A27016:988
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 the ungodly rejoice in their own delusions: It is ignorance and error that they are beholden to for their mirth. They laugh in their sleep, or as mad men in their distraction. Did they know that Satan rejoiceth in their joys; and that an offended God is always present, and how poor a matter it is that they rejoice in, it would mar their mirth. If they saw the Hell that they are near, or well-considered where they stand, and what a case their souls are in, they would have little list to play or laugh. If they knew aright the shortness of their pleasures, and the length of their sorrows, and in what a doleful case their wealth and fleshly delights will leave them, it would turn their laughter into mourning and lamentation. So that they rejoice but (as a sick man in a frenzy, or as a fool upon some good news to him that is false;) upon mere mistake.
But the ungodly rejoyce in their own delusions: It is ignorance and errour that they are beholden to for their mirth. They laugh in their sleep, or as mad men in their distraction. Did they know that Satan rejoyceth in their joyes; and that an offended God is alwayes present, and how poor a matter it is that they rejoyce in, it would marr their mirth. If they saw the Hell that they are near, or well-considered where they stand, and what a case their souls are in, they would have little list to play or laugh. If they knew aright the shortness of their pleasures, and the length of their sorrows, and in what a doleful case their wealth and fleshly delights will leave them, it would turn their laughter into mourning and lamentation. So that they rejoyce but (as a sick man in a phrensie, or as a fool upon some good news to him that is false;) upon meer mistake.
3. The Delights of Holiness are the most pure Delights, and most entire and complete. There is no Evil in it, mixed with the Good, and therefore nothing to interrupt the joy. Our joys indeed are too much interrupted: but that is not from any hurt that is in a holy life; but by the contrary sin, which Holiness must work out. If men take poison, let them not blame nature that strives against it, if they are sick; but let them blame themselves, and the poison, that puts nature to expel it. In Holiness ⟨p. 316⟩