A27016:770
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.
Its said of Constantine the Great (who himself was Greater by his Holiness then his Victories) that he was wont to reverence the Bishops that had been sufferers for Christ, and kissed the place where the eye abode that one of them had lost for the Gospels sake. The Christian Princes that ruled the world, were wont to Honour the poorest mortified retired servants of Christ, that had cast off the world; as perceiving that he is more Honourable that contemneth it, then he that enjoyeth it. The nearest to God undoubtedly are the▪most Honourable.
2. Consider, that as it is God that the Saints are thus Related to, so their Relation is so near, and their Titles so exceeding high, which God himself hath put upon them, that it advanceth them to the greatest height of Honour, that men on earth can reasonably expect. Yea, with holy admiration we must say it, so wonderful is the Honour which the Glorious God hath put upon his poor unworthy servants, that they durst not have owned it, nor thought such Titles meet for men, if God himself had not been the Author of them! Nor could they have believed that God would so advance them, if he had not both revealed it, and given them faith to believe his revelation. As if it were not enough for us to be his servants▪ he calleth us his friends! Joh. 15. 13, 14, 15. [Greater Love hath no man then this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you: Henceforth I call you not servants: For the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth: but I have called you friends: for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you.] Jam. 2. 23. [Abraham was called the friend of God.]
2. Consider, that as it is God that the Saints are thus Related to, so their Relation is so near, and their Titles so exceeding high, which God himself hath put upon them, that it advanceth them to the greatest height of Honour, that men on earth can reasonably expect. Yea, with holy admiration we must say it, so wonderful is the Honour which the Glorious God hath put upon his poor unworthy servants, thar they durst not have owned it, nor thought such Titles meet for men, if God himself had not been the Author of them! Nor could they have believed that God would so advance them, if he had not both revealed it, and given them faith to believe his revelation. As if it were not enough for us to be his servants he calleth us his friends!