A26951:1713
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.
Therefore we have reason enough to suppose 1. That such a degree of the Spirits help is given under the bare Teachings of the Creature, or to them that have no outward light but natural revelation, as is necessary to the foresaid ends and uses of that Light or Means, that is, to convince man that there is a God, and what he is, as aforesaid, and that we are his subjects and beneficiaries, and owe him our chiefest love and service, and to convince them of the need of some further supernatural revelation. Not that every one hath this measure of spiritual help; for some by abusing the help which they have, to learn the Alphabet of Nature, or to practise it, do forfeit that help which should bring them into Natures higher forms. But so much as I have mentioned of the help of the Spirit is given to those that do not grossly forfeit it by abuse, among the Pagans of the world: And so much multitudes have attained.
Therefore we have reason enough to suppose 1. That such a degree of the Spirits help is given under the bare Teachings of the Creature, or to them that have no outward light but natural revelation, as is necessary to the foresaid ends and uses of that Light or Means, that is, to convince man that there is a God, and what he is, as aforesaid, and that we are his subjects and ben•ficiaries, and owe him our chi•fest love and service, and to convince them of the need of some further supernatural revelation. Not that every one hath this measure of spiritual help; for some by abusing the help which they have, to learn the Alphabet of Nature, or to practise it, do forfeit that help which should bring them into Natures higher forms. But so much as I have mentioned of the help of the Spirit is given to those that do not grosly forfeit it by abuse, among the Pagans of the world: And so much multitudes have attained.
2. And so much of the Spirit was given ordinarily to the Jews, as was sufficient to have enabled them to believe in the Messiah to come, as aforesaid; if they did not wilfully reject this help.