Men have learned in books, that God is the chief Good, and only
the enjoyment of him in heaven will make us happy ; but their hearts do not unfeignedly take him to be so. Most men take the present contentments of the flesh, consisting in pleasures, profits, and honours, to be their happiness indeed. This hath their very hearts, while God hath the tongue and knee ; this is seriously sought after, while God is hypocritically complimented with ; heaven is heartlesslv commended, while the world is eagerly pursued ; Christ is called Master, while this flesh bears all the sway : only because they cannot choose but know that the world will shortly leave them in the grave, and this flesh, which is so cherished, must lie rotting in the dust ; therefore, they will allow God the leavings of the world, and Christ shall have all that the flesh can spare; so far they will be religious and godly, lest they should be thrust into hell ; and they look for heaven as a reserve, when they can keep their worldly happiness no longer. This is the self-deluding religion of thousands.
Richard Baxter, The Saints Everlasting Rest, in The Practical Works of Richard Baxter, vol. 22 (London: Duncan, 1830), 20-21
Tom says
Baxter knew how to say things