A26917:84
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.
Directions 1: DIRECTIONS TO THE CONVERTED, For their establishment, growth, and perseverance.
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.
But because some make question of it, whether the degree of glory will be answerable to the degree of Holiness, I shall prove it in a few words.
1. It is the very drift of the Parable of the Talents in Matth. 25. He that had gotten most by improvement, was made Ruler proportionably over most Cities. Not he that had been at the greatest bodily labour in Religion, nor every one that had past the greatest sufferings; but he that had got most holiness to himself, and honour to God by the improvement of his Talents, and so had doubled them.
2. The degrees of Holiness hereafter will be divers, as are the degrees of Holiness here: for as men sow they will reap; and there is no promise in Scripture that men that dye with the smallest Holiness shall be made equal to them that dyed with the greatest Holiness. And that the greatest Holiness hereafter must have the greatest Happiness, is past denial. For 1. Holiness in Heaven is an essential part of the felicity it self. It is the perfection of the Soul. 2. The use of it is for perfect fruition, and perfect exercise of love and praise; which are the other parts of glory. And God will not give men powers, capacities and dispositions in Heaven which shall be in vain: as he giveth hungering and thirsting, and Love, so will he give proportionable satisfaction, and not tantalize his Servants in their blessedness, and leave a part of Hell in Heaven. 3. And Holiness is pleasing to God in its own nature: and therefore the greatest holiness will greatlyest please him: and he that most pleaseth God, hath the greatest Glory. These things are plain.
2. The degrees of Holiness hereafter will be divers, as are the degrees of Holiness here: for as men sow they will reap; and there is no promise in Scripture that men that dye with the smallest Holiness shall be made equal to them that dyed with the greatest Holiness. And that the greatest Holiness hereafter must have the greatest Happiness, is past denyal. For 1. Holiness in Heaven is an essential part of the felicity it self. It is the perfection of the Soul. 2. The use of it is for perfect fruition, and perfect exercise of love and praise; which are the other parts of glory. And God will not give men powers, capacities and dispositions in Heaven which shall be in vain: as he giveth hungring and thirsting, and Love, so will he give proportionable satisfaction, and not tantalize his Servants in their blessedness, and leave a part of Hell in Heaven. 3. And Holiness is pleasing to God in its own nature: and therefore the greatest holiness will greatlyest please him: and he that most pleaseth God, hath the greatest Glory. These things are plain.