A27004:664
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.
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,1 or that you hired them not for it? What if your wife and children be averse to love you? is it therefore none of their duty so to do? Rebels are averse to obey their Governors, and yet it is their duty to obey them. If your child or any one that is most beholden to you, should be averse to love and gratitude to you, (as thousands are to their Parents and Benefactors) will it follow that Nature obliged them not to it?
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,