A26892:1014
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
§. 1. Tempt. 1. The Devil fitteth his Temptations to the sinners age: The same bait is not suitable 1to all. Children he tempteth to excess of playfulness, lying, disobedience, unwillingness to learn the things that belong to their salvation, and a senselessness of the great concernments of their souls. He tempteth youth to wantonness, rudeness, gulosity, unruliness, and foolish inconsiderateness. In the beginning of manhood he tempteth to lust, voluptuousness and luxury; or if these take not, to designs of worldliness and ambition: The aged he tempteth to covetousness, and unmoveableness in their error, and unteachableness and obstinacy in their ignorance and sin: Thus every age hath its peculiar snare.
§. 1. Tempt. 1. The Devil fitteth his Temptations to the sinners age: The same bait is not suitable 1to all. Children he tempteth to excess of playfullness, lying, disobedience, unwillingness to learn the things that belong to their salvation, and a senselesness of the great concernments of their souls. He tempteth youth to wantonness, rudeness, gulosity, unruliness, and foolish inconsiderateness. In the beginning of manhood he tempteth to lust, voluptuousness and luxury; or if these take not, to designs of worldliness and ambition: The aged he tempteth to covetousness, and unmoveableness in their error, and unteachableness and obstinacy in their ignorance and sin: Thus every age hath its peculiar snare.
- 1Tempt. 1.
§. 2. Direct. 1. The Remedy against this is, 1. To be distinctly acquainted with the Temptations of1 your own age: and watch against them with a special heedfulness and fear. 2. To know the special duties and advantages of your own age, and turn your thoughts wholly unto those. Scripture hath various precepts for the various ages: study your own part. The young have more time to learn their duty, and less care and business to divert them: Let them therefore be taken up in obedient learning. The middle age hath most vigour of body and mind, and therefore should do their masters work, with the greatest vigour, activity and zeal. The Aged should have most judgement and experience, and acquaintedness with Death and Heaven: and therefore should teach the younger both by word and holy life.