A27061:121
Two treatises the first of death, on I Cor. 15:26, the second of judgment…
Two treatises the first of death, on I Cor. 15:26, the second of judgment on 2 Cor. 5:10, 11 / by Rich. Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1672
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.
It is Death that allayeth the ebullition of distracting thoughts and passions, and helpeth to bring men to themselves, and fixeth giddy discomposed minds, and helps to settle the light and ⟨p. 66⟩the unsettled; and to restrain the worst. As we are beholden to the Gallows for our purses and our lives; so are we to the grave and hell, for much of the order that is in the world, and our peace and freedom procured thereby. But it is a greater good that it procureth to believers.
It is Death that allayeth the ebullition of destracting thoughts and passions, and helpeth to bring men to themselves, and fixeth giddy discomposed minds, and helps to settle the light and ⟨p. 66⟩the unsettled; and to restrain the worst. As we are beholden to the Gallows for our purses and our lives; so are we to the grave and hell, for much of the order that is in the world, and our peace and freedom procured thereby. But it is a greater good that it procureth to believers.
If you ask, How is all this to be ascribed to Christ? I answer, many ways: 1. It is he that hath now the Keys or power of Death and Hell, even he that liveth and was dead, and that liveth for evermore, Rev. 1. 18. and therefore is to be feared by the world. 2. It is he that hath by his Blood and Covenant brought us the Hope of Everlasting life; which is it that gives the efficacy to Death. Without this, men would be but desperate, and think that it is better have a little pleasure, than none at all; and so would give up themselves to sin, and desperately gratify their flesh by all the wickedness they could devise. 3. And it ls Christ that teacheth men the right use of Death, by his holy Doctrine; having brought life and immortality to light by his Gospel. 4. And it is Christ that sendeth forth the holy Spirit, which only doth so illuminate the mind, and quicken and dispose the heart, that Death may be savingly improved. The poison is our own, but it is his skill and love that hath made a Sovereign Antidote of it.