A26892:1357
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.
§. 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⟩him; and one that hath daily intercourse with Heaven, and audience with God, and is dearly beloved by him in Christ. Thou seest in flesh a companion of Angels, and one that hath the Divine Nature, and must shortly be above the Stars in glory, and must be with Christ, and must love and magnify God for ever. And is not the amiableness of God apparent in such mercy, bestowed upon sinful man? And should we not now begin to admire him in his Saints, and glorify him in believers, who will c•me with thousands of his Angels, to be glorified and admired in them at the last? 2 Thess. 1. 10. O the abundant deliverances, preservations, provisions, encouragements, which all his servants receive •••• God! Who ever saw the just forsaken, even while they think themselves forsaken? For the L•rd […]h jud••ment▪ and forsaketh not his Saints: they are preserved f•r ever: The Law of his God is in ••s heart: none of his steps shall slide: Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end •• that man is peace: Psal. 37. 25▪ 28, 31, 37. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints: Psalm 116. 15. Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his Saints; be delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked: Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart,