, why should we part with Heaven for ever, and choose Hell at your desire?