A27048:148
A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed showing wherein its enmity…A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed shewing wherein its enmity…
A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed showing wherein its enmity consisteth and how it is destroyed : part of it was preached at the funerals [sic] of Elizabeth, the late wife of Mr. Joseph Baker ... / by Rich. Baxter ; with some few passages of the life of the said Mrs. Baker observed.A treatise of death, the last enemy to be destroyed shewing wherein its enmity consisteth and how it is destroyed : part of it was preached at the funerals [sic] of Elizabeth, the late wife of Mr. Joseph Baker ... / by Rich. Baxter ; with some few passages of the life of the said Mrs. Baker observed.
London: printed by R.W. for Nev. Simmons, 1660
Sermon › Section 9 › Application 7 › Direction 9: DIRECTION IX.
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.
O what a death is it to our minds, that when we should live in the Love ⟨p. 141⟩of Infinite Goodness, we find such a remnant of carnal enmity, and God hath such resistance, and so narrow, so sh•••, so cold, so unkind entertainment in those hearts that were made to love him, and that should know and own no love but his? What a bondage is it, that our souls are so entangled with the creatures? and so detained from the love of God? and that we draggle on this earth, and can reach no higher, and the delightful Communion with God, and a Conversation in Heaven, are things that we have so small experience of? Alas, that we that are made for God, and should live to him, and be still upon his work, and know no other, should be so biased by t•e flesh, and captivated by self-love, and lost at home, that our affections and intentions do hardly get above our selves, but there we are too prone ⟨p. 142⟩to terminate them all; and lose our God, even in a seeming Religiousness, while we will be Gods to our selves! How grievous is it, that such wonders and glorious appearances of God, as are contained in the incarnation, life and death of Christ, and in all the parts of the work of our Redemption, should no more affect us then they do, nor take up our souls in more thankful admiration, nor ravish us into higher joys! Alas, that Heaven commands our souls no more from earth! that such an infinite glory is so near us, and we enjoy so little of it, and have no more savour of it upon our souls! That in the hands of God, and before his face we do no more regard him! That the great and wonderful matters of our faith, do so little affect us, that we are tempted thereby to question the sincerity of our faith, if not the ⟨p. 143⟩reality of the things believed: and that so little of these great and wondrous things appeareth in our lives, that we tempt the world, to think our faith is but a fancy. Is not all this grievous to an honest heart? and should we not be so far weary of such a life as this, as to be willing to depart and be with Christ?
O what a death is it to our minds, that when we should live in the Love ⟨p. 141⟩