A26903:83
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 6: The joyful State and Blessing of good Children, to themselves and others.
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.
§ 2. I. As to themselves: How blessed a state is it to be quickly delivered from the danger of damnation, and Gods displeasure, that they need not lie down and rise in fear, lest they be in Hell whenever Death removeth them from the Body? Can one too soon be out of so dreadful a state? Can one that is in a house on fire, or fallen into the Sea, make too much haste to be delivered? If a man deep in debt be ⟨p. 56⟩restless till it be paid, and glad when it is discharged; If a man in danger of sickness or a condemning Sentence of the Judge, be glad when the fear of Death is over; How glad should you be to be safe from the great danger of Damnation? And till you are sanctified by Grace, you are far from safety.
§ 2. I. As to themselves: How blessed a state is it to be quickly delivered from the danger of damnation, and Gods displeasure, that they need not lie down and rise in fear, lest they be in Hell whenever Death removeth them from the Body? Can one too soon be out of so dreadful a state? Can one that is in a house on fire, or falln into the Sea, make too much haste to be delivered? If a man deep in debt be ⟨p. 56⟩restless till it be paid, and glad when it is discharged; If a man in danger of sickness or a condemning Sentence of the Judge, be glad when the fear of Death is over; How glad should you be to be safe from the great danger of Damnation? And till you are sanctified by Grace, you are far from safety.
§ 3. And if a mans Sickness, Pain, or Distraction be a Calamity, the cure of which brings ease and joy; How much more ease and joy may it bring, to be cured from all the grievous Maladies of reigning sin? Sanctification will cure your minds of spiritual blindness and madness, that is, of damnable Ignorance, Unbelief, and Error: It will cure your affections of idolatrous, distracting, carnal Love; of the itch of fleshly Desires or Lusts; of the fever of revengeful passions, and malignant hatred to goodness and good men; and of self vexing envy and malice against others; of the greedy worm of Covetousness, and the drunken desire of ambitious and imperious minds: It will cure your Wills of their fleshly servitude and bias, and of that mortal Backwardness to God and holy things, and that sluggish dullness and loathness to choose and do what you are convinced must be done: It will make