A27004:655
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.
All this hath the fullest testimony of reason, according to the rules of proportion and common right. To whom should we live, but to him from whom and by whom we live? What but our ultimate end should be principally intended, and sought through our whole lives? A creature that hath all from God, should in love and gratitude bring back all to him; and thus we make it more our own.
§. 41. This Life of Love should be the chiefest Delight and Pleasure of our Souls, 1which all other pleasure should subserve, and all be abhorred which contradicteth it.
- 1Arist•ppus rogatus alicuando, quid haberent e•imium Philosopi? Si omnes inquit, leges intereant, equabiliter vivimus. Laert. Oderunt peccare boni vit•tis amore. Hor.
Nothing is easilier confessed by all, than the desirableness of Delight and Pleasure: and the most excellent object, which most be most beloved, must be our chief delight: for Love it self is a delighting act, unless some stop do turn it aside into fears and sorrows. Nothing can it self be so delectable as God, the chiefest Good; and no employment so delectable as loving him. This therefore should be our work and our recreation, ⟨p. 111⟩our labour and our pleasure, our food and feast. Other delights are lawful and good, so far as they further these delights of holy love, by carrying up our hearts to the original and end of all our mercies and delights. But nothing is so injurious to God and us as that which corrupteth our minds with sensuality, and becometh our Pleasure instead of God.