A27016:1089
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.
6. Consider also, that a great part of your Religion, yea and the most high and excellent part, doth consist in the causes, form and effects of this holy joy and cheerfulness. 1. As to the causes of it, they are such as in themselves are requisite to the very being of the new creature. Faith and Love, which are the Head and Heart of sanctifying grace, are the causes of our spiritual joy. An unwilling, heavy, forced obedience, may proceed from mee• Fears, and this will not prove an upright heart. But when once we Believe Everlasting Glory, and Love Christ as our Saviour, and the Father as our Father and felicity, and Love a holy frame of heart and life, as the image of God and that which pleaseth him, then our obedience will be cheerful and delightful, unless accidentally we trouble our selves by our own mistakes. If you can truly make God and his will and service your Delight, you may be sure you Love him, and are beloved by him, as being past the state of slavish fear.
6. Consider also, that a great part of your Religion, yea and the most high and excellent part, doth consist in the causes, form and effects of this holy joy and chearfulness. 1. As to the causes of it, they are such as in themselves are requisite to the very being of the new creature. Faith and Love, which are the Head and Heart of sanctifying grace, are the causes of our spiritual joy. An unwilling, heavy, forced obedience, may proceed from mee• Fears, and this will not prove an upright heart. But when once we Believe Everlasting Glory, and Love Christ as our Saviour, and the Father as our Father and felicity, and Love a holy frame of heart and life, as the image of God and that which pleaseth him, then our obedience will be chearful and delightful, unless accidentally we trouble our selves by our own mistakes. If you can truly make God and his will and service your Delight, you may be sure you Love him, and are beloved by him, as being past the state of slavish fear.
2. And I have showed you that Joy in the Holy-Ghost is it self one part of that grace in which Gods Kingdom doth consist; Though not such a part as a Christian cannot possibly be without,