A27016:705
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.
CHAP. VII. Holiness is the only Honest Way.
WE have tried whether the way of Godliness or Ungodliness be the safest. Let us next try which is the Honestest, of which one would think we should never meet with a man so shameless as to make a question. But experience telleth us that such there are, yea and that they are very common: Even in their reproaching of a Holy life, they will join the boastings of their own Honesty; and say, Though we swear or are drunk now and then, and make not such a stir about Gods service and our salvation, yet we are as Honest as these, preciser people, that make more ado, and censure us as ungodly.] As truly and wisely as if a common whore should say, [I am as Honest as these precise people that will not play the harlots as I do:] And as wisely as if a Thief should say, Though I steal for need, I am as honest as these precise people that will not steal.] But yet we have this advantage by these shameless boasts, that still the Name of Honesty is in credit, and the worst men honour it, by pretending to it, while they dishonour themselves by their renouncing the Thing it self and by the impudency of their pretences.
WEE have tryed whether the way of Godliness or Ungodliness be the safest. Let us next try which is the Honestest, of which one would think we should never meet with a man so shameless as to make a question. But experience telleth us that such there are, yea and that they are very common: Even in their reproaching of a Holy life, they will joyn the boastings of their own Honesty; and say, Though we swear or are drunk now and then, and make not such a stir about Gods service and our salvation, yet we are as Honest as these, preciser people, that make more ado, and censure us as ungodly.] As truly and wisely as if a common whore should say, [I am as Honest as these precise people that will not play the harlots as I do:] And as wisely as if a Thief should say, Though I steal for need, I am as honest as these precise people that will not steal.] But yet we have this advantage by these shameless boasts, that still the Name of Honesty is in credit, and the worst men honour it, by pretending to it, while they dishonour themselves by their renouncing the Thing it self and by the impudency of their pretences.