A27004:629
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.
That we must love God more for Himself,1 than for our selves, is thus proved: 1. That which is most Amiable must be most Loved: But God is most amiable, and not we our selves: Therefore he must be Loved above our selves, (and consequently not for our selves, but our selves for him:) The minor is soon proved: That which is most Good is most Amiable: But God is most good: Ergo. And Goodness is the proper object of Love.
- 1If we must love good men for themselves, much more God. Ubi beneficus, si nemo alterius causa benigne facit. Ubi gratus, fi non eum ipsum cui referunt gratiam, ipsi cernunt grati? Ubi illa sancta amicitia, si non ipse amicus per se amatur, toto pectore: qui etiam deserendus & abjiciendus est, desperatis emolumentis & fructibus: quo quid potest dici immanius? Cicero de leg. 1 p. 227.
2. That which the Soul most Loveth it doth most devote it self to, and adhere to, and rest in: But we must more devote our selves to God, and adhere to him, and rest in him, than our selves: Ergo, we must Love him more.
3. That which is an Absolute Good, and is dependent on nothing, must be absolutely loved for it self: But such is God: Ergo. And that which is only a derivative, limited, dependent Good, and not made ultimately for it self; is not to be loved ultimately for it self: But such is man: Ergo.