A26903:13
Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity,…
Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity, physic, and law, III. the sons of magistrates and rich men / by Richard Baxter.Compassionate counsel to all young men especially I. London apprentices, II. students of divinity, physick, and law, III. the sons of magistrates and rich men / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by T.S., 1681
Chapter 2: To begin betimes to live to God, is of unspeakable importance▪ to your selves.
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.
CHAP. II. To begin betimes to live to God, is of unspeakable importance▪ to your selves.
FOR, 1. You were betimes solemnly Dedicated to God, as your God, your Father, your Saviour▪ and your Sanctifier, by your Baptismal Vow. And as that was a great Mercy, it obliged you to great Duty: You were capable in Infancy of that holy Dedication and Relation; and your Parents were presently obliged as to Dedicate you to God, so to Educate you for God: And as soon as you are capable of performance, the Vow is upon your selves to do it. If your Childhood is not presently obliged to Holiness, according to your natural capacity, no doubt your Vow and Baptism should have been also delayed. Little think many that talk against Anabaptists, how they condemn themselves by the Sacred Name of Christians, while they by perfidious Sacrilege deny God that which they Vowed to him.
FOR, 1. You were betimes solemnly Dedicated to God, as your God, your Father, your Saviour▪ and your Sanctifier, by your Baptismal Vow. And as that was a great Mercy, it obliged you to great Duty: You were capable in Infancy of that holy Dedication and Relation; and your Parents were presently obliged as to Dedicate you to God, so to Educate you for God: And as soon as you are capable of performance, the Vow is upon your selves to do it. If your Childhood is not presently obliged to Holiness, according to your natural capacity, no doubt your Vow and Baptism should have been also delayed. Little think many that talk against Anabaptists, how they condemn themselves by the Sacred Name of Christians, while they by perfidious Sacriledge deny God that which they Vowed to him.
2. All your time and life is given you by God, for one End and Use; and all is little enough; and will you alienate the very