A26951:476
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.
1. Mark how the state of the sinful world agreeth to Gods description of it, and how maliciously Godliness is every where opposed by them, and how notably God still casteth shame upon sinners; so that even in their prosperity and rage they are pitied and contemned in the eyes of all that are wise and sober, and in the next generation their names do rot, Psal. 15.3, 4. Prov. 10.7. And it is wonderful to observe, that sin in the general and abstract, is still spoken of by all as an odious thing, even by them that will be damned rather than they will leave it: And that Virtue and Godliness, Charity and Justice are still praised in the world, even by them that abhor and persecute it.
1. Mark how the state of the sinful world agreeth to Gods description of it, and how maliciously Godliness is every where opposed by them, and how notably God still casteth shame upon sinners; so that even in their prosperity and rage they are pittied and contemned in the eyes of all that are wise and sober, and in the next generation their names do rot, Psal. 15.3, 4. Prov. 10.7. And it is wonderful to observe, that sin in the general and abstract, is still spoken of by all as an odious thing, even by them that will be damned rather than they will leave it: And that Vertue and Godliness, Charity and Justice are still praised in the world, even by them that abhor and persecute it.
2. And it is very observable, how most of the great changes of the world are made? By how small, contemptible and unthought of mean•? Especially where the interest of the Gospel is most concerned! The instance of the Reformation in Luther's time, and many others nearer to our days, would show us much of the conjunction of Gods works with his Word, if they were particularly and wisely opened.