A26892:1303
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.
§. 58. Rule 14. There is usually much more matter for fear and suspicion caeteris paribus of sins 1to be committed, than of Duties to be omitted, when the Commission is made necessary to the doing of the duty. Both because it is there that the fear beginneth: For I am certain that the Good work is no Duty to me, if the act be a sin which is its necessary Condition. Therefore so far as I suspect the act to be sinful I must needs suspect the duty to be no duty to me at that time: It is not possible I should be rationally more persuaded that the Duty is my duty, than that the Condition is no sin: If it were the saving of the lives of all the men in the Country, I could no further take it to be my duty, than I take that to be no sin by which it must be done▪ it being a thing past controversy that we must not sin for the accomplishment of any good whatsoever. And also because the sin is supposed to be always sin; but few duties are at all time• duties: And the sin is a sin to every man: but the duty may be another mans duty and not mine. For instance: Charles the fifth imposeth the Interim upon Germany: Some Pa••••rs yielded to it: Others refused it and were cast out: Those that yielded pleaded the Good of the Churches, and the prevention of their utter desolation; but yet confessed that if the thing imposed were sinful it was not their duty to do it for any Good whatsoever, but to seek the Good of the Church as well as they could without it: The other that were cast out argued that so far as they were confident the Interim was sinful, they must be confident that nothing was their duty that could not be done without it; and that God knew best what is Good for his Church, and there is no accomplishing its good by sin and Gods displeasure; and that they did not therefore ⟨p. 140⟩forsake their Ministry, but only lose the Rulers License; for they resolved to preach in one place or other till they were imprisoned; and God can serve himself by their imprisonment or death as well as by their preaching: And while others took their places that thought the Interim lawful, the Churches were not wholly destitute, and if God saw it meet, he could restore their fuller liberties again: In the mean time to serve him as all Pastors did for three hundred years after Christ (without the License of the Civil Magistrate) was not to cast away their office. Another instance: