A27053:795
A treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at KidderminsterA treatise of self-denial. By Richard Baxter, pastor of the church at Kederminster
London: printed by Robert White for Nevil Simmons, 1675
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.
CHAP. LX. How far must we deny our own Reason?
Quest. 10. How far must we deny our own Reason? Answ. 1. We must not be unreasonable, nor live unreasonably, nor believe unreasonably, nor love, or choose, or let out any affection unreasonably. We are commanded to be ready to give a reason of our hopes. It is our Rational faculty that proveth us men, and is essential to us: And without it we can neither understand the things of God or man: For how should we understand without an understanding?
Quest. 10. HOw far must we deny our own Reason? Answ. 1. We must not be unreasonable, nor live unreasonably, nor believe unreasonably, nor love, or choose, or let out any affection unreasonably. We are commanded to be ready to give a reason of our hopes. It is our Rational faculty that proveth us men, and is essential to us: And without it we can neither understand the things of God or man: For how should we understand without an understanding?
But yet Reason must thus far be denied. 1. We must not think highlier of our Reason than it deserves either in it self, or as compared to others. 2. We must not satisfy its curiosity in prying into unrevealed things. 3. Nor must we satisfy or suffer its presumption in judging our Brethren, or censuring mens hearts or ways uncharitably. 4. Nor must we endure it to rise up against the Word or ways of God, or contradict or quarrel with Divine Revelations, though we cannot see the particular Evidence or Reason of each Truth, nor reconcile them together in our apprehensions. Though we may not take any thing to be the Word of God without Reason; yet when he have Reason to it take to be his Word, we must believe and submit to all that is in it, without any more Reason for our belief. For the formal Reason of our belief, is, because God is true that did reveal this Word: And we have the greatest Reason in the world to believe all that he revealeth.