A26951:786
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.
Direct. 6. Remember that both Promises, and Threatenings, and Gods Mercies, and his Judgements, are appointed means to bring us to obey the Precepts; and therefore obedience, which is their end, is highly to be esteemed.
Direct. 6. Remember that both Promises, and Threatnings, and Gods Mercies, and his Judgements, are appointed means to bring us to obey the Precepts; and therefore obedience, which is their end, is highly to be esteemed.
It seemeth a great difficulty whether the Precept be for […] Promise, or the Promise for the Precept; which is the End, and which is the Means; whether obedience be a means to attain the reward, or the reward be a means to procure obedience: And the answer is as pleasant to our consideration, viz. that as the works of the Trinity of persons, and of Gods Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness ad extra are undivided; so are the effects of the one in Gods Laws, the effects also of the other; and they are harmoniously and inseparably conjunct: so that we must obey the Command, that we may attain the blessing of the Promise, and be assured of it: And we must believe the Promise, and the Reward, that we may be moved to obey the Precept: And when all is done, we find that all comes to one; and in the end, the duty and the reward will be the same, when duty cometh to perfection: And that the reward which is promised is our perfection in that Holiness, and Love, and Conformity to the Will of God, in which God doth take that complacency which is our ultimate end.
It seemeth a great difficulty whether the Precept be for 〈…〉 Promise, or the Promise for the Precept; which is the End, and which is the Means; whether obedience be a means to attain the reward, or the reward be a means to procure obedience: And the answer is as pleasant to our consideration, viz. that as the works of the Trinity of persons, and of Gods Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness ad extra are undivided; so are the effects of the one in Gods Laws, the effects also of the other; and they are harmoniously and inseparably conjunct: so that we must obey the Command, that we may attain the blessing of the Promise, and be assured of it: And we must believe the Promise, and the Reward, that we may be moved to obey the Precept: And when all is done, we find that all comes to one; and in the end, the duty and the reward will be the same, when duty cometh to perfection: And that the reward which is promised is our perfection in that Holiness, and Love, and Conformity to the Will of God, in which God doth take that complacency which is our ultimate end.