A26919:704
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.
Thus may ingratitude afflict you, and kindness be requited with unkindness, and the greatest benefits be forgotten, and requited with the greatest wrongs: your old familiars may be your foes: and you may be put to say as Jeremiah [For I heard the defaming of many: fear on every side: Report, say they, and we will report it: All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.] Jer. 20. 10. Thus must the servants of Christ be used, in conformity to their suffering Head.
Thus may ingratitude afflict you, and kindness be requited with unkindness, and the greatest benefits be forgotten, and requited with the greatest wrongs: your old familiars may be your foes: and you may be put to say as Jeremy [For I heard the defaming of many: fear on every side: Report, say they, and we will report it: All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.] Jer. 20. 10. Thus must the servants of Christ be used, in conformity to their suffering Head.
2. And some that are sincere, and whose hearts are with you, may yet be drawn by temptation to disown you: when malice is slandering you, timorous friendship may perhaps ⟨p. 305⟩be silent, and afraid to justify you, or take your part: when a Peter in such imbecility and fear can disown and deny his suffering Lord, what wonder if saint-hearted friends disown you, or me, that may give them too much occasion or pretence? why may not you and I be put to say as David did, Psal. 38. 11, 12. [My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore, and my kinsmen stand afar off: They that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long!] They that in fearfulness will fail their Maker and Redeemer, and hazard their salvation, may by a smaller temptation be drawn to fail such friends as we.