A26951:1851
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.
20. The very temperature of the body inclineth some all to fears and grief, and others to love and contentedness of mind: and it vehemently inclineth some to passion, some to their appetite, some to pride, and some to idleness, and some to lust; when others are far less inclined to any of them: And many other providential accidents, do give men more helps to one duty, than to another, and putteth many upon the trials, which others are never put upon: And all this set together is the reason that few Christians are entire or complete, or escape the sin and misery of deformity; or ever use Gods graces and their duties, in the order and harmony as they ought.
20. The very temperature of the body inclineth some all to fears and grief, and others to love and contentedness of mind: and it vehemently inclineth some to passion, some to their appetite, some to pride, and some to idleness, and some to lust; when others are far less inclined to any of them: And many other providential accidents, do give men more helps to one duty, than to another, and putteth many upon the tryals, which others are never put upon: And all this set together is the reason that few Christians are entire or compleat, or escape the sin and misery of deformity; or ever use Gods graces and their duties, in the order and harmony as they ought.
IV. I shall be brief also in telling you what Inferences to raise from hence for your instruction.
1. You may learn hence how to answer the question, whether all Gods Graces live and grow in an equal proportion in all true Believers. I need to give you no further proof of the negative, than I have laid down before: I once thought otherwise; and was wont to say, as it is commonly said, that in the habit they are proportionable, but not in the act. But this was because I understood not the difference between the particular habits, and the first radical power, inclination or