A27004:726
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
Part 1 › Chapter 14: That there is a Life of Retribution after this.
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.
It is true also, that Virtue and Piety is most desirable even for it self: But that is especially as it will be it self indeed, in a life of fuller perfection than this: For here it is so weak, and clogged with so many corruptions, and infirmities, that the comfort of it is little perceived: But as a Child in infancy hath less pleasure than a Brute, for all his Reason; and as young Scholars for a time, do meet with more trouble than pleasure in their Learning, and half-witted Artists are oft more incommodious than none; and no one would much seek after Arts or Learning for all its excellency, if they had not hopes to ascend above that troublesome smattering degree: Even so in the present Case, though the least Virtue be in it self more valuable than all sensual pleasure, yet considered as Good to us, we should never be able to prefer it, if we had not hopes of a higher measure, than most of the truly virtuous and obedient, do here attain.
It is true also, that Virtue and Piety is most desirable even for it self: But that is especially as it will be it self indeed, in a life of fuller perfection than this: For here it is so weak, and clogged with so many corruptions, and infirmities, that the comfort of it is little perceived: But as a Childe in infancy hath less pleasure than a Bruite, for all his Reason; and as young Scholars for a time, do meet with more trouble than pleasure in their Learning, and half-witted Artists are oft more incommodious than none; and no one would much seek after Arts or Learning for all its excellency, if they had not hopes to ascend above that troublesome smattering degree: Even so in the present Case, though the least Virtue be in it self more valuable than all sensual pleasure, yet considered as Good to us, we should never be able to preferre it, if we had not hopes of a higher measure, than most of the truly virtuous and obedient, do here attain.
Either it is fleshly, worldly pleasure, or it is the pleasing and enjoying of God in Holiness and Love, which is Mans ultimate end. If it be the former, then certainly the sensual and wicked are in a better condition than the obedient: For they have much more of that kind of delight; while ⟨p. 125⟩