A26892:1045
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.
§. 31. Tempt. 4. The Tempter is most careful also to hide from men the nature and tendency of the 1Temptation it self; that they shall not know that it is a Temptation when they are tempted, but shall have nothing in sight but the bait which they desire. The Angler doth not only hide himself from the fish, but also his rod, and line, and hook as much as he can: The Fowler covereth his nets; so that either the fish and bird shall not see the snare, or shall not know what it is, and what it is there laid for: so when the bait of pleasure, and honour, and wealth is presented by the Devil, to the fornicator, gamester, proud or covetous, they shall not see what the Devil is doing now, and what a game he is playing for their souls! They shall not perceive the connection that there is between the pleasure and the sin, and the sin and the threatening, and the threatening and the judgement, and the judgement and the everlasting punishment; when Judas was bargaining with the Pharisees, he knew not that the Devil was in him driving on the match.
§. 31. Tempt. 4. The Tempter is most careful also to hide from men the nature and tendency of the 1Temptation it self; that they shall not know that it is a Temptation when they are tempted, but shall have nothing in sight but the bait which they desire. The Angler doth not only hide himself from the fish, but also his rod, and line, and hook as much as he can: The Fowler covereth his nets; so that either the fish and bird shall not see the snare, or shall not know what it is, and what it is there laid for: so when the bait of pleasure, and honour, and wealth is presented by the Devil, to the fornicator, gamester, proud or covetous, they shall not see what the Devil is doing now, and what a game he is playing for their souls! They shall not perceive the connexion that there is between the pleasure and the sin, and the sin and the threatning, and the threatning and the judgement, and the judgement and the everlasting punishment; when Judas was bargaining with the Pharisees, he knew not that the Devil was in him driving on the match.
- 1Tempt. 4.