A27016:660
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.
5. Moreover, you speak against the inward feeling and certain experience of all true Christians in the world. They all have tasted and found that excellency in the holy ways and Ordinances of the Lord, that they value them above all the world. With David they esteem them above Gold and Silver, Psal. 119. 72. With Solomon they say that all the things that we can desire are not to be compared to them, Prov. 3. 15. & 8. 11. And with Job they value the word of God above their necessary food, Job. 23. 12. And with Paul they count all things Loss and dung in comparison of the excellent knowledge of Christ, Phil. 3. 7, 8. They know that it is a thousand times better with them, since God converted them to a holy life then it was before, as well as you know that you are better in your health, then you were in sickness. Try whether you can make men that ever were among those where plague and war and famine reigned, to believe that [it was never a good world, since this plague and war and famine ceased.] You may as soon make wise men believe this, as make experienced godly men, to believe that it is worse with them for their turning to the Lord, and living, holy, heavenly lives. You can never by all your doting and self-conceited prating, make those believe whom God hath sanctified, that they were in a better case before, when they were the slaves of Satan, and served sin, & were under the wrath and curse of God. They feel that within them that will never suffer them to believe you. The health of their recovered souls: their experience of the Goodness of the ways of God: the comforts they have had in the pardon of sin and the hopes of Glory, do make them know that you talk distractedly, when you tell them that they were better before, or that the world is the worse for the grace of God.
5. Moreover, you speak against the inward feeling and certain experience of all true Christians in the world. They all have tasted and found that excellencie in the holy ways and Ordinances of the Lord, that they value them above all the world. With David they esteem them above Gold and Silver,