A27016:589
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. Godliness takes away the Ball of the worlds contention, that sets men everywhere together by the ears. It teacheth men to slight the Honour and Vain-glory that the Gallants will fight and die for: And to contemn that wealth, that Towns, and Countries, and Kingdoms are divided and destroyed by. It teacheth men to slight that Money, the Love of which is the root of all evil, 1 Tim. 6. 10. It showeth men a better Treasure, and not only Verbally, but Effectually teacheth them to trample upon that which the tumultuous world doth so much scramble for, and seek by such rapine, oppression, deceit and blood. If all the Ambitious climbers and State-troublers, were truly godly, they would quietly seek for higher Honours. If all the covetous Noblemen, Soldiers, Landlords, and Rich men were truly Godly, they would never set both City and Country into combustions, and poor oppressed families into complaints, for the Love of Money. If thieves turned godly, you might travail safely, and spare your locks, and, keep your purses. If Tradesmen were all truly Godly, deceit ⟨p. 162⟩would not so break their peace. What is there for Societies to strive about, when the bone of contention is taken away, and Godliness hath cast down the Idol of the world, that did disturb them?
3. Godliness takes away the Ball of the worlds contention, that sets men everywhere together by the ears. It teacheth men to slight the Honour and Vain-glory that the Gallants will fight and die for: And to contemn that wealth, that Towns, and Countries, and Kingdoms are divided and destroyed by. It teacheth men to slight that Money, the Love of which is the root of all evil, 1 Tim. 6. 10. It sheweth men a better Treasure, and not only Verbally, but Effectually teacheth them to trample upon that which the tumultuous world doth so much scramble for, and seek by such rapine, oppression, deceit and blood. If all the Ambitious climers and State-troublers, were truly godly, they would quietly seek for higher Honours. If all the covetous Noblemen, Souldiers, Landlords, and Rich men were truly Godly, they would never set both City and Countrey into combustions, and poor oppressed families into complaints, for the Love of Money. If thieves turned godly, you might travail safely, and spare your locks, and, keep your purses. If Tradesmen were all truly Godly, deceit