A26892:1356
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.
§. 30. 3. Behold also the Loveliness of God in his Holy ones, who bear his Image, and are advanced by his Love and Mercy: If you are Christians indeed you are taught of God to Love his servants and to see an excellency in the Saints on earth, and make them the people of your delight: Psalm 16. 1, 2. 1 Thes. 4. 9. And this must needs acquaint you with the greater Amiableness, in the most Holy God that made them Holy. O how oft have the feeling and heavenly prayers of lively believers, excited those affections in me, which before I felt not? How oft have I been warmed with their Heavenly discourse? How amiable is that Holy Heavenly disposition and conversation which appeareth in them? Their faith, their Love, their trust in God, their cheerful obedience, their hatred of sin, their desire of the good of all, their meekness and patience: how much do these advance them above the ignorant, sensual, proud, malignant and ungodly world? How Good then is that God that makes men Good? And how little is the Goodness of the best of men, compared to his unmeasurable Goodness? Whenever your converse with holy men, stirs up your Love to them, rise by it presently to the God of Saints, and let all be turned to him that giveth all, to them and you.
§. 31. And as the excellency of the saints, so their privilege and great advancement, should show you the Goodness of God that doth advance them. As oft as thou seest a saint, how poor and mean in the world soever, thou seest a living monument of the abundant kindness of the Lord: Thou seest a child of God, a member of Christ, an heir of Heaven: Thou seest one that hath all his sins forgiven him, and is snatched as a brand out of the fire, and delivered from the power of Satan, and translated into the Kingdom of Christ: Thou seest one for whom Christ hath conquered the powers of Hell; and one that is freed from the bondage of the flesh; and one that of the Devils slave, is made a Priest to offer up the sacrifices of Praise to God. Thou seest one that hath the spirit of God within ⟨p. 152⟩