A27004:1198
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.
1§. 14. I find, that the Christian Religion is not fitted to any Worldly designs; but only to the sanctifying of mens hearts and lives, and the saving of their Souls. Christ did not contrive by dominion or riches, to win the ungodly multitude to be his admirers, but by holy Precepts and Discipline to make his Disciples good and happy.
1§. 14. I finde, that the Christian Religion is not fitted to any Worldly designs; but only to the sanctifying of mens hearts and lives, and the saving of their Souls. Christ did not contrive by dominion or riches, to win the ungodly multitude to be his admirers, but by holy Precepts and Discipline to make his Disciples good and happy.
- 1Duas Civitates duo facient Amores: Jerusalem, facit amor Dei: Babylonem facit amor seculi: Interroget igitur unusquisque se quid amet, & inveniet unde sit Civis. August. in Psal. 64.
Mahomet took the way of violence, and fleshly baits, and blind obedience, to bring in the multitude, and to advance a Worldly Kingdom: But Christ goeth the clean contrary way; He calleth men to a life of Self-denial, and patient suffering in the World; he calleth them to contemn the riches, honours, and pleasures of the World; and to forsake all, even life it self for him, and telleth them that they can on no lower terms than these be Disciples. He hath set up a Discipline in his Church, to cast out all Drunkards, Fornicators, Covetous-persons, Railers, and other such scandalous sinners who are impenitent; and will have none in his true mystical Church, but such as are truly holy; nor none in his visible Church, but such as are professed to be so. He turneth away all that come not up to his spiritual and holy terms; and he casteth out all that notoriously violate them, if they do not repent.