A26892:1237
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.
§. 16. Direct. 13. Let all that you do for the Churches good be sure to tend to HOLINESS and PEACE; 1and do nothing under the name of a good work which hath an enmity to either of these. For these are to the Church as Life and Health are to the body; and the increase of its welfare is nothing else but the increase of these. What ever they pretend, believe none that say, they seek the good and welfare of the Church, if they seek not the promoting of Holiness and Peace: If they hinder the powerful preaching of the Gospel, and the means that tendeth to the saving of souls, and the serious spiritual worshipping of God, and the unity and peace of all the faithful, and if they either divide the faithful into sects and parties, or worry all that differ from them, and humour them not in their conceits, take all these for such benefactors to the Church, as the wolf is to the flock, and as the plague is to the City, or the fever to the body, or the fire in the thatch is to the house. The wisdom from above is first PURE, then PEACEABLE, gentle, &c. But if ye have bitter envying, and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth: this wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work. •am. 3. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.
§. 16. Direct. 13. Let all that you do for the Churches good be sure to tend to HOLINES and PEACE; 1and do nothing under the name of a good work which hath an enmity to either of these. For these are to the Church as Life and Health are to the body; and the increase of its wellfare is nothing else but the increase of these. What ever they pretend, believe none that say, they seek the good and wellfare of the Church, if they seek not the promoting of Holiness and Peace: If they hinder the powerful preaching of the Gospel, and the means that tendeth to the saving of souls, and the serious spiritual worshiping of God, and the unity and peace of all the faithful, and if they either divide the faithful into sects and parties, or worry all that differ from them, and humor them not in their conceits, take all these for such benefactors to the Church, as the wolf is to the flock, and as the plague is to the City, or the feavor to the body, or the fire in the thatch is to the house. The wisdom from above is first PURE, then PEACEABLE, gentle, &c. But if ye have bitter envying, and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth: this wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work. am. 3. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.