A27016:587
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.
Answ. In things Necessary to our future Happiness and present unity in special Love, the mind of God is more plainly and fully opened to us, then the mind of any Prince unto his subjects. What precepts can be plainer, then to Love God above all, and our Neighbour as our selves, and first to seek the Kingdom of God, and to Repent and Believe in Christ? How plain are the Articles of our Faith and the ten Commandments? Divisions have been about niceties; I hope God will call back his Churches to the Ancient simplicity and Practical Godliness, and then the Christian world will be agreed, except the wicked.
Answ. In things Necessary to our future Happiness and present unity in special Love, the mind of God is more plainly and fully opened to us, then the mind of any Prince unto his subjects. What precepts can be plainer, then to Love God above all, and our Neighbour as our selves, and first to seek the Kingdom of God, and to Repent and Believe in Christ? How plain are the Articles of our Faith and the ten Commandments? Divisions have been about niceties; I hope God will call back his Churches to the Antient simplicity and Practical Godliness, and then the Christian world will be agreed, except the wicked.
2. Godliness propoundeth and prosecuteth the most Uniting, Excellent, Powerful End, for all that duty that should advance Societies: and therefore must needs be Best for all Societies. God and Heaven is the common End of all the Godly. They are Agreed every man of them in One End; and so are not others. Their End hath that Power in its attractive Excellency, by which it can do the greatest things that are to be done with the will of man. The Ends of the ungodly are small and childish toye• ▪ Our End also is as the Sun, sufficient for all; and therefore […] matter of contention: All may have God as well as One, without diminishing the happiness of any.
2. Godliness propoundeth and prosecuteth the most Uniting, Excellent, Powerful End, for all that duty that should advance Societies: and therefore must needs be Best for all Societies. God and Heaven is the common End of all the Godly. They are Agreed every man of them in One End; and so are not others. Their End hath that Power in its attractive Excellency, by which it can do the greatest things that are to be done with the will of man. The Ends of the ungodly are small and childish toye Our End also is as the Sun, sufficient for all; and therefore matter of contention: All may have God as well as One, without diminishing the happiness of any.