A26951:494
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. 11. Trust not only to your understandings, and think not that study is all which is necessary to faith: But remember that faith is the gift of God, and therefore pray as well as study.
Prov. 3.5. Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not to thy own understanding. It is a precept as necessary in this point as in any. In all things God abhorreth the proud, and looketh at them afar off, as with disowning and disdain: But in no case more, than when a blind ungodly sinner shall so overvalue his own understanding, as to think that if there be evidence of truth in the mystery of faith, he is able presently to discern it, before or without any heavenly illumination, to cure his dark distempered mind. Remember that as the Sun is seen only by his own light; so is God our Creator and Redeemer. Faith is the gift of God, as well as Repentance, Ephes. 2.8. 2 Tim. 2.25, 26. Apply your selves therefore to God by earnest prayer for it. As he, Mark 9.24. Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief. And as the Disciples, Luke 17.5. Increase our faith. A humble soul that waiteth on God in fervent prayer, and yet neglecteth not to study and search for truth, is much liker to become a confirmed Believer, than ungodly Students, who trust and seek no further than to their Books, and their perverted minds. For as God will be sought to for his grace; so those that draw near him, do draw near unto the Light; and therefore are like as children of Light to be delivered from the power of darkness: For in his light we shall see the light that must acquaint us with him.
Prov. 3.5. Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not to thy own understanding. It is a precept as necessary in this point as in any. In all things God abhorreth the proud, and looketh at them afar off, as with disowning and disdain: But in no case more, than when a blind ungodly sinner shall so overvalue his own understanding, as to think that if there be evidence of truth in the mystery of faith, he is able presently to discern it, before or without any heavenly illumination, to cure his dark distempered mind. Remember that as the Sun is seen only by his own light; so is God our Creatour and Redeemer. Faith is the gift of God, as well as Repentance,