A27016:1017
A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…
A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Francis Tyton, 1662
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
8. Yea the godly sorrow of a believer is the matter of his joy. He is gladder when his heart will melt for sin, then he would be to be your partner in your carnal pleasures. He would not change the comfort that he findeth in his penitent tears for all your laughter.
9. The Joy of a believer is intimate and solid, as I said before, according to the object of it, and not like the fleering of a fool, or the laughter of a child, or the sensual mirth that Solomon called Madness. And therefore it is not so discernible to others as carnal mirth is. And therefore you think that the servants of Christ are void of pleasure when they have much more then you. It is little ridiculous accidents and toys that make men laugh; but great things give us an inward sweet content and joy, which scorns to show it self by laughter. And what can be a fitter object of such great content, then to be a member of Christ, and an heir of heaven?
9. The Joy of a believer is intimate and solid, as I said before, according to the object of it, and not like the fleering of a fool, or the laughter of a child, or the sensual mirth that Solomon called Madness. And therefore it is not so discernable to others as carnal mirth is. And therefore you think that the servants of Christ are void of pleasure when they have much more then you. It is little ridiculous accidents and toys that make men laugh; but great things give us an inward sweet content and joy, which scorns to shew it self by laughter. And what can be a fitter object of such great content, then to be a member of Christ, and an heir of heaven?
10. Moreover, this sorrow of the Godly is but medicinal, and a preparative to their after-Joys: It doth but work out the poison of sin, which would mar their comforts, and drive them to Christ, and fit them to value him, and taste the sweetness of his love and grace.