A26951:101
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb. 11, 1, formerly preached before His Majesty, and published by his command, with another added for the fuller application : the second is instructions for confirming believers in the Christian faith : the third is directions how to live by faith, or how to exercise it upon all occasions / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1670
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.
Let conscience tell you: What eyes do you see by, for the conduct of the chief employment of your lives? Is it by the eye of sense, or faith? I take it for granted that it's by the eye of Reason. But is it by Reason corrupted and biassed by sense, or is it by Reason elevated by faith? What Country is it that your hearts converse in? Is it in Heaven or Earth? What company is it that you solace your selves with? Is it with Angels and Saints? Do you walk with them in the Spirit, and join your echo's to their triumphant praises, and say, Amen, when by faith you hear them ascribing honour, and praise, and glory to the ancient of days, the Omnipotent Jehovah, that is, and that was, and is to come? Do you fetch your Joys from Heaven or Earth? from things unseen or seen? things future or present? things hoped for, or things possessed? What Garden yieldeth you your sweetest flowers? Whence is the food, that your hopes and comforts live upon? Whence are the spirits and cordials that revive you; when a frowning world doth cast you into a fainting fit, or swoon? Where is it that you repose your souls for Rest, when sin or sufferings have made you weary? Deal truly, Is it in Heaven or Earth? Which world do you take for your pilgrimage, and which for your home? I do not ask you, where you are, but where you dwell? not where are your persons, but where ⟨p. 26⟩are your hearts? In a word, Are you in good earnest, when you say, you believe a Heaven and Hell? And do you think, and speak, and pray, and live, as those that do indeed believe it? Do you spend your time, and choose your condition of life, and dispose of your affairs, and answer temptations to worldly things, as those that are serious in their belief? Speak out; do you live the life of faith upon things unseen? or the life of sense on things that you behold? Deal truly; for your endless •oy or sorrow doth much depend on it. The life of faith is the certain passage to the life of glory. The fleshly life on things here seen, is the certain way to endless misery. If you live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye by the spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live, Rom. 8.13. Be not deceived: God is not mocked • for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap: For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: