A26951:2023
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
Part 3 › Chapter 15: How to be poor in spirit. And how to escape the pride of Prosperity.
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.
3. Another cloak for Pride, is the Reputation of our offices, dignities and places. We must live according to our rank and quality: All men must not live alike. The grandeur of Rulers must be maintained, or else the Magistracy will fall into contempt. The Pastors Office must not by a mean estate, and low deportment, be exposed to the peoples scorn. And so abundance of the most ambitious practices, and hateful enormities of the proud, must be veiled by these fair pretences.
3. Another cloak for Pride, is the Reputation of our offices, dignities and places. We must live according to our rank and quality: All men must not live alike. The grandeur of Rulers must be maintained, or else the Magistracy will fall into contempt. The Pastors Office must not by a mean estate, and low deportment, be exposed to the peoples scorn. And so abundance of the most ambitious practices, and hateful enormities of the proud, must be vailed by these fair pretences.
Answ. 1. We grant you that the honour of Magistrates must be kept up by a convenient grandeur; and that a competent distance is necessary to a due reverence: But Goodness is as necessary an ingredient in Government, as Greatness is; and to be great in Wisdom and Goodness, is the principal Greatness: And Goodness is Loving, and humble, and condescending, and suiteth all deportments to the common good, which is the end of Government. See then that you keep up no other height, but that which really tendeth to the success of your endeavours, in order to the common good.
2. And look also to your hearts, lest it be your own exaltation which you indeed intend, while you thus pretend the ⟨p. 450⟩