A26951:772
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 3 › Chapter 4: Directions how to exercise Faith upon Gods Commandments, for Duty.
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.
All that God commandeth you, is, 1. To be active, and use the faculties of your souls, in opposition to Idleness: 2. To use them rightly, and on the highest objects, and not to debase them by preferring vanity and sordid things, nor to pervert them by ill doing. And are not both these suitable to your natural perfection, and necessary to your good?
1. If there were one Law made, that men should lie or stand still all the day, with their eyes shut, and their ears stopped, and their mouths closed, and that they should not stir, nor see, nor hear, nor taste; and another Law that man should use ⟨p. 233⟩their eyes, and ears, and limbs, &c. which of these were more suitable to humanity, and more easy for a •ound man to obey (though the first might best suit with the lame, and blind, and sick) and why should not the goodness of Gods Law be discerned, which requireth men to use the higher faculties, the Reason, and Elective, and Executive Powers, which God hath given them? If men should make a Law, that no one should use his Reason to get Learning, or for his Trade or business in the world, you would think that it were an institution of a Kingdom of Bedlams, or a herd of beasts: And should not you then be required to use your Reason faithfully and diligently in greater things?
1. If there were one Law made, that men should lie or stand still all the day, with their eyes shut, and their ears stopped, and their mouths closed, and that they should not stir, nor see, nor hear, nor taste; and another Law that man should use ⟨p. 233⟩their eyes, and ears, and limbs, &c. which of these were more suitable to humanity, and more easie for a •ound man to obey (though the first might best suit with the lame, and blind, and sick) and why should not the goodness of Gods Law be discerned, which requireth men to use the higher faculties, the Reason, and Elective, and Executive Powers, which God hath given them? If men should make a Law, that no one should use his Reason to get Learning, or for his Trade or business in the world, you would think that it were an institution of a Kingdom of Bedlams, or a herd of beasts: And should not you then be required to use your Reason faithfully and diligently in greater things?