Gods Goodness Vindicated, Advice
In the Concluſion, I take it to be wholſome adviſe to thoſe that are under this Temptation:
1. That they will oft read over the Pſalms of Praiſe; and think when they read them, whether David and the ancient Church, were not like to know what they ſaid, than a ſelf-conceited, or a melancholy tempted ſinner?
2. That they would conſider who it is that is the Grand enemy of the Glory of Gods Goodneſs; And they ſhall ſoon find that it is no other than the Devil: None but he that is moſt evil, can moſt envy Infinite Goodneſs his honour: And is the Devil fit to be believed againſt God? And that after the warning of our firſt Parents ruine, which befell them for believing Satan when he ſlandered, both Gods Wiſdome, Truth and Goodneſs to them?
3. That they would bethink them to what end it is that the Tempter and the Enemy of God doth thus deny his Goodneſs. Is it not a plain act of malice againſt God and us? Is it not that he may diſgrace God as evil, and rob him of his Glory; and alſo that he may hinder man from Loving him, and ſo deſtroy all piety, and virtue, and goodneſs in the World? Who can Love him whom he believeth to be bad, and ſo unlovely? And what Grace or happineſs can there be without the Love of God?
4. That they would think what horrid wickedneſs this ſin containeth (where Melancholy and involuntarineſs doth not extenuate it.) Is it any better than a denying that there is any God? As is ſaid before; To be God is to be Perfectly Powerful, Wiſe and Good: And if be none ſuch, there can be no God: And then who made the World, and all that is Good in it by derivative goodneſs? Yea is it not to repreſent the moſt amiable bleſſed God, in Satans Image (who is moſt evil and a Murderer from the beginning Joh. 8.44.) that ſo men may hate him and fly from him as they do from Devils? And can you tell how great a crime this is?
5. That they would conſider, how this impious conceit is calculated for the licenſing of all manner of villany in the world, and to root out all the relicts of goodneſs from among mankind. For who can expect that any man ſhould be better than his Maker; and that he ſhould have any Good, which denyeth God to be Good?
6. That they would labour hard to be better themſelves. For he that hath a true Created Goodneſs, is thereby prepared to reliſh and admire Gods primitive uncreated goodneſs. Whereas a wicked or a guilty ſinner, cannot much value that which he is ſo unſuitable to, and which he thinks will be to him a conſuming fire. Truly God is good to Iſrael, and to ſuch as are of a clean heart, Pſal. 73.1. But he that liveth in the Love of ſin, will be doubting of the Love of God, and fearful of his wrath, and unfit to reliſh and delightfully perceive his goodneſs. Pſal. 34.8. Taſte and ſee that the Lord is Good▪ bleſſed is the man that truſteth in him.
7. Study Gods Love as manifeſted in Chriſt: Then you ſhall ſee what man on earth may ſee. But think not falſly, narrowly, baſely of his office, his performance or his Covenant.
8. Dwell in the believing foreſight of the Celeſtial Glory: The reflections of which may wrap up a believing ſoul on earth, into extaſies of gratitude and delight.
9. Remember what Goodneſs there is in the Holineſs of God, which is demonſtrated in his ſevereſt Juſtice; Yea what mercy it is to forewarn men of the puniſhment of ſin, that they may want no neceſſary means to ſcape it.
10. Remember how unfit the ſelfiſh Intereſt of obſtinate deſpiſers of Grace and ſalvation, is, to be the meaſure or index of the Goodneſs of God: And how much more credible the concordant teſtimony of the Heavenly Hoſt is, who Live in the Love of Love it ſelf, and are everlaſtingly delighted in the Praiſes of the Infinite, Greatneſs, Wiſdom and Goodneſs of the moſt perfect, bleſſed, Glorious God.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Baxter, Gods Goodness Vindicated (1671)