A26951:933
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 5: Directions how to live by Faith upon Gods Promises.
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.
3. It will damnably delude your souls, about your own state, and draw you to think that you have saving Faith, because you have that fancy which you thought was it. One comes boldly to Christ, Mat. 8.19. Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest: But when he heard [The Foxes have holes, and the Birds have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head] we hear no more of him. And another came with a [Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?] Luke 18.18. as if he would have been one of Christs Disciples, and have done any thing for Heaven. (And it's like that he would have been a Christian, if Free Grace had been as large, ⟨p. 271⟩and as little grace, as some now imagine.) But when he heard [Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: Come, follow me] he was then very sorrowful, for he was very rich, Luke 18.21, 22, 23. Thousands cheat their souls with a conceit that they are Believers, because they believe that they shall be saved by Free Grace, without the faith and grace which Christ hath made necessary to salvation.
4. And this will take off all those needful thoughts and means, which should help you to the faith, which yet you have not.
5. And it will engage you in perverse disputes against that true faith which you understand not: And you will think, that you are contending for Free Grace, and for the Faith, when you are proud, knowing nothing, but sick or doting about questions, which engender no better birth than strifes, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings, &c.