A27016:222
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.
3. And I must further tell you, that as I have had opportunity of knowing the state of as many troubled distempered minds, as any one of you whoever he be; so I must needs bear witness, that I have met with many that have been distracted by worldly cares, or sorrows, or discontents, for one that ever I knew distracted with the cares about the matter of their salvation. And yet though it be worldly care and sorrow that most commonly bringeth death and madness, you will not therefore give over your Callings, and resolve that you will meddle no more with meat, or drink, or clothes, or houses, or lands, or friends, or children: Nay it were well if you would be brought to moderation, and taken off your inordinate desires.
3. And I must further tell you, that as I have had opportunity of knowing the state of as many troubled distempered minds, as any one of you whoever he be; so I must needs bear witness, that I have met with many that have been distracted by worldly cares, or sorrows, or discontents, for one that ever I knew distracted with the cares about the matter of their salvation. And yet though it be worldly care and sorrow that most commonly bringeth death and madness, you will not therefore give over your Callings, and resolve that you will meddle no more with meat, or drink, or cloathes, or houses, or lands, or friends, or children: Nay it were well if you would be brought to moderation, and taken off your inordinate desires.
4. And yet in the conclusion I must tell you, that, though I know that the loss of a mans understanding is a very grievous affliction, and such as I hope God will never lay upon me, yet I had a thousand times rather go distracted to Bedlam with the excessive care about my salvation, then be one of you that cast away the care of your salvation for fear of being distracted, and will go among the infernal Bedlams into hell for fear of being mad. The height of your carnal wisdom is more deplorable then their distraction. For God will condemn no ⟨p. 37⟩man because he is distracted, nor so much as blame him for it, (unless as it is the fruit of sin,) no more then he will condemn or blame an Idiot or a beast, because they have no use of reason: If David had been as he feigned himself to be,