A26896:174
The Christians converse with God, or, The insufficiency and uncertainty of human friendship and…
The Christians converse with God, or, The insufficiency and uncertainty of human friendship and the improvement of solitude in converse with God with some of the author's breathings after him / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for John Salusbury, 1693
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.
Object. O but Solitude is disconsolate to a sociable Mind.
Answ. But the most desirable Society is no Solitude: Saith Hierom, [Infinita cremi vas•itas te terret? sed tu Paradisum mente de ambula: Quotiescunque cogitation ac meant illuc conscenderi•, toties in eremo non e•is] that is [Doth the infinite vastness of the wilderness terrify thee? But do thou (ascend) in mind and walk in Paradise: As oft as thou ascendest thither in thought and mind, so oft thou shalt not be in the wilderness.] If God be nothing to thee, thou art not a Christian but an Atheist. If God be God to thee, he is All in all to thee; and then should not his presence be instead of all? O that I might get one step nearer unto God, though I receded many from all the world! O that I could find that place on Earth where a Soul may have nearest access unto him, and fullest knowledge and enjoyment of him, though I never more saw the face of Friends! I should cheerfully say with my blessed Saviour [I am not alone, for the Father is with me.] And I should say so for these Reasons following.
Answ. But the most desirable Society is no Solitude: Saith Hierom, [Infinita cremi vas•itas te terret? sed tu Paradisum mente de ambula: Quotiescunque cogitatione ac mente illuc conscenderi•, toties in eremo non e•is] that is [Doth the infinite vastness of the wilderness terrifie thee? But do thou (ascend) in mind and walk in Paradise: As oft as thou ascendest thither in thought and mind, so oft thou shalt not be in the wilderness.] If God be nothing to thee, thou art not a Christian but an Atheist. If God be God to thee, he is All in all to thee; and then should not his presence be instead of all? O that I might get one step nearer unto God, though I receded many from all the world! O that I could find that place on Earth where a Soul may have nearest access unto him, and fullest knowledge and enjoyment of him, though I never more saw the face of Friends! I should chearfully say with my blessed Saviour [I am not alone, for the Father is with me.] And I should say so for these Reasons following.