A27004:27
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. The Soul in flesh is so much desirous of a sensitive way of apprehension, and sensible things being still before us, do so increase this Malady, and divert the mind from spiritual things, that we have all great need of the clearest evidence, and the most suitable, and frequent, and taking explication of them, that possibly can be given us, not only to make us Believe things unseen, but to make us serious, and practical, and affectionate about the things which in a sort we do believe; to keep drowsy hearts awaken.
7. The Soul in flesh is so much desirous of a sensitive way of apprehension, and sensible things being still before us, do so increase this Malady, and divert the minde from spiritual things, that we have all great need of the clearest evidence, and the most suitable, and frequent, and taking explication of them, that possibly can be given us, not only to make us Believe things unseen, but to make us serious, and practical, and affectionate about the things which in a sort we do believe; to keep drowsie hearts awaken.
8. The way of taking Religion upon trust, without rising up to make it our own, hath filled the Church so full of Hypocrites who have no better than an humane Faith, that thereby the complexion of it is much changed, from its primitive beauty: And thousands do perish by self-deceit: And though some of their Gifts be serviceable to the Gospel, others of ⟨image 4⟩them do more effectually serve the Devil, against the Cause and Servants of Christ, than they could have done if they were professed Infidels.
8. The way of taking Religion upon trust, without rising up to make it our own, hath filled the Church so full of Hypocrites who have no better than an humane Faith, that thereby the complexion of it is much changed, from its primitive beauty: And thousands do perish by felf-deceit: And though some of their Gifts be serviceable to the Gospel, others of ⟨image 4⟩