A26892:1159
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.
Part 1 › Chapter 3 › Direction 9 › Tit. 3. Temptations to draw us off from duty.
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.
§. 23. Tempt. 12. The commonest and sorest temptation, is by taking away our appetite to holy duties, 1by abating our feeling of our own necessity: when the soul is sleepy and feeleth no need of prayer, or reading, or hearing, or meditating, but thinks it self tolerably well without it; or else grows sick and is against it, and troubled to use it; so that every duty is like eating to a sick stomach, then it is easy to tempt it to neglect or omit many a duty: A little thing will serve to put it by, when men feel no need of it.
§. 23. Tempt. 12. The commonest and sorest temptation, is by taking away our appetite to holy duties, 1by abating our feeling of our own necessity: when the soul is sleepy and feeleth no need of prayer, or reading, or hearing, or meditating, but thinks it self tolerably well without it; or else grows sick and is against it, and troubled to use it; so that every duty is like eating to a sick stomach, then it is easie to tempt it to neglect or omit many a duty: A little thing will serve to put it by, when men feel no need of it.
- 1Tempt. 12.
§. 24. Direct. 12. O keep up a lively sense of your necessities: Remember still that Time is1 short, and death is near, and you are too unready. Keep acquaintance with your hearts and lives, and every day will tell you of your necessities: which are greatest when they are least perceived.
- 1Direct. 12.