A26892:1384
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.
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.
§. 4. III. The Counterfeits of this Trust are these: 1. When indeed we trust in our wit, or power, or shifts, or friends, or in some means or creatures only, or in co-ordination with God, but pretend and think that we do it but in subordination to him, and that our primary trust is in him alone. The detection of this is by trying how we can trust God alone, when he giveth us a promise and no probable means. 2. Pretending to trust God alone in the neglect of those means which he hath appointed us to use; and in the neglect of those duties which he hath made the condition of his promises: And this Trust is but a self-deceiving cover for sin and sloth. 3. Pretending to Trust God in ⟨p. 158⟩the use of self-devised sinful means; when he hath promised a blessing to no such means, but threatened them with a curse. 4. Thinking we Trust God, when it is some false revelation of the Devil, or some dilution of deceivers, or some dream, or fancy, or brain-sick proud conceit of our own, which indeed we believe, and ground our Trust upon: as those do that are deluded by false Prophets and false Teachers, and fantastical fancies of their corrupted imaginations. 6. When men in presumption and carnal security will rashly venture their souls in the darkness of uncertainty (as well as in the neglect of a holy life) and cast away all the sense of their miserable state, and all the necessary fear and care that tendeth to their recovery, and persuade themselves that they are in no great danger, or that their care will do no good, and call all this, A trusting God with their salvation. 7. A pretending to trust God for that which is contrary to his Nature: as to love the wicked with comply c•n•y; or to take them into Heaven. 8. A pretending to trust God for that which is contrary to his W••d: as to save the unregenerate and unholy: And so [not-believing him] it self, is taken for a believing in him, or trusting him. 9. Pretending to believe and trust him for that which neither his Nature or his Word did ever declare to be his will: in matters which he hath kept secret, or never gave us any revelation of: such is that which some call A particular faith: As to believe in prayer that some particular never promised shall be granted, because we ask it, o• because we feel a strong persuasion that it will be so.