A26892:1234
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.
§. 13. Direct. 10. In doing good prefer the souls of men before the body, caeteris paribus. To convert 1a sinner, from the error of his way, is to save a soul from death, and to cover a multitude of sins. Jam. 5. 20. And this is greater than to give a man an alms. As cruelty to souls is the most heinous cruelty (as persecutors and soul-betraying Pastors will one day know to their remediless woe;) so mercy to souls is the greatest mercy. Yet sometime Mercy to the Body is in that season to be preferred: (For every thing is excellent in its season). As if a man be drowning or famishing, you must not delay the relief of his body, while you are preaching to him for his conversion; but first relieve him, and then you may in season afterwards instruct him. The greatest duty is not always to go first in time: Sometimes some lesser work is a necessary preparatory to a greater. And sometimes a corporal benefit may tend more to the good of souls, than some spiritual work may: Therefore I say still, that PRUDENCE and an HONEST HEART are instead of many Directions: They will not only look at the immediate benefit of a work, but to its utmost tendency and remote effects.
§. 13. Direct. 10. In doing good prefer the souls of men before the body, caeteris paribus. To convert 1a sinner, from the error of his way, is to save a soul from death, and to cover a multitude of sins. Jam. 5. 20. And this is greater than to give a man an alms. As cruelty to souls is the most heinous cruelty (as persecutors and soul-betraying Pastors will one day know to their remediless wo;) so mercy to souls is the greatest mercy. Yet sometime Mercy to the Body is in that season to be preferred: (For every thing is excellent in its season). As if a man be drowning or famishing, you must not delay the relief of his body, while you are preaching to him for his conversion; but first relieve him, and then you may in season afterwards instruct him. The greatest duty is not alwayes to go first in time: Sometimes some lesser work is a necessary preparatory to a greater. And sometimes a corporal benefit may tend more to the good of souls, than some spiritual work may: Therefore I say still, that PRUDENCE and an HONEST HEART are instead of many Directions: They will not only look at the immediate benefit of a work, but to its utmost tendency and remote effects.