A26892:1498
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.
Part 1 › Chapter 3 › Direction 15 › Directions for the glorifying God in our Lives.
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.
§. 33. Direct. 2. The more of Heaven appeareth in your Lives, the more your Lives do glorify God. Worldly and carnal men are conscious, that their glory is a vanishing glory, and their pleasure but a transitory dream, and that all their honour and wealth will shortly leave them in the dust: And1 therefore they are forced in despite of their sensuality, to bear some reverence to the life to come: And though they have not hearts themselves, to deny the pleasures and profits of the world, and to spend their days in preparing for eternity, and in laying up a treasure in Heaven, yet they are convinced that those that do so, are the best and wisest men; and they could wish that they might dye the death of the righteous, and that their last end might be like his: As Heaven exceedeth Earth, even in the reverent acknowledgement of the World, though not in their practical esteem and choice: so Heavenly Christians have a reverent acknowledgement from them (when malice doth not hide their Heavenliness by slanders,) though they will not be such themselves. Let it appear in your lives, that really you seek a higher happiness than this world affordeth, and that you verily look to live with Christ, and that as Honour, and Wealth, and Pleasure command the lives of the ungodly, so the hope of Heaven commandeth yours; Let it appear that this is your design and business in the world, and that your Hearts, and conversation are above, and that whatever you do or suffer, is for this, and not for any lower end; and this is a life that God is glorified by.
§. 33. Direct. 2. The more of Heaven appeareth in your Lives, the more your Lives do glorifie God. Worldly and carnal men are conscious, that their glory is a vanishing glory, and their pleasure but a transitory dream, and that all their honour and wealth will shortly leave them in the dust: And1 therefore they are forced in despight of their sensuality, to bear some reverence to the life to come: And though they have not hearts themselves, to deny the pleasures and profits of the world, and to spend their dayes in preparing for eternity, and in laying up a treasure in Heaven, yet they are convinced that those that do so, are the best and wisest men; and they could wish that they might dye the death of the righteous, and that their last end might be like his: As Heaven exceedeth Earth, even in the reverent acknowledgement of the World, though not in their practical esteem and choice: so Heavenly Christians have a reverent acknowledgement from them (when malice doth not hide their Heavenliness by slanders,) though they will not be such themselves. Let it appear in your lives, that really you seek a higher happiness than this world affordeth, and that you verily look to live with Christ, and that as Honour, and Wealth, and Pleasure command the lives of the ungodly, so the hope of Heaven commandeth yours; Let it appear that this is your design and business in the world, and that your Hearts, and conversation are above, and that whatever you do or suffer, is for this, and not for any lower end; and this is a life that God is glorified by.