A26892:1330
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.
§. 16. [2. Look unto thy Redeemer, drowsy soul! and consider for what end he did Redeem thee? Was it to wander a few years about the earth? and to sleep and sport a while in flesh? Or was it to crucify thee to the world, and raise thee up to the Love of God? He came down to Earth from Love it self, being full of Love, to show the Loveliness of God, and reconcile thee to him, and take away the enmity, and by Love to teach thee the art of Love: His Love constrained him to offer himself a Sacrifice for sin, to make thee a Priest thy self to God to offer up the Sacrifice of an inflamed heart in love and praise: And wilt thou disappoint thy Redeemer, and disappoint thy self of the benefits of his Love? The Means is for the End: Thou mayest as well say, I would not be Redeemed, as to say, I would not Love the Lord.]
§. 16. [2. Look unto thy Redeemer, drowsie soul! and consider for what end he did Redeem thee? Was it to wander a few years about the earth? and to sleep and sport a while in flesh? Or was it to crucifie thee to the world, and raise thee up to the Love of God? He came down to Earth from Love it self, being full of Love, to shew the Loveliness of God, and reconcile thee to him, and take away the enmity, and by Love to teach thee the art of Love: His Love constrained him to offer himself a Sacrifice for sin, to make thee a Priest thy self to God to offer up the Sacrifice of an enflamed heart in love and praise: And wilt thou disappoint thy Redeemer, and disappoint thy self of the benefits of his Love? The Means is for the End: Thou maist as well say, I would not be Redeemed, as to say, I would not Love the Lord.]
§. 17. [3. And bethink thy self, O drowsy soul, for what thou wast Regenerated and sanctified by the Spirit? Was it not that thou mightst KNOW and LOVE the Lord? What is the Spirit of Adoption that is given to Believers, but a Spirit of predominant Love to God? Gal. 4. 6. Thou couldst have loved Vanity, and doted on thy fleshly friends and pleasures, without the Spirit of God: It was not for these, but to destroy these, and kindle a more noble, heavenly fire in thy breast, that the Spirit did renew thee. Examine, search, and try thy self, whether the Spirit hath sanctified thee or not. Knowest thou not, that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is none of his?