A26892:1446
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.
§. 9. Direct. 7. Think much of those personal mercies which God hath showed thee from thy youth up 1until now, by which he hath manifested his care of thee, and particular kindness to thee. Though the common mercies of Gods servants be the greatest, which all other Christians share in with each one; yet personal favours peculiar to our selves, are apt much to affect us, as being near our apprehension, and expressing a peculiar care and love of us. Therefore Christians should mark Gods dealings with them, and write down the great and notable mercies of their lives, (which are not unfit for others to know, if they should see it.)
§. 9. Direct. 7. Think much of those personal mercies which God hath shewed thee from thy youth up 1untill now, by which he hath manifested his care of thee, and particular kindness to thee. Though the common mercies of Gods servants be the greatest, which all other Christians share in with each one; yet personal favours peculiar to our selves, are apt much to affect us, as being near our apprehension, and expressing a peculiar care and love of us. Therefore Christians should mark Gods dealings with them, and write down the great and notable mercies of their lives, (which are not unfit for others to know, if they should see it.)
- 1Direct. 7.
§. 10. Direct. 8. Compare thy proportion of Mercies with the rest of the peoples in the world. And 1thou wilt find that it is not one of many thousands that hath thy proportion. It is so small a part of the world that are Christians, and of those so few that are Orthodox Reformed Christians; and of those so few that are seriously godly as devoted to God; and of those so few that fall not into some perplexities, errors, scandals, or great afflictions and distress, that those few that are in none of these ranks have cause of wondrous thankfulness to God: Yea, the most afflicted Christians in the world Suppose God had divided his mercies equally to all men in the world, as health, and wealth, and honour, and grace, and the Gospel, &c. How little of them would have come to thy share in comparison of what thou now possessest? How many have less wealth or honour than thou? How many thousands have less of the Gospel and of Grace? In reason therefore thy thankfulness should be proportionable and extraordinary.