A26892:1226
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 10 › Directions for faithful serving Christ, and doing Good.
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.
§. 5. Direct. 2. Content not your selves to do some good extraordinarily on the by, or when you are 1urged to it; but study to do good, and make it the Trade or business of your lives. Having so many obligations, and so great encouragements, do what you do with all your might: If you would know whether you are servants to Christ, or to the Flesh, the question must be, which of these have the main care and diligence of our lives: For as every carnal act will not prove you servants to the flesh, so every good action will not prove you the servants of Christ.
- 1Direct. 2.
§. 6. Direct. 3. Before you do any work▪ consider, whether you can truly say, it is a service of God; 1and will be accepted by him: See therefore that it be done, 1. To his glory, or to please him: 2. And in obedience to his command. Mere natural actions, that have no moral good or evil in them, and so belong not to morality, these belong not to our present subject; as being not the matter of rational (or at least of obediential) choice. Such as the winking of the eye, the setting of this foot forward first, the taking of this or that, meat, or drink, or instrument, or company, or action, when they are equal, and it is no matter of rational (or obediential) choice, &c. But every act that is to be done deliberately and rationally as matter of choice, must be moralized, or made good, by doing it, 1. To a •ight end, and 2. According to the rule. Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do (that is matter of rational choice.) must be done by us to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10. 31. All works tend not alike to his glory: but some more immediately and directly, and others remotely: But all must ultimately have this end: Even Servants that labour in their painful work, must do it as to the Lord, and not only or ultimately) to men, not with eye-service as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, from whom they must have their greatest reward or punishment,