A27016:1110
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.
Yea you must use to look more to the spiritual part of all your ⟨p. 379⟩mercies; and see the love of God that appeareth in them; and taste the blood of Christ in them; and lose not the kernel: and take not up with the common carnal part, which every wicked man can value and enjoy. Consider in all your mercies, what there is in them for the benefit of your souls, much rather then how they accommodate your flesh. Could you do thus, you would find the benefit of afflictions; and that the denial of what you have accounted your necessary mercies, is not the smallest of your mercies. And thus judging truly by the spirit, and not by the flesh, there is no condition (except that of sin) in which you might not find cause of joy.
Yea you must use to look more to the spiritual part of all your ⟨p. 379⟩mercies; and see the love of God that appeareth in them; and taste the blood of Christ in them; and lose not the kernel: and take not up with the common carnal part, which every wicked man can value and enjoy. Consider in all your mercies, what there is in them for the benefit of your souls, much rather then how they accommodate your flesh. Could you do thus, you would find the benefit of afflictions; and that the denyal of what you have accounted your necessary mercies, is not the smallest of your mercies. And thus judging truly by the spirit, and not by the flesh, there is no condition (except that of sin) in which you might not find cause of joy.
Dir. 5. Take heed of sinning: Keep still upon your watch against temptation; sin is the cause of all your sufferings; when it promiseth you delight, it is preparing for your sorrow; when it flattereth you into presumption, it is preparing for despair; when it promiseth you secrecy and security, it prepareth for your shame: and be sure your sin will find you out, Numb. 32. 23. If therefore you have offended, delay not your Repentance; and spare not the flesh in your return; but (unless the honour of God forbid it) take shame to your selves by free confession, and make the fullest reparation of the injury that you can to God and man. If you would thus get out the thorn that vexeth you, the ways of God would be more pleasant.