A27004:620
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.
§. 20. 2. When the Soul doth not only Hope for its future end, but also at present close with God subratione finis, in the exercise of pure complacencial Love, in Prayer, Praise or Contemplation, he hath some measure of fruition even in via, and a sensible foretaste of his future perfection, according to the degree of this his Love.
There is a delight that cometh into the mind by the mere foresight and hope of what we shall be, and have, and do hereafter: And this cometh by the Means of Promise and Evidence: And there is also a Delight which cometh in upon the ⟨p. 106⟩present exercise of Love it self on God as present; when the soul in the contemplation of his infinite Goodness, is wrapped up in the pleasures of his Love: And this is a degree of fruition of our end, before the perfect fruition of it. And therefore take notice that there are these two ways of our comfort in this life: 1. Exploratio juris, the trial of our title: 2. Exercitium amoris; the feasting of the Soul in the exercises of Love.
There is a delight that cometh into the minde by the meer foresight and hope of what we shall be, and have, and do hereafter: And this cometh by the Means of Promise and Evidence: And there is also a Delight which cometh in upon the ⟨p. 106⟩present exercise of Love it self on God as present; when the soul in the contemplation of his infinite Goodness, is wrapt up in the pleasures of his Love: And this is a degree of fruition of our end, before the perfect fruition of it. And therefore take notice that there are these two wayes of our comfort in this life: 1. Exploratio juris, the tryall of our title: 2. Exercitium amoris; the feasting of the Soul in the exercises of Love.