A26951:160
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.
I think I may suddenly proceed here to the remaining part of the Application, without any recital of the explication or confirmation, the truth lying so naked in the Text it self.
The Life of Faith, and the Life of Sense, are the two ways ⟨p. 49⟩that all the world do walk in, to the two extremely different ends, which appear when death withdraws the veil. It is the ordination of God, that mens own estimation, choice and endeavours, shall be the necessary preparative to their Fruition. Nemo nolens bonus aut beatus est. Men shall have no better than they value, and choose, and seek: Where earthly things are highest in the esteem, and dearest to the mind of man, such persons have no higher, nor more durable a portion. Where the heavenly things are highest and dearest to the soul, and are practically preferred, they are the portion of that soul. Where the Treasure is, the heart will be, Matth. 6.21. The sanctifying spirit doth lead the spiritual man, by a spiritual Rule, in a spiritual way, to a spiritual, glorious, durable felicity. The sensual part, with the sensual inclination communicated to the corrupted mind and will, doth by carnal reasonings, and by carnal means, pursue and embrace a present, fading, carnal interest: and therefore it findeth and attaineth no more. The fl•sh lusteth against the Spirit, and the spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other, Gal. 5.17. They that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh▪ but they that are after the spirit, the things of the spirit▪ To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can be: So then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his. If we live after the flesh, we shall die: but if by the spirit we mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live.