A27004:1187
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
Part 2 › Chapter 4: Of the Nature and Properties of the Christian Religion.
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.
§. 8. No Religion can be more Charitable;1 for it wholly consisteth in the love of God and one another, and in the means to kindle and maintain this love.
- 1Rom. 13.9. 1 Tim. 1.14. 1 Thess. 4.9. 1 Tim. 1.5, 6. 1 Joh. 4.7, 8. & 2.11, 14, 23. Sine charitate quomodo quis veram contritionem habere poterit, quomodo ergo peccatorum remissionem. Aug. Deus, quia hominem nudum fragilemque formavit, dedit ei praeter caetera hunc pietatis affectum, ut homo hominem tucatur, diligat, foveat, contraque omnia pericula & accipiat & praestet auxilium. Summum igitur inter se hominum vinculum est humanitas; quod qui disruperit, nefarius & parricida existimandus est. Lactant. Inst. l. 6. c. 10.
The whole Law of Christ is fulfilled in love: even in loving God for himself, above all; and our neighbours as our selves for the sake of God; yea, our enemies so far as there is any thing amiable in them. The end of all the Commandments is love, out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and unfeigned faith. And all Christians are obliged to love each other with a pure heart, and fervently; yea, to show that love which they profess to Christ himself, by the loving of one another: How frequently and earnestly is this great duty pressed by Christ and his Apostles? how great a stress doth he lay upon it? He maketh it the evidence of our love to God: He promiseth salvation to it: He forbiddeth selfishness, that it may not hinder it: He commandeth us to live in the constant expression of it, and to provoke one another to love and to good works: He hath made himself the most matchless and wonderful example of it: He hath told us, that according to mens charity he will judge them at the last day. How dry and barren are all Religions and Writings that we have ever come to the knowledge of in the world, in the point of love, and the fruits of love, in comparison of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?