A27004:1354
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.
1. Within men, it findeth 1. A dungeon of Ignorance, 1which it dispelleth by it's heavenly light. 2. Abundance of error and prejudice which it unteacheth men. 3. A stupid hardened heart, which it softeneth; and a senseless sleepiness of Soul, which it overcometh, by awakening quickening power: 4. A love to sin, which it turneth into hatred: 5. An idolizing self-esteem, and self-conceitedness, and self-love, and self-willedness,2 which it turneth into self-loathing and self-denial: not making us loath our selves as Natural, or as Renewed, but as corrupt with sin, and abusers of Mercy; and such as by wilful folly have wronged God, and undone themselves: So that Repentance maketh men fall out with themselves, and become as loathsome in their own eyes. 6. It findeth in us an over-valuing love of ⟨p. 286⟩this present World, and a foolish inordinate desire to its profits, dignities, and honours; which it destroyeth and turneth into a rational contempt. 7. It findeth in us a prevailing sensuality, and an unreasonable appetite and lust; and a Flesh that would bear down both Reason and the Authority of God: And this it subdueth, and mortifieth it's inordinate desires, and bringeth it under the Laws of God. 8. It findeth all this radicated and confirmed by Custom: And overcometh those sins, which a sinner hath turned as into his Nature, and hath lived in the love and practice of all his days. All this and more opposition within us grace doth overcome in all the sanctified: And there is not one of all these if well considered of, but will appear to be of no small strength, and difficulty to be truly conquered.
1. Within men, it findeth 1. A dungeon of Ignorance, 1which it dispelleth by it's heavenly light. 2. Abundance of error and prejudice which it unteacheth men. 3. A stupid hardened heart, which it softeneth; and a senseless sleepiness of Soul, which it overcometh, by awakening quickening power: 4. A love to sin, which it turneth into hatred: 5. An idolizing self-esteem, and self-conceitedness, and self-love, and self-willedness,2