A27016:203
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.
Be you the Greatest or the Wisest in your own esteem, or in the esteem of others of your mind, I believe, yea, I am sure, that you are all this while but laboriously idle, and honourably debasing your selves, and delightfully tormenting your selves, and wisely befooling your selves, and thriftily undoing your selves for ever. I have reason to say that your rising and honourable and voluptuous employments, are not only like children's playing in the sand, and making them houses with sticks and stones: but so much more pitiful, as the reason which you abuse exceedeth theirs. And could you all attain to be Lords and Ladies, I should look upon you but as a King or Queen upon a Chess-board, as to any felicity that it bringeth to your selves; whatsoever use the overruling providence of God may make of you for his Churches. The wise Merchant is he that seeking pearls doth find this One ⟨p. 29⟩of greatest price, and selleth all that he hath and buyeth it; even all the worldly treasures which you so highly value: Mat. 13▪ 45▪ 46. There is more true Riches in this One pearl then in a thousand loads of sand or dirt. If you will load your selves with mire and clay conceiting it to be your treasure, your backs will be broken before you will have enough to make you rich.
Be you the Greatest or the Wisest in your own esteem, or in the esteem of others of your mind, I believe, yea, I am sure, that you are all this while but laboriously idle, and honourably debasing your selves, and delightfully tormenting your selves, and wisely befooling your selves, and thriftily undoing your selves for ever. I have reason to say that your rising and honourable and voluptuous imployments, are not only like childrens playing in the sand, and making them houses with sticks and stones: but so much more pitifull, as the reason which you abuse exceedeth theirs. And could you all attain to be Lords and Ladies, I should look upon you but as a King or Queen upon a Chess-board, as to any felicity that it bringeth to your selves; whatsoever use the overruling providence of God may make of you for his Churches. The wise Merchant is he that seeking pearls doth find this One ⟨p. 29⟩