A27016:947
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.
5. Moreover we have Heaven it self to fetch our comfort from. Not Heaven in sight, or in Possession; but Heaven in Promise, and seen by faith. And if Heaven will not afford us pleasure, whence shall we expect it? Even sensual men can rejoice as well in what they see not, if they are assured it is theirs, as in what they see: And why then may not Believers do so much more? A worldling when he seeth not his money in his chest, or at use, or his lands and cattle that are far from him, can yet rejoice in them, as if he saw them: And should not we rejoice in the certain Hopes of Heaven though yet we see it not? when I am pained in sickness, and role in restless weariness of my flesh, if then I can say [I shall be in Heaven,] may it not be the inward rejoicing of my soul? You know where you are, but you know not where you shall be. The Believer knoweth where he shall be, as truly as he knoweth where he is (unless it be one that by his frailty hath not reached unto assurance; who yet hath reached unto Hope.) What great matter is it if I lay in greatest pain, if I can say [I shall have everlasting ease in Heaven] Or if I lay in prison, or in sordid poverty, and can say [I shall shortly be with Christ.] Or if I had lost the love of all men, and could say [that I shall everlastingly enjoy the Love of God?]
5. Moreover we have Heaven it self to fetch our comfort from. Not Heaven in sight, or in Possession; but Heaven in Promise, and seen by faith. And if Heaven will not afford us pleasure, whence shall we expect it? Even sensual men can rejoyce as well in what they see not, if they are assured it is theirs, as in what they see: And why then may not Believers do so much more? A worldling when he seeth not his money in his chest, or at use, or his lands and cattel that are far from him, can yet rejoyce in them, as if he saw them: And should not we rejoyce in the certain Hopes of Heaven though yet we see it not? when I am pained in sickness, and role in restless weariness of my flesh, if then I can say [I shall be in Heaven,] may it not be the inward rejoycing of my soul? You know where you are, but you know not where you shall be. The Believer knoweth where he shall be, as truly as he knoweth where he is (unless it be one that by his frailty hath not reacht unto assurance; who yet hath reached unto Hope.) What great matter is it if I lay in greatest pain, if I can say [I shall have everlasting ease in Heaven] Or if I lay in prison, or in sordid poverty, and can say [I shall shortly be with Christ.] Or if I had lost the love of all men, and could say [that I shall everlastingly enjoy the Love of God?]