A26919:695
The divine life in three treatises
The divine life in three treatises ... by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Francis Tyton, 1664
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
4. Christ would permit his Disciples thus far to forsake him, because he would have no support from man, in his sufferings for man: This was part of his voluntary humiliation, to be deprived of all earthly comforts, and to bear affliction even from those few, that but lately were his faithful servants: that men dealing like men, and sinners, while he was doing like God, and as a Saviour, no man might challenge to himself the honour of contributing to the Redemption of the world, so much as by encouraging the Redeemer.
5. Christ did permit the Faith and courage of his Disciples thus far to fail, that their witness to him might be of the greater credit and authority, when his actual Resurrection and the Communication of the Spirit should compel them to believe: when all their doubts were dissipated, they that had doubted themselves, and yet were constrained to believe, would be received as the most impartial witnesses by the doubting world.
6. Lastly, by the desertion and dissipation of his Disciples, Christ would teach us whenever we are called to follow him in suffering, what to expect from the best of men; Even to know that of themselves they are untrusty, and may fail us: and therefore not to look for too much assistance or encouragement from them. Paul lived in a time when Christians were more self-denying and steadfast than they are now: And Paul was one that might better expect to be faithfully accompanied in his sufferings for Christ, than any of us: And yet he saith, 2 Tim. 4. 16. [At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me:] and prayeth, that it be not laid to their charge: Thus you have seen some Reasons why Christ consented to be left of all, and permitted his Disciples to desert him in his sufferings.
6. Lastly, by the desertion and dissipation of his Disciples, Christ would teach us whenever we are called to follow him in suffering, what to expect from the best of men; Even to know that of themselves they are untrusty, and may fail us: and therefore not to look for too much assistance or encouragement from them. Paul lived in a time when Christians were more self-denying and stedfast than they are now: And Paul was one that might better expect to be faithftlly accompanied in his sufferings for Christ, than any of us: And yet he saith,