A26951:551
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.
And I must add; that Experiences here must be carefully recorded: and when God fulfilleth promises to us, it must not be forgotten.
Direct. 19. Converse much with them that live by Faith, and fetch their motives and comforts from the things unseen.
Converse hath a transforming power. To converse with them that live all by sense, and show no other desires, or joys, or sorrows, but what are fetched from fleshly sensible things, is a great means to draw us downwards with them. And to converse with them who converse in Heaven; and speak of nothing else so comfortably or so seriously; who show us that Heaven is the place they travel to, and the state that all their life doth aim; and who make little of all the wants or plenty, pains or pleasures of the flesh; this much conduceth to make us heavenly. As men are apt to learn and use the language, the motives, and the employments of the Country and people where they live; so he that is most familiar with such as live by Faith, upon things unseen, and take Gods promise for full security, hath a very great help to learn and live that life himself, Heb. 10.24, 25. 1 Thes. 4.17, 18. Phil. 3.20, 21.
Converse hath a transforming power. To converse with them that live all by sense, and shew no other desires, or joyes, or sorrows, but what are fetched from fleshly sensible things, is a great means to draw us downwards with them. And to converse with them who converse in Heaven; and speak of nothing else so comfortably or so seriously; who shew us that Heaven is the place they travel to, and the state that all their life doth aim; and who make little of all the wants or plenty, pains or pleasures of the flesh; this much conduceth to make us heavenly. As men are apt to learn and use the language, the motives, and the employments of the Country and people where they live; so he that is most familiar with such as live by Faith, upon things unseen, and take Gods promise for full security, hath a very great help to learn and live that life himself,