A26951:119
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.
Quest. 4. Had you seen the things that you say you do believe, what effect would Sermons have upon you, after such a sight •s this? O what a change it would make upon our preaching, and your hearing, if we saw the things that we speak and hear of? How fervently should we importune you in the name of Christ? How attentively would you hear, and carefully consider and obey? we should then have no such sleepy preaching ⟨p. 35⟩and hearing, as now we have. Could I but show to all this Congregation, while I am preaching, the invisible world of which we preach, and did you hear with Heaven and Hell in your eye sight, how confident should I be (though not of the saving change of all) that I should this hour teach you to plead for sin, and against a holy life no more? and send you home another people than you came hither. I durst then ask the worst that heareth me, [Dare you now be drunk, or gluttonous, or worldly? dare you be voluptuous, proud, or fornicators any more? Dare you go home, and make a jest at piety, and neglect your souls as you have done?] And why then should not the believed truth prevail, if indeed you did believe it, when the thing is as sure, as if you saw it?
Quest. 4. Had you seen the things that you say you do believe, what effect would Sermons have upon you, after such a sight •s this? O what a change it would make upon our preaching, and your hearing, if we saw the things that we speak and hear of? How fervently should we importune you in the name of Christ? How attentively would you hear, and carefully consider and obey? we should then have no such sleepy preaching ⟨p. 35⟩and hearing, as now we have. Could I but shew to all this Congregation, while I am preaching, the invisible world of which we preach, and did you hear with Heaven and Hell in your eye sight, how confident should I be (though not of the saving change of all) that I should this hour teach you to plead for sin, and against a holy life no more? and send you home another people than you came hither. I durst then ask the worst that heareth me, [Dare you now be drunk, or gluttonous, or worldly? dare you be voluptuous, proud, or fornicators any more? Dare you go home, and make a jest at piety, and neglect your souls as you have done?] And why then should not the believed truth prevail, if indeed you did believe it, when the thing is as sure, as if you saw it?