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 13: DIRECT. XIII. Diligently labour that God and Holiness may be thy chief DELIGHT: and thy…Part 1 › Chapter 3 › Direction 13: DIRECT. XIII. Diligently labour that God and Holiness may be thy chief DELIGHT: and thi…

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:1422–1437 of 9,947

:1422p. 165

§. 16. Direct. 14. Make use of all that Prosperity and lawful pleasure, which God giveth you in outward ¹things, for the increase and advantage of your Delight in God. Though corrupted nature is apter to abuse Prosperity and earthly delights, than any other state, to the diverting of the heart from God; and almost all the Devils poison is given in sugared or gilded allectives; yet the primitive natural use of prosperity, of health, and plenty, and honour, and peace, is to lead up the mind to God, and give us a taste of his spiritual delights! That the neighbourhood of the Body might be the souls advantage; and that God, who in this life will be seen by us but in a glass, and will give out his comforts by his appointed means, might make advantage of sensitive delights, for his own reception, and the communications of his Love and pleasure unto man: That as soon as the eye or ear or taste perceiveth the delightfulness of their several objects, the holy soul might presently take the hint and motion, and be carried up to delightful thoughts of him that giveth us all these delights. And doubtless so far as we can make use of a Delight in friends, or food, or health, or habitations or any accommodations of our Bodies, to further our Delight in God, or to remove those melancholy fears or sorrows, which would hinder this spiritual Delight, it is not only Lawful, but our duty to use them, with that moderation as tendeth to this end.

§. 16. Direct. 14. Make use of all that Prosperity and lawful pleasure, which God giveth you in outward ¹things, for the increase and advantage of your Delight in God. Though corrupted nature is apter to abuse Prosperity and earthly delights, than any other state, to the diverting of the heart from God; and allmost all the Devils poyson is given in sugered or guilded allectives; yet the primitive natural use of prosperity, of health, and plenty, and honour, and peace, is to lead up the mind to God, and give us a tast of his spiritual delights! That the neighbourhood of the Body might be the souls advantage; and that God, who in this life will be seen by us but in a glass, and will give out his comforts by his appointed means, might make advantage of sensitive delights, for his own reception, and the communications of his Love and pleasure unto man: That as soon as the eye or ear or tast perceiveth the delightfulness of their several objects, the holy soul might presently take the hint and motion, and be carried up to delightful thoughts of him that giveth us all these delights. And doubtless so far as we can make use of a Delight in friends, or food, or health, or habitations or any accomodations of our Bodies, to further our Delight in God, or to remove those melancholy fears or sorrows, which would hinder this spiritual Delight, it is not only Lawful, but our duty to use them, with that moderation as tendeth to this end.

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A Christian Directory

DIRECT. XIV. Let Thankfulness to God thy Creator, Redeemer and Regenerator, be the very¹ temperament of thy soul, and faithfully expressed by thy Tongue and Life.

DIRECT. XIV. Let Thankfulness to God thy Creator, Redeemer and Regenerater, be the very¹ temperament of thy soul, and faithfully expressed by thy Tongue and Life.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

DIRECT. XIV. Let Thankfulness to God thy Creator, Redeemer and Regenerator, be the very1 temperament of thy soul, and faithfully expressed by thy Tongue and Life.

DIRECT. XIV. Let Thankfulness to God thy Creator, Redeemer and Regenerater, be the very1 temperament of thy soul, and faithfully expressed by thy Tongue and Life.

Transcription key

DIRECT. XIV. Let Thankfulness to God thy Creator, Redeemer and Regenerator, be the very¹ temperament of thy soul, and faithfully expressed by thy Tongue and Life.

DIRECT. XIV. Let Thankfulness to God thy Creator, Redeemer and Regenerater, be the very¹ temperament of thy soul, and faithfully expressed by thy Tongue and Life.