A27016:673
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.
But you say, that in former times there was more Love among neighbours then is now: Then there was more familiarity and kindness, and less hatred, and malice, and contention, then now▪ I answer, Am I not sure by constant experience, that there is far more love among the godly then among you? Do I not see how dear they are to one another? and how sweetly and familiarly they converse together, and join in prayer and holy exercises, and confer about their everlasting state? Do I not see that they are ten times more liberal to relieve each other in distress, then you are? Many and many a time I have seen them give ten or twenty▪ ⟨p. 192⟩shillings in collections to relieve godly people in distress, when those of you that are richer give but two pence or a groat to your companions, in the like Collections? And what makes them be so much together, if there be not Love among them? I profess to you, I never yet saw any thing that is worthy the name of Love and Peace among any other sort of men.
But you say, that in former times there was more Love among neighbours then is now: Then there was more familiarity and kindness, and less hatred, and malice, and contention, then now▪ I answer, Am I not sure by constant experience, that there is far more love among the godly then among you? Do I not see how dear they are to one another? and how sweetly and familiarly they converse together, and joyn in prayer and holy exercises, and conferr about their everlasting state? Do I not see that they are ten times more liberal to relieve each other in distress, then you are? Many and many a time I have seen them give ten or twenty▪ ⟨p. 192⟩shillings in collections to relieve godly people in distress, when those of you that are richer give but two pence or a groat to your companions, in the like Collections? And what makes them be so much together, if there be not Love among them? I profess to you, I never yet saw any thing that is worthy the name of Love and Peace among any other sort of men.