A26892:1256
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.
§. 32. In prosecution of this Direction, I shall here answer several cases about doubting.
Quest. 1. What if I doubt whether a thing be a duty and good work or not? Must I do it while I1 doubt? Nay what if I am uncertain whether it be duty or sin?
- 1Quest.
Answ. 1. In all these cases about an erring or a doubting Conscience, forget not to distinguish be1 tween the Being of a duty, and the Knowledge of a duty: and remember that the first Question is whether ⟨p. 135⟩this be my duty? and the next, How I may discern it to be my duty: And that God giveth it the Being by his Law, and Conscience is but to know and use it: And that God changeth not his Law and our duty, as oft as our opinions change about it. The obligation of the Law is still the same, though our Consciences err in apprehending it otherwise. Therefore if God command you a duty and your opinion be that he doth not command it, or that he forbids it, and so that it is no duty or that it is a sin, it doth not follow that indeed God commands it not because you think so: Else it were no error in you, nor could it be possible to err, if the thing become true, because you think it to be true. God commandeth you to Love him, and to worship him, and to nourish your children, and to obey the higher powers, &c. And do you think you shall be discharged from all these duties, and allowed to be profane, or sensual, or to resist authority, or to famish your children, if you can but be blind enough to think that God would have it so? 2. Your error is a sin it self: And do you think that one sin must warrant another? or that sin can discharge you from your duty, and disannul the Law? 3. You are a subject to God and not a King to your self: and therefore you must obey his Laws, and not make new ones.