A26892:1025
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.
§. 12. Direct. 6. Take heed therefore of overvaluing the world, and being taken with its honour,1 pleasure or prosperity: Take heed lest the Love of earthly things, engage you in eager desires and designs, to grow great or rich. For if once your heart have such a design, you are gone from God: The heart is gone, and then all will follow as occasion calls for it. Understand these Scriptures, Prov. 23. 4. Labour not to be rich: Prov. 28. 20, 22. He that maketh haste to be rich, shall not be innocent: He that hasteth to be rich, hath an evil eye: 1 Tim. 6. 9. But they that will be rich, fall into Temptations and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition: For the love of money, is the root of all evil. But godliness with contentment, is great gain: Seek not great matters for your selves: Jer. 45. 5. Be dead to the world: Fear more the Rising, than the falling way. Love that condition best, which fitteth thee for communion with God, or maketh thee the most profitable servant to him: and hate that most, which is thy greatest hinderance from these, and would most enslave thee to the world.
- 1Direct. 6.
§. 13. Tempt. 7. The Tempter suiteth his Temptations to our company: If they have any error, or 1sin •r are engaged in any carnal enterprise, he will make them snares to us, and restless till they have ensnared us: If they love us not, he will make them continual provocations, and set before us all their wrongs, and provoke us to uncharitableness and revenge. If they love us, he will endeavour to make their Love to us, to be the Shooing-horn or Harbinger of their errors and evil ways, to draw us to their imitation. He findeth something in all our company to make the matter of some Temptation.