Baxter - BT767 B28 1662

·Part ·H. t her life for man. But have )OH ufed the M-eJtnJ to mak..! it [ure to JDii, and to be well-re{olved? 1f you have, then you have im– partially fearched, and prayed, and meditated on the Word of .God, and beanl what can be faid by Wifer men, for that which you fay you are not fu're of ; but if you have trufied to your own underfianding, and negleded Meditation,Prayer, Enquiry anq.otber needful means, wpat wonder then if you be uncertain: Evren whether there be a Heaven or Hell ? Its no difgrace to Phy!ick, or ~fironomy, or Mufick, or Languages,or Navigation~ hut ro you, 1fyou fay that you are uncertain of all their conclu~ fio ns, when you nevc:r fludied them. or at leafl: never fiudie<l them with that diligence and patience as thofe rnufl: do that will attain a certain fatisfying knowledge. !2.!!.er. 5. Moreover, if you are fo uncertainofaLife to come~ I would ask you, Whether in all your foarch andftudy, yonhave 'behlf.ved your feives as Learners, or rathtr lls proud fdf·cenceited men , that think. lhemfdvts wife enough before they learn, to try and judge their Book.J and TeMhers. If this be your cafe, no wonder if you be Infidels. If you come with fuch a difpofition to read a Book of Afironomy or Phy!ick, you will never learn. If you go to any Schoolmafier, orto learn any language or fci– cnce, and think your felves able before you have learnt them, to try and judge your Teacher and all the Books you read, and fo will rejeel: all that you do not nnderfiand, or agreeth noc with yoa former conceits, you will fooner prove doting fools · then Schollars, and fooner be the deri!ion of Rational men,then come to the knowledge which you pretend to feek. Come to Chrifis School as little children in meeknefs and humility and a willingnefs to be taught, and patiently continue in the ufe of means till Learning canbe attained, before you think your felves fit to cen[ure theTruth flj Godwhich youare /earning,and then tell me whether God doth not refolve you. !l.!!_er. 6. Moreover, I would know·of you that doubt foof the life to come, lVhether yon have been true to fe much Lighc as )OU receivtd, and have lived in obedience t9 the Trttth which God revealed to yoH. Or rather whether yoa have not wilfully and knowingly lived in forne fecret or open fin, and il:riven againfi the Light and Spirit of Chrifi, and abufed the truth which yon have known; and ufed violence with your own confciences? !f fo ( which its t_en io one ~your cafe ) it is no w9nder ifyou . · · · -· - · · · · · - · · are

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