A26892:1368
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.
He that loveth the Candle for its light, doth love the light it self and the sun: He that loveth the wise and holy for their wisdom and holiness, doth love wisdom and holiness it self. The word and the saints being more in the reach of our sensible apprehensions, than God himself is, we ordinarily feel our Love to them, more sensibly than our Love to God; when indeed it is God in his word and servants that we love: 1 John 3. 14. Psalm 15. 4. 7. Though for want of Assurance you feel not the delights of Love, have you not a heart that would delight in it more than in all the riches of the world, if you could but get assurance of your interest? Would it not comfort you more than any thing if you could be sure he Loveth you, and could perfectly Love him and obey him? If so, it is not for want of Love that you delight not in him, but for want of Assurance. So that if God have thy heart, either in a delighting Love, or a seeking and desiring, or a lamenting mourning Love, he will not despise it or reject it. He is •igh to them that be of a broken heart, Psalm 34. 18. A broken and contrite heart is his sacrifice, which he will not despise, Psalm 51. 17. The good Lord will have mercy on every one that prepareth their hearts to seek him, though they do it not according to the preparation of the sanctuary. 2 Cor. 30. 18, 19. By these Evidences you may discern the sincerity of Love in small degrees; and so you may make Love the occasion of more Love, by discerning that Goodness of God which is manifested to you in the least.
He that loveth the Candle for its light, doth love the light it self and the sun: He that loveth the wise and holy for their wisdom and holiness, doth love wisdom and holiness it self. The word and the saints being more in the reach of our sensible apprehensions, than God himself is, we ordinarily feel our Love to them, more sensibly than our Love to God; when indeed it is God in his word and servants that we love: 1 Iohn 3. 14. Psalm 15. 4. 7