A26951:508
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 9: General Directions for exercising 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.
Direct. 6. Remember, that as God to be believed in, is the principal and final object of Faith; so the kindling of love to God in the soul, is the principal use and effect of Faith: And to live by Faith, is but to love (obey and suffer) by Faith. Faith working by Love, is the description of our Christianity, Gal. 5.6. As Christ is the Way to the Father, Joh. 14.6. and came into the world to recover Apostate man to God, to love him, and be beloved by him; so the true use of Faith in Jesus Christ, is ⟨p. 152⟩to be as it were the bellows to kindle love; or the burning-glass as it were of the soul, to receive the beams of the Love of God, as they shine upon us in Jesus Christ, and thereby to inflame our hearts in love to God again. Therefore if you would live by Faith indeed, begin here, and first receive the deepest apprehensions of that Love of the Father; Who so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life: And by these apprehensions, stir up your hearts to the Love of God; and make this very endeavour the work and business of your lives.
Direct. 6. Remember, that as God to be believed in, is the principal and final object of Faith; so the kindling of love to God in the soul, is the principal use and effect of Faith: And to live by Faith, is but to love (obey and suffer) by Faith. Faith working by Love, is the description of our Christianity, Gal. 5.6. As Christ is the Way to the Father, Joh. 14.6. and came into the world to recover Apostate man to God, to love him, and be beloved by him; so the true use of Faith in Jesus Christ, is ⟨p. 152⟩to be as it were the bellows to kindle love; or the burning-glass as it were of the soul, to receive the beams of the Love of God, as they shine upon us in Jesus Christ, and thereby to enflame our hearts in love to God again. Therefore if you would live by Faith indeed, begin here, and first receive the deepest apprehensions of that Love of the Father; Who so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life: And by these apprehensins, stir up your hearts to the Love of God; and make this very endeavour the work and business of your lives.