A26892:1373
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.
§. 41. Direct. 18. In thy Meditations upon all these incentives of Love, preach them over earnestly to 1thy Heart, and expostulate and plead with it by way of soliloquy, till thou feel the fire begin to burn. Do not only Think on the Arguments of Love, but dispute it out with thy Conscience, and by expostulating earnest reasonings with thy heart, endeavour to affect it. There is much more moving force in this earnest talking to our selves, than in bare cogitation, that breaks not out into mental words. Imitate the most powerful Preacher that ever thou wast acquainted with: And just as he pleadeth the case with his hearers, and urgeth the truth and duty on them, by reason and importunity, so do thou in secret with thy self. There is more in this than most Christians are aware of, or use to practise. It is a great part of a Christians skill and duty to be a good preacher to himself. This is a lawful and a gainful way of preaching. No body here can make question of thy call, nor deny thee a License, nor silence thee, if thou silence not thy self. Two or three sermons a week from others, is a fair proportion: but two or three sermons a day from thy self, is ordinarily too little. Therefore I have added soliloquies to many of these Directions for Love, to show you how by such pleadings with your selves, to affect your hearts and kindle Love.
§. 41. Direct. 18. In thy Meditations upon all these incentives of Love, preach them over earnestly to 1thy Heart, and expostulate and plead with it by way of soliloquy, till thou feel the fire begin to burn. Do not only Think on the Arguments of Love, but dispute it out with thy Conscience, and by expostulating earnest reasonings with thy heart, endeavour to affect it. There is much more moving force in this earnest talking to our selves, than in bare cogitation, that breaks not out into mental words. Imitate the most powerful Preacher that ever thou wast acquainted with: And just as he pleadeth the case with his hearers, and urgeth the truth and duty on them, by reason and importunity, so do thou in secret with thy self. There is more in this than most Christians are aware of, or use to practise. It is a great part of a Christians skill and duty to be a good preacher to himself. This is a lawful and a gainful way of preaching. No body here can make question of thy call, nor deny thee a License, nor silence thee, if thou silence not thy self. Two or three sermons a week from others, is a fair proportion: but two or three sermons a day from thy self, is ordinarily too little. Therefore I have added soliloquies to many of these Directions for Love, to shew you how by such pleadings with your selves, to affect your hearts and kindle Love.