A27004:474
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 1 › Chapter 10: Of GOD's particular Laws as known in Nature.
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.
As the Soul is more worth than the Body, and its welfare more regardable, so charity to the Soul is as Natural a duty as to the body: which cannot better be exercised, than in communicating holy wisdom, and instructing men in the matters of highest everlasting consequence.
1§. 19. Yea, Nature teacheth, that so great a work should not be done slightly and occasionally only, as on the by, but that it should be a work of stated office, which tried men should be regularly called to, for the more sure and universal edification of Mankind.
- 1Impellimur naturâ ut prodesse velimus quamplurimis, imprimisque docendo, rationibusque prudentiae tradendis. Itaque non facile est invenire, qui quod sciat, ipse non tradat alteri. Ita non solum ad discendum propensi sumus, verum etiam ad docendum. Cic. 2. de fin.
Nature telleth us, that the greatest works, of greatest consequence, should be done with the greatest skill and care; and that it is likest to be so done when it is made a set Office, entrusted in the hands of tried men: for it is not many that have such extraordinary endowments: and if unfit persons manage so great a work, they will mar it, and miss the end: and that which a man taketh for his Office, he is liker to take care of,1 than that which he thinks belongeth no more to him than others: and how necessary Order is in all matters of weight, the experience of all Governments, Societies and Persons may soon convince us.
Nature telleth us, that the greatest works, of greatest consequence, should be done with the greatest skill and care; and that it is likest to be so done when it is made a set Office, intrusted in the hands of tried men: for it is not many that have such extraordinary endowments: and if unfit persons manage so great a work, they will marr it, and miss the end: and that which a man taketh for his Office, he is liker to take care of,