A26951:2191
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.
1. Give up your selves by absolute subjection to God as his servants; and then you can never rest in an idle unserviceable life.
2. Take all that you have, as Gods talents, and from his trust; and then you dare not but prepare in the use of them, for your account.
3. Live as those that are certain to die, and still uncertain of the time, and that know what an eternal weight of joy or misery dependeth upon the spending of your present time: And then you dare not live in Idleness. Live but as men whose souls are awake, to look before them into another world, and you will say (as I have long been forced to do) O how short are the days! how long are the nights! how swift is time! how slow is work! how far am I behind-hand! I am afraid lest my life will be finished before the work of life; and lest my time will be done, while much of my work remaineth undone.
3. Live as those that are certain to die, and still uncertain of the time, and that know what an eternal weight of joy or misery dependeth upon the spending of your present time: And then you dare not live in Idleness. Live but as men whose souls are awake, to look before them into another world, and you will say (as I have long been forced to do) O how short are the daies! how long are the nights! how swift is time! how slow is work! how far am I behind-hand! I am afraid lest my life will be finished before the work of life; and lest my time will be done, while much of my work remaineth undone.