A26892:1360
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.
When the Light first shined in thine eyes, and thou hadst first experience of the knowledge of God, thou thoughtest it something, and rejoicedst in the light: If then thou couldst have suddenly attained but to so much, as thou hast now attained, wouldst thou have called it Nothing? Would it not have seemed a greater treasure to thee, than to have known both the Indies as thine own? O be not unthankful for the little which thou hast received, when God might have shut thee out in that darkness which the greatest part of the world lieth in; and have left thee to thy self to have desired no higher knowledge, than such as may feed thy fancy, and pride, and lust. Art thou so far drowned in flesh and sense, as to take Intellectual apprehensions for dreams, unless thy sense may see and feel? Wilt thou take thy soul, thy self for nothing, because thou art not to be seen or felt? Shall no Subjects honour and obey their King, but they that have seen his Court and him? Desire the fullest and the nearest sight; the purest and the strongest Love; and desire and spare not the li•e where all this will be had: But take heed of being too hasty with God, and unthankful for the mercies of the way. Know better the difference betwixt thy travail and thy home: And know what is fit for passengers to expect: Humbly submit to an obedient waiting in a life of faith: And make much of the Testament of Christ, till thou be at age to possess the inheritance. Thou must live, and love, and run, and fight, and conquer, and suffer by saith, if ever thou wilt come to •••• and to possess the Crown.
When the Light first shined in thine eyes, and thou hadst first experience of the knowledge of God, thou thoughtst it something, and rejoycedst in the light: If then thou couldst have suddenly attain•d but to so much, as thou hast now attained, wouldst thou have called it Nothing? Would it not have seemed a greater treasure to thee, than to have known both the Indies as thine own? O be not unthankful for the little which thou hast received, when God might have shut thee out in that darkness which the greatest part of the world lyeth in; and have left thee to thy self to have desired no higher knowledge, than such as may feed thy fansie, and pride, and lust. Art thou so far drowned in flesh and sense, as to take Intellectual apprehensions for dreams, unless thy sense may see and feel? Wilt thou take thy soul, thy self for nothing, because thou art not to be seen or felt? Shall no Subjects honour and obey their King, but they that have seen his Court and him? Desire the fullest and the nearest sight; the purest and the strongest Love; and desire and spare not the lie where all this will be had: But take heed of being too hasty with God, and unthankful for the mercies of the way. Know better the difference betwixt thy travail and thy home: And know what is fit for passengers to expect: Humbly submit to an obedient waiting in a life of faith: And make much of the Testament of Christ, till thou be at age to possess the inheritance. Thou must live, and love, and run, and fight, and conquer, and suffer by saith, if ever thou wilt come to and to possess the Crown.