A26951:306
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.
3. Especially when man had fallen by sin from the Love of God, to the Love of his carnal self, and of the creature; and when he was fallen under vindictive Justice, and was conscious of the displeasure of his Maker, and had made himself an heir of Hell: And when mans nature can so hardly love one that in Justice standeth engaged or resolved to damn him, forsake him, and hate him: How wisely is it ordered that he that would recover him to his Love, should first declare his Love to the offender in the fullest sort, and should reconcile himself unto him, and show his readiness to forgive him, and to save him, yea to be his felicity and his chiefest good: That so the Remedy may be answerable to the disease, and to the duty.
3. Especially when man had fallen by sin from the Love of God, to the Love of his carnal self, and of the creature; and when he was fallen under vindictive Justice, and was conscious of the displeasure of his Maker, and had made himself an heir of Hell: And when mans nature can so hardly love one that in Justice standeth engaged or resolved to damn him, forsake him, and hate him: How wisely is it ordered that he that would recover him to his Love, should first declare his Love to the offender in the fullest sort, and should reconcile himself unto him, and shew his readiness to forgive him, and to save him, yea to be his felicity and his chiefest good: That so the Remedy may be answerable to the disease, and to the duty.
4. How wisely is it thus contrived, that the frame and course of mans obedience, should be appointed to consist in Love and Gratitude, and to run out in such praise and cheerful duty as is animated throughout by Love, that so sweet a spring may bring forth answerable streams: That so the Goodness of our Master may appear in the sweetness of our work; and we may not serve the God of Love and Glory, like slaves, with a grudging ⟨p. 101⟩weary mind; but like children with delight and quietness: And our work and way may be to us a foretaste of our reward and end.