A26903:49
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 4: How the Case standeth with our Youth in matter of Fact.
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.
It's true, that Mirth is very desirable to nature: And God is not against it, but much more for it than sinners will believe: But it is a rational Mirth which beseemeth a rational Creature; and such as he can justify, and as will make him better, and tends to felicity, and everlasting mirth; and not the causeless mirth of mad men, that set their house on fire, and then laugh and sing over it, nor like the mirth of a drunken man, whose shame exposeth him to pity or derision, nor any such mirth as leadeth a man from God to sin, and keepeth ⟨p. 28⟩him from the way of man-like and everlasting joy, and prepareth for the greatest sorrows.
It's true, that Mirth is very desirable to nature: And God is not against it, but much more for it than sinners will believe: But it is a rational Mirth which beseemeth a rational Creature; and such as he can justifie, and as will make him better, and tends to felicity, and everlasting mirth; and not the causeless mirth of mad men, that set their house on fire, and then laugh and sing over it, nor like the mirth of a drunken man, whose shame exposeth him to pitty or derision, nor any such mirth as leadeth a man from God to sin, and keepeth ⟨p. 28⟩him from the way of man-like and everlasting joy, and prepareth for the greatest sorrows.
2. There are some so enslaved to their Appetites, that their Reason hath no power to rule them; but like brutes they must needs have what the Belly and Throat desire: And if they be the Children of the Rich, who have always full and pleasant food, constant flesh-pleasing, and true Gluttony, is taken for no sin; and like Swine, they do but live to eat, whereas they should but eat to live, and cheerfully serve God.
2. There are some so enslaved to their Appetites, that their Reason hath no power to rule them; but like bruits they must needs have what the Belly and Throat desire: And if they be the Children of the Rich, who have always full and pleasant food, constant flesh-pleasing, and true Gluttony, is taken for no sin; and like Swine, they do but live to eat, whereas they should but eat to live, and chearfully serve God.