A26892:1227
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.
§. 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, Ephes. 6. 5, 6, 7, 8. Col. 3. 22, 23, 24, 25. All the comforts of food, or rest, or recreation, or pleasure which we take should be intended to fit us for our Masters work or strengthen, cheer and help us in it. Do nothing (deliberately, that belongs to the government of Reason) but Gods service in the world; which you can say, he set you on.
§. 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. Meer 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 wnking 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.