A26951:85
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.
How soon would you turn your admiration, against the stupidity of the careless world, and wonder more that ever men that hear the Scriptures, and see with their eyes the works of God, can make so light of matters of such unspeakable eternal consequence? Did you but see Heaven and Hell, it would amaze you to think that ever many, yea so many, and so seeming wise, should wilfully run into everlasting fire, and sell their souls at so low a rate, as if it were as easy to be in Hell as in an Ale-house, and Heaven were no better than a beastly lust? O then with what astonishment would you think! [Is this the fire that sinners do so little fear? Is this the glory that is so neglected?] You would then see that the madness of the ungodly is the wonder.
How soon would you turn your admiration, against the stupidity of the careless world, and wonder more that ever men that hear the Scriptures, and see with their eyes the works of God, can make so light of matters of such unspeakable eternal consequence? Did you but see Heaven and Hell, it would amaze you to think that ever many, yea so many, and so seeming wise, should wilfully run into everlasting fire, and sell their souls at so low a rate, as if it were as easie to be in Hell as in an Ale-house, and Heaven were no better than a beastly lust? O then with what astonishment would you think! [Is this the fire that sinners do so little fear? Is this the glory that is so neglected?] You would then see that the madness of the ungodly is the wonder.
Use 3. By this time I should think that some of your own Consciences have prevented me, in the Use of Examination, which I am next to call you to. I hope while I have been holding you the glass, you have not turned away your faces, nor shut your eyes: But that you have been judging your selves by the light which hath been set up before you. Have not some of your consciences said by this time [If this be the nature and use of Faith, to make things unseen, as if we saw them, what a desolate case then is my soul in? how void of Faith? how full of Infidelity? how far from the truth and power of Christianity? How dangerously have I long deceived my self in calling my self a true Christian, and pretending to be a true Believer? When I never knew the life of Faith but took a dead opinion, bred only by education, and