A26919:810
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.
2. You must not hence fetch any pretence to slight your friends, and disoblige them, or neglect any duty that you owe them, or any means therein necessary to the continuation of their friendship.
3. You must not causelessly withdraw from humane society into Solitude. A weariness of converse with men, is oft conjunct with a weariness of our duty: And a retiring voluntarily into solitude, when God doth not call or drive us thither, is oft but a retiring from the place and work which God hath appointed us: And consequently a retiring rather from God, than to God. Like some idle servants, that think they should not work so hard, because it is but Worldly business, and think their Masters deal not Religiously by them, unless they let them neglect their labour, that they may spend more time in serving God: as if it were no serving God to be faithful in their Masters service.
3. You must not causelesly withdraw from humane society into Solitude. A weariness of converse with men, is oft conjunct with a weariness of our duty: And a retiring voluntarily into solitude, when God doth not call or drive us thither, is oft but a retiring from the place and work which God hath appointed us: And consequently a retiring rather from God, than to God. Like some idle servants, that think they should not work so hard, because it is but Worldly business, and think their Masters deal not Religiously by them, unless they let them neglect their labour, that they may spend more time in serving God: as if it were no serving God to be faithful in their Masters service.
I deny not but very holy persons have lived in a state of retirement from humane converse: In such cases as these i• may become a duty, 1. In case of such persecution as at present leaveth us no opportunity of serving or honouring God so much in any other place or state.