A Christian Directory

Name: A Christian Directory
Author: Richard Baxter

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

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.

[ Earlier:1368–1383 of 9,947

:1368p. 155

§. 40. Direct. 17. Think oft how delightful a life it would be to thee, if thou couldst but live in the ¹Love of God: And then the complacency will provoke desire, and desire will turn thy face towards God till thou feel that thou lovest him. The Love of a friend hath its sweetness and delight: and when we Love them we feel such pleasure in our Love that we Love to Love them. How pleasant then would it be to Love thy God? O blessed joyful life, if I could but love him as much as I desire to love him! How freely could I leave the ambitious, and the covetous, and the sensual, and voluptuous to their doting, delusory, swinish love? How easily could I spare all earthly pleasures? How near should I come to the Angelical life? Could I love God as I would love him, it would fill me with continual pleasure, and be the sweetest feast that a soul can have. How easily would it quench all carnal love? How far would it raise me above these transitory things? How much should I contemn them, and pity the wretches that know no better, and have their portion in this life? How readily should I obey? And how pleasant would obedience be? How sweet would all my Meditations be, when every thought is full of Love? How sweet would all my prayers be, when constraining Love did bring me unto God, and indite and animate every word? How sweet would Sacraments be, when my ascending flaming love, should meet that wonderful descending love which cometh from Heaven to call me thither, and in living bread and spiritful wine is the nourishment and cordial of my soul? How sweet would all my speeches be, when Love commanded them, and every word were full of Love? How quiet would my Conscience be, if it had never any of this accusation against me to cast in my face to my shame and confusion, that I am wanting in Love to the blessed God? O could I but Love God with such a powerful Love as his Love and Goodness should command, I should no more question my sincerity, nor doubt any more of his Love to me? How freely then should I acknowledge his grace, and how heartily should I give him thanks for my justification, sanctification and adoption, which now I mention with doubt and fear? O how it would lift up my soul unto his praise, and make it my delight to speak good of his name? What a purifying fire would Love be in my breast, to burn up my corruptions?

§. 40. Direct. 17. Think oft how delightful a life it would be to thee, if thou couldst but live in the ¹

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

A Christian Directory

DIRECT. XII. Trust God with that soul and body which thou hast delivered up and dedicated to¹ him; and quiet thy mind in his Love and faithfulness, whatever shall appear to² thee, or befall thee in the world.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

DIRECT. XII. Trust God with that soul and body which thou hast delivered up and dedicated to1 him; and quiet thy mind in his Love and faithfulness, whatever shall appear to2 thee, or befall thee in the world.

Transcription key

DIRECT. XII. Trust God with that soul and body which thou hast delivered up and dedicated to¹ him; and quiet thy mind in his Love and faithfulness, whatever shall appear to² thee, or befall thee in the world.