A26951:470
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 2 › Chapter 8: The rest of the Directions for strengthening our 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.
Direct. 5. When you know what are the sorest temptations to unbelief, get all those special arguments and provisions into your minds, which are necessary against those particular temptations. And do not strengthen your own temptations by your imprudent entertaining them.
Here are th•ee things which I would especially advise you to against temptations to unbelief. 1. Enter not into the debate of so great a business when you are uncapable of it: Especially 1. When your minds are taken up with worldly business, or other thoughts have carried them away, let not Satan then surprise you, and say, Come now and question thy Religion: You could not resolve a question in Philosophy, nor cast up any long account, on such a sudden, with an unprepared mind. When the Evidences of your faith are out of mind, stay till you can have leisure to set your selves to the business, with that studiousness, and those helps, which so great a matter doth require. 2. When sickness or melancholy doth weaken your understandings, you are then unfit for such a work. You would not in such a case dispute for your lives with a cunning sophister upon any difficult question whatsoever: And will you in such a case dispute with the Devil, when your salvation may lye upon it?
Here are th•ee things which I would especially advise you to •gainst temptations to unbelief. 1. Enter not into the debate of so great a business when you are uncapable of it: Especially 1. When your minds are taken up with worldly business, or other thoughts have carryed them away, let not Satan then surprize you, and say, Come now and question thy Religion: You could not resolve a question in Philosophy, nor cast up any long account, on such a sudden, with an unprepared mind. When the Evidences of your faith are out of mind, stay till you can have leisure to set your selves to the business, with that studiousness, and those helps, which so great a matter doth require. 2. When sickness or melancholy doth weaken your understandings, you are then unfit for such a work. You would not in such a case dispute for your lives with a cunning sophister upon any difficult question whatsoever: And will you in such a case dispute with the Devil, when your salvation may lye upon it?