Now or Never, Title page – Table of contents
NOW OR NEVER,
The Holy, Serious, Diligent Believer Juſtified, Encouraged, Excited and Directed: And the Oppoſers and Neglecters Convinced by the Light of Scripture and Reaſon.
By Richard Baxter.
To be Communicated by ſuch as want ability or opportunity themſelves to plead the Cauſe of Serious Holineſs for mens Conviction.
Luk. 7. 35.
But wiſdom is juſtified of all her children.
Nihil eſt ad defendendum Puritate tutius: nihil ad dicendum Veritate facilius. Ambroſ.
LONDON. Printed in the Year, 1662.
The Contents.
IN the Preface: the Queſtion reſolved, Whether a Man may be ſaved in any Religion, that is ſerious in practiſing it?
No Religion will ſave a man that is not true to it, & ſerious & diligent in practiſing it.
Why the Author rather publiſheth ſuch common neceſſary things, than confutation of the many calumnies publiſht againſt himſelf.
His expectations from men: And anſwer with Tertullian about ſufferings.
An Advertiſement about a paſſage cited out of the Homilies.
His Juſtification for oppoſing ſcorners & enemies of Holineſs, out of the Church Homilies.
A Paſſage about Philip Nerius, the Father of the Oratorians.
The Text opened.
Doct. 1. The work of this life cannot be done when this life is ended.
Doct. 2. Therefore while we have time, we muſt do the work of this preſent life, with vigour and diligenee.
1. Time cannot be recalled.
2. Life ſhall never be here reſtored.
3. There is no doing this work in the life to come.
What it is to [do it with our Might] ſome cautions.
Inſtances of the work to be done with our might.
Obj. What Might have we? Anſwered.
How to rouſe up our ſelves to ſeriouſneſs.
What to think of them that oppoſe a holy ſerious diligence in the ſervice of God.
The greatneſs of the ſin.
Eſpecially if they are Preachers.
What it is in Religion that Hypocrites hate.
Seneca's teſtimony for ſeriouſneſs.
A terrible paſſage in our Homilies againſt Scorners at godlineſs.
The greatneſs of their ſin.
Obj It is not Godlineſs, but humour, faction, diſobedience, hypocriſie, &c. Anſwered.
Advice to the flocks.
Obj. Be not righteous overmuch, Anſwered. Exhortation to ſerious diligence.
Obj. 1. I have loſt my Time, Anſwered.
Obj. 2. I have oppoſition and hinderances.
Obj. 3. I am dull and cold.
Directions and Cautions.
Reaſons for pleading this cauſe with Miniſters.
The Exhortation re-inforced.
The Devils deſigne to make uſe of Differences in ſmaller matters againſt Chriſtianity and Godlineſs it ſelf.
Such differences, ſects, diviſions, ſhall be no excuſe to the ungodly, but aggravate their ſin, as being againſt that which all Sects and Parties were agreed in.
What that Religion is that we call men to be ſerious and diligent in. 1. To live according to the Principles of Faith that among Chriſtians are paſt controverſie: Ten named.
2. To do that Materially that all are agreed of: Ten duties named.
3. To do that in the very Manner of Gods ſervice that all are agreed in. Ten particulars mentioned.
Obj. I will never believe that God delights in long and earneſt prayers, or is moved by the words of man. Anſwered.
Obj. Is not your ſtrict obſervation of the Lords Day a Controverſie? Anſwered.
The Concluſion exhortatory.