A26892:1499
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.
§. 34. Direct. 3. It glorifieth God, by showing the excellency of faith, when we contemn the riches 1and honours of the world, and live above the worldlings life, accounting that a despicable thing, which he accounts his happiness, and loseth his soul for. As men despise the toys of children, so a believer must take the transitory vanities of this world, for matters so inconsiderable, as not to be worthy his regard, save only as they are the matter of his duty to God, or as they relate to him or the life to come: Saith Paul, 2 Cor. 4. 18. We look not at the things which are seen (they are not worth our observing or looking at) but at the things which are not seen: For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen, are eternal. The world is under a believers feet, while his eye is fixed on the celestial world. He travelleth through it to his home, and he will be thankful if his way be fair, and if he have his daily bread: but it is not his home, nor doth he make any great matter, whether his usage in it be kind or unkind, or whether his Inn be well adorned or not. He is almost indifferent whether for so short a time, he be rich or poor, in a high or in a low condition, further than as it tendeth to his Masters service. Let men see that you have a higher birth than they, and higher hopes, and higher hearts, by setting light by that which their hearts are set upon as their felicity. When seeming Christians are as worldly and ambitious as others, and make as great a matter of their gain, and wealth, and honour, it showeth that they do but cover the base and sordid Spirit of worldlings, with the visor of the Christian name, to deceive themselves, ⟨p. 178⟩and bring the faith of Christians into scorn, and dishonour the holy name which they us•r•.
§. 34. Direct. 3. It glorifieth God, by shewing the excellency of faith, when we contemn the riches 1and honours of the world, and live above the worldlings life, accounting that a despicable thing, which he accounts his happiness, and loseth his soul for. As men despise the toyes of children, so a believer must take the transitory vanities of this world, for matters so inconsiderable, as not to be worthy his regard, save only as they are the matter of his duty to God, or as they relate to him or the life to come: Saith Paul,