A27004:19
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.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.
Because there are some, who judging of others by themselves▪ will say what need this labour among Christians, to prove a God, a Life to come, and the Truth of the Gospel? Or at least what need is there of it, after so much already written? I take my self obliged to give you an account of this attempt: For my own Reason is much against over-doing, and wasting our little time in things superfluous; which is but enough for necessary things: But it hath recorded this among the indubitata; Boni rarò nimis; optimi nunquam; indifferentes saepissimè mali semper.
BEcause there are some, who judging of others by themselves▪ will say what need this labour among Christians, to prove a God, a Life to come, and the Truth of the Gospel? Or at least what need is there of it, after so much already written? I take my self obliged to give you an account of this attempt: For my own Reason is much against over-doing, and wasting our little time in things superfluous; which is but enough for necessary things: But it hath recorded this among the indubitata; Boni rarò nimis; optimi nunquam; indifferentes saepissimè mali semper.
The true Reasons of this work, are no fewer than these following. 1. Quod cogitamus, loquimur: That which is most and deepest in my thoughts, is aptest to break forth to others. Man is a communicative Creature. Though it be to my shame, I must confess, that necessity, through perplexed thoughts, hath made this Subject much of my Meditations: It is the Subject which I have found most necessary and most useful to my self. And I have reason enough to think, that many others may be as weak as I. And I ⟨image 3⟩