A27053:803
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
Treatise › Chapter 62: Q. May God be finally Loved as our Felicity and Portion?
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. LXII. Q. May God be finally Loved as our Felicity and Portion?
Quest. 12. You tell us that we must seek our selves but as Means to God: How then may we make our salvation our End; or desire the fruition of God, when fruition is for our selves, of somewhat that may make us happy? Doth he not desire God as a Means for himself as the End, that desireth him as his Portion, Treasure, Refuge, and Felicity?
Quest. 12. YOu tell us that we must seek our selves but as Means to God: How then may we make our salvation our End; or desire the fruition of God, when fruition is for our selves, of somewhat that may make us happy? Doth he not desire God as a Means for himself as the End, that desireth him as his Portion, Treasure, Refuge, and Felicity?
Answ. There are such abundance of abstruse Philosophical Controversies de anima & fine that stand here in the way, that I must only decide this briefly and imperfectly for vulgar capacities. Schoolmen and other Philosophers are not so much as agreed what a final Cause is. But this much briefly may give some degree of satisfaction to the Moderate. 1. No fleshly Profits, Pleasures, or Honours must be made our End. This we are agreed on. 2. The Ultimate End of all the Saints, is an End that is suitable to the Nature of Love: and that is, perfectly to love God, and Please him, and serve him, and to be perfectly beloved of him, and behold his glory. So that it is not an End of self-love, or Love of Concupiscence, or for our Commodity only; but it is the End of the Love of Friendship: Now all Love of friendship doth take in both the party Loving, and the party beloved into the End: For the End is a perfect Union of both, according to their capacities. And it being Intentio amantis, the End of Love, both God and our selves must be comprehended in it, as the parties to be united; and so it is both for him, and for our selves.