A27016:836
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.
1. Ungodly men have the Basest Master in the world. Would you know who? Let Christ be Judge, John 8. 44. [Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father you will do.] 2 Tim. 2. 26. They are taken captive by the Devil at his will; that is, to do his will: It is he that stirreth you up to filthy talking, to speak against Godliness, to curse and swear, and you do his will. His will is, that you should neglect a holy life, and you do his will. His will is, that you live not after the spirit, but after the flesh, and you do his will. O poor souls! Do you think it is only Witches that expressly Covenant with him, that are his miserable servants! Alas, it is you also, if you do his will. For (if you will believe either God or common reason) [to whom you yield your selves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.] Rom. 6. 16. The godly themselves were the servants of sin, till they obeyed from the heart the doctrine of the Lord, v. 17. And are you not come to fair preferment, to be the Devils drudges! Though he should clothe your Bodies with Purple and fine linen, and feed you sumptuously every day, yet indeed you are no better, as the case of that miserable man may tell you, Luke 16. It is the greatest Baseness to have so Base a Master.
1. Ungodly men have the Basest Master in the world. Would you know who? Let Christ be Judge, John 8. 44. [Ye are of your father the Devil, and the lusts of your father you will do.] 2 Tim. 2. 26. They are taken captive by the Devil at his will; that is, to do his will: It is he that stirreth you up to filthy talking, to speak against Godliness, to curse and swear, and you do his will. His will is, that you should neglect a holy life, and you do his will. His will is, that you live not after the spirit, but after the flesh, and you do his will. O poor souls! Do you think it is only Witches that expresly Covenant with him, that are his miserable servants! Alas, it is you also, if you do his will. For (if you will believe either God or common reason) [to whom you yield your selves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.]