A26892:1061
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.
§. 46. Direct. 11. But God is just, as well as merciful; and there are vessels of wrath, as well as1 vessels of mercy: Judge how God will use his mercy, and who shall have it, by his own word: For he knoweth better than you, to whom, and how far to show mercy. Is the Tempter himself saved, for all God is merciful? And the Gospel hath far sorer punishment than the Law, to the abusers of2 grace: Christ is the most dreadful Judge to the wicked, as well as the tenderest Saviour to his own. There is enough in his grace to save the penitent; but if you will sin upon presumption that grace will save you, you have small reason to think that you are penitent, or ever will be, without a very merciful change: How many can you name that ever were converted and forgiven, that lived wilfully in sin, because the Remedy was sufficient? I doubt not but many such have been recalled; but this is not the way to hope: It's a terrible thing to sin deliberately and wilfully, because of the greatness of mercy, or the sufficiency of the death of Christ! No man but the Penitent Convert is saved by Christ; and this is clean contrary to penitence and conversion. Christ doth not as Mountebanks, that wound a man to show people how quickly their balsams can cure him; or make a man drink a Toad, to show the power of their Antidotes: But he cureth the Diseases which he findeth (in believers) but causeth none.
§. 46. Direct. 11. But God is just, as well as merciful; and there are vessels of wrath, as well as1 vessels of mercy: Judge how God will use his mercy, and who shall have it, by his own word: For he knoweth better than you, to whom, and how far to shew mercy. Is the Tempter himself saved, for all God is merciful? And the Gospel hath far sorer punishment than the Law, to the abusers of2 grace: Christ is the most dreadful Judge to the wicked, as well as the tenderest Saviour to his own. There is enough in his grace to save the penitent; but if you will sin upon presumption that grace will save you, you have small reason to think that you are penitent, or ever will be, without a very merciful change: How many can you name that ever were converted and forgiven, that lived wilfully in sin, because the Remedy was sufficient? I doubt not but many such have been recalled; but this is not the way to hope: It's a terrible thing to sin deliberately and wilfully, because of the greatness of mercy, or the sufficiency of the death of Christ! No man but the Penitent Convert is saved by Christ; and this is clean contrary to penitence and conversion. Christ doth not as Mountebanks, that wound a man to shew people how quickly their balsoms can cure him; or make a man drink a Toad, to shew the power of their Antidotes: But he cureth the Diseases which he findeth (in believers) but causeth none.