A26892:1254
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.
§. 30. Direct. 26. Expect your Reward from God alone, and look for unthankfulness and abuse 1from men, or wonder not if it befall you: If you are not the servants of Men, but of God, expect your recompense from him you serve. You serve not God indeed, if his Reward alone will not content you, unless you have also mans reward. Verily you have your reward, if with the Hypocrite you work for mans approbation. Mat. 6. 2, 5. Expect especially if you are Ministers or others that labour directly for the good of souls, that many prove your enemies for your telling them the truth, and that if you were as good as Paul and as unwearied in seeking mens salvation, yet the more you love, the less you will (by many) be loved: and those that he could have wished himself accursed from Christ to save, did hate him and persecute him, as if he had been the most accursed wretch: A pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among the people, and one that turneth the world upside down, were the names they gave them; and where ever he came, bonds and imprisonment did attend him, and slandering, and reviling, and whipping, and stocks, and vowing his death, are the thanks and requital which he hath from those, for whose salvation he spared no pains, but did spend and was spent. If you cannot do good upon such terms as these, and for those that will thus requite you, and be contented to expect a reward in Heaven, you are not fit to follow Christ, who was worse used than all this, by those to whom he showed more love, than any of his servants have to show. Take up your cross, and do good to the unthankful, and bless them that curse you, and love them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you, if you will be the children of God. Mat. 5.
§. 30. Direct. 26. Expect your Reward from God alone, and look for unthankfulness and abuse 1from men, or wonder not if it befall you: If you are not the servants of Men, but of God, expect your recompence from him you serve. You serve not God indeed, if his Reward alone will not content you, unless you have also mans reward. Verily you have your reward, if with the Hypocrite you work for mans approbation.