A26892:1408
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.
§. 2. Direct. 2. Understand how much of this holy Delight may be hoped for on earth. Though too1 many Christians feel much more fear and sorrow in their Religion than Delight: yet every true Christian doth esteem God more Detectable, or fit, and worthy of his Delights, if he could enjoy him▪ whereas to the carnal, fleshly things do seem more fit to be their Delights. And though most Christians reach not very high in their Delights in God, yet God hath prescribed us such means in which, if we faithfully used them we might reach much higher: And this much we might well expect: 1. So much as might make our lives incomparably more quiet, contented and pleasant to us, than are the lives of the greatest or happiest worldlings. 2. So much as might make our thoughts of God and the life to come to be ready, welcome, pleasant thoughts to us. 3. So much as might greatly prevail against our inordinate griefs and fears▪ and our backwardness to duties, and weariness in them; and might make Religion an ordinary Pleasure. 4. So much as might take off our hankering desire after unnecessary recreations and unlawful pleasures of the flesh. 5. So much as might sweeten all our mercies to us, with a spiritual perfume or relish. 6. So much as might make some sufferings joyful, and the rest more easy to us. 7. And so much as might make the thoughts of death less terrible to us, and make us desire to be with Christ.
§. 2. Direct. 2. Understand how much of this holy Delight may be hoped for on earth. Though too1 many Christians feel much more fear and sorrow in their Religion than Delight: yet every true Christian doth esteem God more Detectable, or fit, and worthy of his Delights, if he could enjoy him▪ whereas to the carnal, fleshly things do seem more fit to be their Delights. And though most Christians reach not very high in their Delights in God, yet God hath prescribed us such means in which, if we faithfully used them we might reach much higher: And this much we might well expect: 1. So much as might make our lives incomparably more quiet, contented and pleasant to us, than are the lives of the greatest or happiest worldlings. 2. So much as might make our thoughts of God and the life to come to be ready, welcom, pleasant thoughts to us. 3. So much as might greatly prevail against our inordinate griefs and fears and our backwardness to duties, and weariness in them; and might make Religion an ordinary Pleasure. 4. So much as might take off our hankering desire after unnecessary recreations and unlawful pleasures of the flesh. 5. So much as might sweeten all our mercies to us, with a spiritual perfume or relish. 6. So much as might make some sufferings joyful, and the rest more easie to us. 7. And so much as might make the thoughts of death less terrible to us, and make us desire to be with Christ.