A26921:356
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.
3. And hence come the greatest part of the Contentions of the World, which are hottest among men that most pretend to wordy knowledge: As in Traffic and converse, the more men and business we have to do with, usually the more quarrels and differences we have; so the more of this wordy Learning, instead of Realities, me• pretend to, the more Disputes and Controversies they make; and the Instruments of Knowledge, prove the Instruments of Error and Contention: And alas how many applauded Volumes are the snares and troublers of the World! And how great a part of our Libraries are vain janglings, and strife of words, and traps for the more ingenuous sort, that will not be taken with Cards and Dice robbing us of our time, destroying our Love, depressing our minds that should ascend to God, and diverting them from the great and holy Things, which should be the matter of our Thoughts and Joys; and filling the Church with Sects and Strife, ⟨p. 148⟩while every one striveth for the preeminence of his Wit and Notions, and few strive for holy Love, and Unity, and good works.
3. And hence come the greatest part of the Contentions of the World, which are hottest among men that most pretend to wordy knowledge: As in Traffick and converse, the more men and business we have to do with, usually the more quarrels and differences we have; so the more of this wordy Learning, instead of Realities, me• •pretend to, the more Disputes and Controversies they make; and the Instruments of Knowledge, prove the Instruments of Errour and Contention: And alas how many applauded Volumes are the snares and troublers of the World! And how great a part of our Libraries are vain janglings, and strife of words, and traps for the more ingenuous sort, that will not be taken with Cards and Dice robbing us of our time, destroying our Love, depressing our minds that should ascend to God, and diverting them from the great and holy Things, which should be the matter of our Thoughts and Joys; and filling the Church with Sects and Strife, ⟨p. 148⟩while every one striveth for the preeminence of his Wit and Notio•s, and few strive for holy Love, and Unity, and good works.