A27048:152
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.
and that after all the labour we have used, we had yet rather dwell with our greatest enemy, then by a less to be transmitted to our dearest friend! and had rather continue in a troublesome, weary, restless life, then by the sleep of death to pass to Rest.
and that after all the labour we have us•d, we had yet rather dwell with our greatest enemy, then by a less to be transmitted to our dearest friend! and had rather continue in a troublesome, weary, restless life, then by the sleep of death to pass to Rest.
And this sin in others also is our trouble, though not so much as in our selves. It maketh those our bitter enemies, whose good we most desire and endeavour, and ⟨p. 148⟩causeth the unthankful world to requite us with malicious usage, for telling them the ungrateful truth, and seeking their salvation. it makes our friends to be but half-friends; and some of them too like our enemies. It puts a sting into the sweetest friendship, and mixeth smart with all our pleasures; It worketh us grief from precious mercies; and abateth the comfort of our near Relations; So that our smart by the pricks, is often greater then our pleasure in the sweetness of the Rose. No friend is so smoothed, and squared to the temper and interest of another, but that some in equality and unevenness doth remain, which makes the closure to be less near and steadfast. Even family relations, are usually so imperfectly jointed and cemented, that when the winds of trial are any thing high, they shake the ⟨p. 149⟩frame; and though they are but low, they find an entrance, and cause such a coldness of affections, as is contrary to the nature and duty of the relations. Either a contrariety of opinions, or of natural temperature and humours, or else of the dispositions of the mind; Sometime cross interests, and sometime passions and cross words, do cause such discontents and sourness, such frowns or jealousies, or distances, that our nearest friends are but as sackcloth on our skins, and as a shoo too strait for us, or as a garment that is unmeet, which pinch and trouble us in their use, and those that should be to us as the Apple of our eyes, are as the dust or smoke to them, that vex or blind them. And the more we Love them, the more it grieveth us to be crossed in our love. There is scarce any friend so wise, so good, so suitable to us, or