N21487:245
A call to the unconverted, to turn and live
A call to the unconverted, to turn and live; and accept of mercy, while mercy may be had; as they ever would find mercy, in the day of extremity from the living God. / By his unworthy servant, Richard Baxter.
Philadelphia: printed for Matthew Carey, 1795Philadelphia: printed for Mathew Carey, 1795
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.
3. From hence also you may learn, that it is no great wonder if wicked men be hinderers of others in the way to heaven, and would have as many unconverted as they can, and would draw them into sin, and keep them in it! Can you expect that they should have mercy on others, that have none upon themselves? And that they should much stick at the destruction of others, that stick ⟨p. 115⟩not to destroy themselves! That do no worse by others, than they do by themselves.
4. Lastly, you may hence learn, that the greatest enemy to man is himself, and the greatest judgment in this life that can befall him, is to be left to himself, and that the greatest work that grace hath to do, is to save us from ourselves, and the greatest accusations and complaints of men should be against themselves, and that the greatest work we have to do ourselves, is to resist ourselves, and the greatest enemy that we should daily pray, and watch, and strive against, is our own carnal hearts and wills, and the greatest part of your work, if you would do good to others, and help them to heaven, is to save them from themselves, even from their blind understandings and corrupted wills, and perverse affections, and violent passions, and unruly senses. I only name all these for brevity sake, and leave them to your further consideration.
4. Lastly, you may hence learn, that the greatest •nemy to man is himself, and the greatest judgment in this life that can befal him, is to be left to himself, and that the greatest work that grace hath to do, is to save us from ourselves, and the greatest accusations and complaints of men should be against themselves, and that the greatest work we have to do ourselves, is to resist ourselves, and the greatest enemy that we should daily pray, and watch, and strive against, is our own carnal hearts and wills, and the greatest part of your work, if you would do good to others, and help them to heaven, is to save them from themselves, even from their blind understandings and corrupted wills, and perverse affections, and violent passions, and unruly senses. I only name all these for brevity sake, and leave them to your further consideration.