A26921:135
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…
Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and the latter times of his corporal pains and weakness.
London: printed by Tho. Snowden for B. Simmons, 1683
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. And even among Apostates from Christianity most or many still acknowledge the Souls Immortality, and the Felicity and Reward of holy Souls, to be of the common Notices, known by nature to mankind: Julian was so much persuaded of it, that on that account he exhorteth his Priests and Subjects to great strictness and holiness of life, and to see that the Christians did not exceed them. And among us the Lord Herbert de Veritate, and many others that seem not to believe our supernatural Revelations of Christianity, do fully acknowledge it. Besides those Philosophers who most opposed Christianity, as Porphyrius, Maximus Tyrius, and such others.
§ 2. And even among Apostates from Christianity most or many still acknowledge the Souls Immortality, and the Felicity and Reward of holy Souls, to be of the common Notices, known by nature to mankind: Julian was so much perswaded of it, that on that account he exhorteth his Priests and Subjects to great strictness and holiness of life, and to see that the Christians did not exceed them. And among us the Lord Herbert de Veritate, and many others that seem not to believe our supernatural Revelations of Christianity, do fully acknowledge it. Besides those Philosophers who most opposed Christianity, as Porphyrius, Maximus Tyrius, and such others.
§ 3. And we find that this notice hath so deep a root in Nature, that few of those that study and labour themselves into Bestiality (or Sadduceism) are able to excuss the fears of future misery but Conscience overcometh or troubleth them much at least, when they have done the worst they can against it. And whence should all this be in man and not in Beasts, if man had no further reason of hopes and fears then they? Are a few Sadducees wiser by their forced or crude conceits, than all the World that are taught by Nature itself.
§ 3. And we find that this notice hath so deep a root in Nature, that few of those that study and labour themselves into Bestiality (or Sadduceism) are able to excuss the fears of future misery but Conscience overcometh or troubleth them much at least, when they have done the worst they can against it. And whence should all this be in man and not in Beasts, if man had no further reason of hopes and fears then they? Are a few Sadduces wiser by their forced or crude conceits, than all the World that are taught by Nature itself.