A26951:597
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
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. 13. Let not Faith overlook the Books of the Creation, and the wonderful demonstrations of Gods Attributes therein.
Even such revelations of Gods goodness and fidelity as are made in Nature, or the works of Creation, are sometimes in Scriptures made the objects of faith. At least we who by the belief of the Scriptures, do know how the worlds were made, Heb. 11.2, 3. must believingly study this glorious work of our great Creator. All those admirations and praises of God as appearing in his works, which David useth, were not without the use of faith. Thus faith can use the world as a sanctified thing, and as a glass to see the glory of God in, while sensual sinners use it against God to their own perdition, and make it an enemy to God and them; so contrary is the life of Faith and of Sense. He hath not the heart of a man within him, who is not stricken with admiration of the Power, and Wisdom and Goodness of the incomprehensible Creator, when he seriously looketh to the Sun and Stars, to Sea and Land, to the course of all things, and to the wonderful variety and natures of the particular creatures. And he hath not the heart of a Believer in him, who doth not think [O what a God is it whom I am bound to serve, and who hath taken me into his Covenant as his child! How happy are they who have such a God, engaged to be their God and Happiness? And how miserable are they who make such a God their revenging Judge and enemy? Shall I ever again wilfully or carelessly sin against a God of so great Majesty? If the Sun were an intellectual Deity, and still looked on me, should I presumptuously offend him? Shall I ever distrust the power of him that made such a world? Shall I fear a worm, a mortal man, above this great and terrible Creator? Shall I ever again resist or disobey the word and wisdom of him, who made and ruleth such a world? Doth he govern the whole world, and should not I be governed by him? Hath he Goodness enough to communicate as he hath done to Sun and Stars to Heaven and Earth, to Angels and Men, and every wight? and hath he not Goodness enough to draw, and engage, and ⟨p. 182⟩