A26892:1326
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 11 › Directions for Loving God as our Father and Felicity.
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.
§. 14. V. The Counterfeit of Love to God, is something that seemeth like it, and yet is consistent with prevalent hatred, or privation of true Love, and maketh self-deceiving Hypocrites. 1. One is when so much of God is Loved as men think hath no opposition to their lusts and carnal interest: (as his mercy and readiness to forgive); and then they think that they truly Love God, though they hate his Holiness and other attributes. 2. Another Counterfeit is, to Love God upon mistakes, imagining that he is of the sinners mind, and will bear with him, and not condemn him, though he continue sensual and ungodly: This is not indeed to Love God; but something contrary to God: If mens fantasies will take God to be like the Devil, a friend to sin, and no friend to holiness, and false in his threatenings, &c. and thus will Love him, this is so far from being indeed the Love of God, that it is an odious blaspheming of him. 3. Another counterfeit is to Love God only for his temporal mercies; as because he preserveth and maintaineth them; when yet he is resisted when he would give them things spiritual. 4. Another is, when the opinionative approbation of the mind, and honouring God with the lips and knee, is mistaken for true Love. In a word, whatever Love of God, respecteth him not as God indeed, and is not superlative, but is subservient to creature Love, is but a counterfeit.
§. 14. V. The Counterfeit of Love to God, is something that seemeth like it, and yet is consistent with prevalent hatred, or privation of true Love, and maketh self-deceiving Hypocrites. 1. One is when so much of God is Loved as men think hath no opposition to their lusts and carnal interest: (as his mercy and readiness to forgive); and then they think that they truly Love God, though they hate his Holiness and other attributes. 2. Another Counterfeit is, to Love God upon mistakes, imagining that he is of the sinners mind, and will bear with him, and not condemn him, though he continue sensual and ungodly: This is not indeed to Love God; but something contrary to God: If mens fantasies will take God to be like the Devil, a friend to sin, and no friend to holiness, and false in his threatnings, &c. and thus will Love him, this is so far from being indeed the Love of God, that it is an odious blaspheming of him. 3. Another counterfeit is to Love God only for his temporal mercies; as because he preserveth and maintaineth them; when yet he is resisted when he would give them things spiritual. 4. Another is, when the opinionative approbation of the mind, and honouring God with the lips and knee, is mistaken for true Love. In a word, whatever Love of God, respecteth him not as God indeed, and is not superlative, but is subservient to creature Love, is but a counterfeit.