A27016:595
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.
9. Holiness cementeth the members of all Societies with the strongest cement of endeared Love. It bindeth them together in the ⟨p. 164⟩bond of Charity. He is not Godly that Loveth not all men, even his enemies, with that common Love that is due to humanity, and that Loveth not all that Fear the Lord with a special Love. Psalm 15. 4. Joh. 13. 34, 35. & 15. 12, 17. 1 Joh. 3. 14, 23. & 4. 7, 11, 12, 20. Luke 6. 27.
10. Holiness maketh Princes and Rulers a double blessing to their people. It maketh them the more Divine, and bear the more excellent Image of God: How precious is the name of a David, an Hezekiah, a Josiah, a Constantine, a Theodosius, (though they had all their falls) in comparison of the name of a Saul, a Jeroboam, an Ahab, a Nero, a Julian▪ O how sweet is the name of a Godly King in the Subjects mouths? Even those that are enemies to Godliness as in themselves, (because they cannot endure to be curbed and troubled with it) do yet use to admire and honour it in their Kings and Governors. Authority and Holiness conjunct are two such rays of the Heavenly Majesty and Goodness as place man in the state of highest excellency on earth, and make him so much to resemble his Creator, as hath given such the highest place in the esteem and honour of the world, of any mortals: And it is not easy for a people to value such Holy and Pious Princes and Governors too highly, or to be sufficiently thankful for them unto God.