A26951:2168
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 17: How to conquer sloth and idleness by the Life of Faith.
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.
5. You show a stupid senseless heart, that can live idly, and have so much to do; and have so many spurs to rouse you up: To live continually in the sight of God, to have a soul so ignorant, so unbelieving, so unholy, so unfurnished of faith and love, so unready for death, so uncertain of salvation; nay in such apparent danger of damnation, and to be still uncertain of living one day or hour longer; and yet to live idly in such a case, as if all were well, and your work were done, and you had no more to fear or care for: O what a mad, what a dead, what a sottish kind of soul is this! to see the graves before your eyes; to see your neighbours carried thither; to feel the tokens of mortality daily in your selves; to be called on and warned to prepare, and yet under this to live as if you had nothing to do, but to show your selves in the neatest dress, and as a Peacock, to spread your plumes for your selves and others to look upon, or ⟨p. 485⟩to pamper a carcass for worms and rottenness! O what a deplorable case is this! The Lord pity you, and awaken your understandings, and bring you to your wits, and you will then wonder at your own stupidity.
5. You shew a stupid sensless heart, that can live idly, and have so much to do; and have so many spurrs to rouse you up: To live continually in the sight of God, to have a soul so ignorant, so unbelieving, so unholy, so unfurnished of faith and love, so unready for death, so uncertain of salvation; nay in such apparent danger of damnation, and to be still uncertain of living one day or hour longer; and yet to live idly in such a case, as if all were well, and your work were done, and you had no more to fear or care for: O what a mad, what a dead, what a sottish kind of soul is this! to see the graves before your eyes; to see your neighbours carryed thither; to feel the tokens of mortality daily in your selves; to be called on and warned to prepare, and yet under this to live as if you had nothing to do, but to shew your selves in the neatest dress, and as a Peacock, to spread your plumes for your selves and others to look upon, or ⟨p. 485⟩to pamper a carkass for worms and rottenness! O what a deplorable case is this! The Lord pitty you, and awaken your understandings, and bring you to your wits, and you will then wonder at your own stupidity.