A27016:952
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.
Answ. Come on, and say your worst of a Holy life, and tell us which is that bitter part.
Object. 1. The scripture requireth us to mortify the flesh, to renounce the world, to forbear our Pleasures, to deny our selves, and to take up our Cross and follow Christ; and will you call this a pleasant life?
Object. 1. The scripture requireth us to mortifie the flesh, to renounce the world, to forbear our Pleasures, to deny our selves, and to take up our Cross and follow Christ; and will you call this a pleasant life?
Answ. And do you indeed think this so sad a business? Here are three things contained in this objection, as the matter that seemeth so displeasing to you. 1. The parting with your sins. 2. The sufferings that are principally for sin. 3. The sufferings that are principally for the cause of Christ.
1. And do you think that sin is so lovely a thing that a man cannot live merrily without it? sin is the breach of the Laws of God, and the injury of the Heavenly Majesty, and the provocation of his hot displeasure, and the poison and sickness of the soul. And is it your sport to abuse the Lord? Is your pleasure gone, if you may not injure the God that made you? What natures, what sinful hearts have you, that must have such pleasures? Cannot a man live merrily unless he may provoke the God of Heaven, and trample upon mercy and despise salvation! Can you not live in pleasure, unless you may drink poison, or keep your sickness, or tumble in the dirt! One would think that mischief to our selves or others should be small pleasure to an honest mind. Its no pleasure to you to spit in the face of your dearest friends, or to abuse your parents, or to provoke your neighbours; and is it such pleasure as you cannot forsake, to abuse the Lord, and wrong your souls! The pleasures of sin do tend to pain: some pain doth usually attend it here, and much more hereafter: God would prevent your pain and misery, by preventing or destroying your sin: And do you accuse his word because it would keep you from so costly, so bitter, so dangerous delights! It is for your Pleasure, that this pleasure is forbidden you. The sweetness of the poison of sin will be soon gone, when the gripings of the tormented Conscience do remain. You will forbear the most delightful fruits or drinks, if your Physician tell you they will hazard your life, or torment you afterward. You are short-sighted, and short-witted, and look but to the present relish of things, and choose them if you taste them sweet; but God looks to your everlasting pleasures. So that you may well reckon it among the pleasures of a holy life, that you have such preservatives against the greatest sorrows: and that you are kept from the pleasures that will be bitterness in the latter end.