A27004:662
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.
Answ. 1. Whether God have made Angels, or Rulers, or Benefactors, or what love or honour we owe them as his Instruments, is nothing to our present business. For if it be granted that he thus useth them, it is most certain that he is nevertheless himself our Benefactor, nor nevertheless near us. What nearness to us they have, we are much uncertain; but that he himself is our total Benefactor, and always with us, as near to us as we are to our selves, is past all question, and proved before.
2. There neither is nor can be any object so suitable for our LOVE as God; he hath all Goodness in him, and all in the creature is derived from him, and dependeth on him; and he hath given us all that ever we our selves received, and must give us all that ever we shall receive hereafter. He is all-sufficient for the supply of all our wants, and granting all our just desires, and making us perfect: all that he doth for us, he doth in Love, as an intellectual free Agent; and he is still present with us, upholding us, and giving us the very Love which he demandeth: and he created us for Himself to be his Own, and gave us these faculties to know and love him. And can any then be a more suitable object of our love?
3. Do you not find that your understandings have a suitableness or inclination to Truth and Knowledge, and would you not know the best and greatest things? and know the cause of all the wonderful effects which you see: and what is this but to know, God? And do you not find that your Wills have a suitableness to good as such in the general? and to your own felicity? And do you not know that it should not be unnatural to any man to love the best, which is best, and especially which is best for him; and to love him best who is his greatest Benefactor, and most worthy of his love in all respects? And can you doubt whether God be most worthy of your love? All this is plain and sure. And will mens averseness to the love of God then disprove it? It is natural for man to desire knowledge, as that which perfecteth his understanding; and yet Boys are averse to learn their Books, because they are slothful, and are diverted by the love of play. What if your servants be averse and slothful to your service? doth it follow that it is not their duty,