A27016:719
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 this is not their greatest cruelty: They are enemies to their own salvation: They will run into Hell in despite of Christ and all the Preachers in the world. For there is but one way thither, the way of ungodliness, and that way they will go. Yea that is not all, but bloody wretches, they would have all the Country do as they do, and be damned with them. They are angry with a man if he will not live an ungodly life, and tipple, and swear, and do as they: They revile him if he will not give over his diligent serving of the Lord: which is all one as to fall out with men because they will not forfeit heaven, and run from God, and damn their souls, and all for nothing! When they might more mercifully scorn us because we will not give over eating, ⟨p. 211⟩or that we will not cut our own throats. And are these cruel persons honest men? Is that merciless wretch an honest man, that is not content to cast away his own everlasting happiness for nothing upon his fond conceits, but must needs have others do so too? That is not content to wrong the Lord, but would have others wrong him also? The Devil is Honest if these be Honest.
But this is not their greatest cruelty: They are enemies to their own salvation: They will run into Hell in despight of Christ and all the Preachers in the world. For there is but one way thither, the way of ungodliness, and that way they will go. Yea that is not all, but bloody wretches, they would have all the Countrey do as they do, and be damned with them. They are angry with a man if he will not live an ungodly life, and tipple, and swear, and do as they: They revile him if he will not give over his diligent serving of the Lord: which is all one as to fall out with men because they will not forseit heaven, and run from God, and damn their souls, and all for nothing! When they might more mercifully scorn us because we will not give over eating, ⟨p. 211⟩or that we will not cut our own throats. And are these cruel persons honest men? Is that merciless wretch an honest man, that is not content to cast away his own everlasting happiness for nothing upon his fond conceits, but must needs have others do so too? That is not content to wrong the Lord, but would have others wrong him also? The Devil is Honest if these be Honest.