A26903:156
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
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.
VIII. Make it the chief Study of your ⟨p. 103⟩Lives to understand what mans everlasting hope is, and to get a lively well settled belief of it; and to bring your souls to take it joyfully for your true felicity and end, and thence daily to fetch the powerful motives of your duty and your patience, and your contenting comfort in Life and at your Death.
VIII. Make it the cheif Study of your ⟨p. 103⟩Lives to understand what mans everlasting hope is, and to get a lively well setled belief of it; and to bring your souls to take it joyfully for your true felicity and end, and thence daily to fetch the powerful motives of your duty and your patience, and your contenting comfort in Life and at your Death.
The end is the Life of all the means. If heavenly blessedness be not the chief end that you live, hope and labour for in the World, your whole lives will be but carnal, vain and the way to misery: for the means can be no better than the End. God that is the beginning is our End; We are made and governed by Him and for Him. Heavenly Glory is the sight of his Glory, and the Everlasting perfection and pleasure of joyful mutual Love.
But we are not the noblest Creatures next to God in excellency and desert, yea we are sinners who have deserved to be cast out from his Love. And therefore as in the way we must come to him by a Saviour, so at the blessed end we must enjoy him by a Mediator, and to see Gods Glory in Christ and the Heavenly Jerusalem, the blessed society of Saints and Angels, continually flaming in Love, Joy and Praises to the most holy God. This, this is the felicity for which we labour, suffer and hope.