A26917:309
Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…
Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace with motives opening the lamentable effects of their weaknesses and distempers / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1669
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE CHARACTER OF 1 A Sound Confirmed Christian, 2 And of the Weak C… › The Characters.
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.
3. A seeming Christian hath no true Love of God and Holiness at all, but some uneffectual liking and wishes which are overborne by a greater backwardness, and by a greater love to earthly things; so that Fear alone, without any true effectual Love, is the spring and principle of his Religion and obedience, God hath not his heart, when he draweth near him with his lips: He doth more than he would do, if he were not forced by Necessity and Fear; and had rather be excused, and lead another kind of life. Mat. 15.8. Isa. 29.13. Though Necessity and fear are very helpful to the most sincere, yet Fear alone without Love or Willingness is a graceless state.
3. A seeming Christian hath no true Love of God and Holiness at all, but some uneffectual liking and wishes which are overborn by a greater backwardness, and by a greater love to earthly things; so that Fear alone, without any true effectual Love, is the spring and principle of his Religion and obedience, God hath not his heart, when he draweth near him with his lips: He doth more than he would do, if he were not forced by Necessity and Fear; and had rather be excused, and lead another kind of life. Mat. 15.8. Isa. 29.13. Though Necessity and fear are very helpfull to the most sincere, yet Fear alone without Love or Willingness is a graceless state.
VI. 1. A Christian indeed doth love God in these three gradations: He loveth him much for his mercy to himself, and for that Goodness which consisteth in benignity to himself; But he loveth ⟨p. 17⟩him more for his Mercy to the Church, and for that Goodness which consisteth in his Benignity to the Church. But he Loveth him most of all for his Infinite perfections and essential excellencies; His Infinite Power, and Wisdom and Goodness simply in himself considered. For he knoweth that Love to himself obligeth him to returns of Love: especially differencing saving grace. And he knoweth that the souls of millions are more worth incomparably then his own, and that God may be much more honoured by them than by him alone: And therefore he knoweth that the mercy to many is greater mercy, and a greater demonstration of the goodness of God; and therefore doth render him more amiable to man.