A26935:13
Gods goodness vindicated for the help of such (especially in melancholy) as are tempted…
Gods goodness vindicated for the help of such (especially in melancholy) as are tempted to deny it, and think him cruel, because of the present and future misery of mankind, with respect to the doctrine of reprobation and damnation / by Richard Baxter ... ; published and prefaced by a friend at whose desire it was written, and to whom it was committed.
London: printed for N. Simmons, 1671
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.
II. The falsehood and vexation of such mens thoughts, whether the Melancholy or others are brought to pass, 1. By a false method of Reasoning, 2. By false opinions which they have before received: (I.) It is a grossly deluding and subverting way of Reasoning, to begin at dark and doubtful consequents, thence to argue against certain, clear fundamental Principles: As if from some doubts about the position and motion of the Stars, or of the nature of light heat and motion, men should argue that there is no Sun, or Moon, or Stars at all: or ⟨p. 10⟩that they have no power of Light, Heat or Motion: or as if from the many difficulties in Anatomy, about the circulation of the blood, the oleum nervosum, the Lympha, and its vessels, the passages and succus of the pancreas and gall, the transcolation through the intestines into the venae lacteae, the chilly glandules, and such like, one should arise to a conclusion that there is no blood, no chyle, no veins, no glandules, no head no body: or from the Controversy, whether the Heart be a mere Muscle without any proper paronchymae, one should grow to conclude that there is no ⟨p. 11⟩heart: so such persons from points beyond mans reach, about Gods decrees and intentions and the mysteries of providence, conclude or doubt against Gods Goodness; that is, whether indeed there be a God: I have spoken so fully to this case in my Reasons of the Christ. Rel. p. 95. and in that whole Chapter, that I would desire you to peruse it. I shall now only give you twenty Questions which the tempted person may challenge all the subtlety and malice of Hell to answer; for it is easy to Justify the Goodness of God.
II. The falshood and vexation of such mens thoughts, whether the Melancholy or others are brought to pass, 1. By a false method of Reasoning, 2. By false opinions which they have before received: (I.) It is a grosly deluding and subverting way of Reasoning, to begin at dark and doubtful consequents, thence to argue against certain, clear fundamental Principles: As if from some doubts about the position and motion of the Starrs, or of the nature of light heat and motion, men should argue that there is no Sun, or Moon, or Starrs at all: or