A27004:1077
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural evidence the being of God ... : the second part, of Christianity, proving by evidence supernatural and natural, the certain truth of the Christian belief ... / by Richard Baxter ... ; also an appendix defending the soul's immortality against the Somatists or Epicureans and other pseudo-philosophers.
London: printed by R. White for Fran. Titon, 1667
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.
§. 7. When I have by natural Reason silenced all my doubts about the Life to come, I yet find in my self an uncouth unsatisfactory kind of apprehension of my future state, till I look to supernatural evidence: which I perceive is from a double cause. 1. Because a Soul in flesh, would fain have such apprehension as participateth of sense. 2. And we are so conscious of our ignorance, that we are apt still to suspect our own understandings, even when we have nothing to say against the conclusion.
What I have said in the first part of this Book, doth so fully satisfy my Reason, as that I have nothing to say against it, which I cannot easily discern to be unsound: and yet for all that, when I think of another world, by the help of this natural light alone, I am rather amazed than satisfied; and am ready to think, [All this seemeth true, and I have nothing of weight to say against it; but alas how poor and uncertain a thing is man's understanding! how many are deceived in things that seem as undeniable to them! How ⟨p. 196⟩know I what one particular may be unseen by me, which would change my judgment, and better inform me in all the rest? If I could but see the world which I believe, or at least but speak with one who had been there, or gave me sensible evidence of his veracity, it would much confirm me.] Sense hath got so much mastery in the Soul, that we have much ado to take any apprehension for sure and satisfactory, which hath not some great correspondency with sense. This is not well: But it is a disease which showeth the need of a Physician, and of some other satisfying light.
What I have said in the first part of this Book, doth so fully satisfie my Reason, as that I have nothing to say against it, which I cannot easily discern to be unsound: and yet for all that, when I think of another world, by the help of this natural light alone, I am rather amazed than satisfi'd; and am ready to think, [All this seemeth true, and I have nothing of weight to say against it; but alas how poor and uncertain a thing is man's understanding! how many are deceived in things that seem as undeniable to them! How ⟨p. 196⟩