A26951:553
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.
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, Heb. 10.24, 25. 1 Thes. 4.17, 18. Phil. 3.20, 21.