A26871:174
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.
But whatever you do with your own, if we should leave our obedience to God, to obey you, or any men, we know not what we should do with our own Consciences, nor how to quiet them. God hath brought us out of that Darkness and Lethargy which quieted them in sin heretofore: And we cannot now be ignorant of that duty to God, that self-interest, that danger to wilful sinners, and that evil of sin, which would begin Hell in us here: And are not your scorns and threatenings easier than this?
But whatever you do with your own, if we should leave our obedience to God, to obey you, or any men, we know not what we should do with our own Consciences, nor how to quiet them. God hath brought us out of that Darkness and Lethargy which quieted them in sin heretofore: And we cannot now be ignorant of that duty to God, that self-interest, that danger to wilful sinners, and that evil of sin, which would begin Hell in us here: And are not your scorns and threatnings easier than this?
22. Do not most men at death see the madness not only of enmity, but of neglect of a holy life, and wish that they might die the death of the righteous, and that their last end might be like his? Had you rather ⟨p. 84⟩die a Dives or a Herod, or a Lazarus or a Paul? Is it not a shame to your devilish cause and you, to see men live in one mind and die in another? And scorn, hate and persecute serious Godliness till the Sentence of death is past upon them, and then to wish they were such themselves. Or if you be more hardened to the last, you are the more hopeless: But how quickly did such another change his note, and cry, Father Abraham, send one to my five brethren to warn them, that they come not to this place of torment? If you mock at these words, you mock at Christ that spake them, and sure you look not to be saved by a derided Christ. And it's base Hypocrisy to deride him, and yet call your selves Christians, and go to Church as if you served him. Live as you would die and be judged, for you shall be judged as you live and die. Either hold to the mind that you will never change, or change it quickly before it be too late.