A26892:1452
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.
§. 15. Direct. 13. Think oft how great a mercy it is that Thankfulness for mercy is made so great 1a part of thy duty. Is it not the sweetest employment in the world, to be always thinking on so sweet a thing as the mercies of God, and to be mentioning them with glad and thankful hearts? Is not this a sweeter kind of work, than to be abusing mercy, and casting it away upon fleshly lusts, and sinning it away, and turning it against us? Yea, is it not a sweeter work, than to be groaning under sin and misery? If God had as much sixth your thoughts upon saddening heart-breaking objects, as he hath (by his commands) upon reviving and delighting objects, you might have thought Religion a melancholy life. But when sorrow is required but as preparatory to delight, and cheerful Thanksgiving is made the life and sum of your Religion, who but a Monster will think it grievous, to live in Thankfulness to our great Benefactor? To think thus of the sweetness of it, will do much to incline us to it, and make it easy to us.
§. 15. Direct. 13. Think oft how great a mercy it is that Thankfulness for mercy is made so great 1a part of thy duty. Is it not the sweetest employment in the world, to be alwayes thinking on so sweet a thing as the mercies of God, and to be mentioning them with glad and thankful hearts? Is not this a sweeter kind of work, than to be abusing mercie, and casting it away upon fleshly lusts, and sinning it away, and turning it against us? Yea, is it not a sweeter work, than to be groaning under sin and misery? If God had as much fixt your thoughts upon sadning heart-breaking objects, as he hath (by his commands) upon reviving and delighting objects, you might have thought Religion a melancholly life. But when sorrow is required but as preparatory to delight, and chearful Thanksgiving is made the life and sum of your Religion, who but a Monster will think it grievous, to live in Thankfulness to our great Benefactor? To think thus of the sweetness of it, will do much to incline us to it, and make it easie to us.
- 1Direct. 13.