A26892:1407
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.
§. 1. Direct. 1. Rightly understand what Delight in God it is, that you must seek and exercise. It1 is not a mere sensitive Delight, which is exercised about the objects of sense 2or fantasy, and is common to beasts with men: Nor is it the delights of immediate intuition of God, such as the blessed have in Heaven; nor is it an Enthusiastic delight, consisting in irrational raptures, and joys which we can give no account of the Reason of them. Nor is it a Delight inconsistent with sorrow and fear, when they are duties: But it is the solid rational complacency of the soul in God and Holiness, arising from the apprehensions of that in him, which is justly delectable to us: And it is such as in estimation of its object, and inward complacency and gladness, though not in passionate joy or mirth, must excel our delight in temporal pleasure; and must be the end of all our humiliations and other inferior duties.
§. 1. Direct. 1. RIghtly understand what Delight in God it is, that you must seek and exercise. It1 is not a meer sensitive Delight, which is exercised about the objects of sense 2or ph•ntasie, and is common to beasts with men: Nor is it the delights of immediate intuition of God, such as the blessed have in Heaven; nor is it an Enthusiastick delight, consisting in irrational raptures, and joys which we can give no account of the Reason of them. Nor is it a Delight inconsistent with sorrow and fear, when they are duties: But it is the solid rational complacencie of the soul in God and Holiness, arising from the apprehensions of that in him, which is justly delectable to us: And it is such as in estimation of its object, and inward complacency and gladness, though not in passionate joy or mirth, must excel our delight in temporal pleasure; and must be the end of all our humiliations and other inferior duties.
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