A26892:1530
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.
12. Sensitive self-love containeth in it, 1. A Love of Life, and that is, of Individual self-existence; 2, And a Love of all sensitive Pleasures of Life, and, 3. Consequently a Love of the Means of Life and Pleasure.
13. In sensitive self-love therefore SELF, that is, Life, is both the Material and Formal object: We love our selves even because we are ourselves: We love this individual person, and loath annihilation or dissolution.
14. Though the will (or higher faculties) are Naturally inclined also to Love our selves, and our own felicity; yet they exercise this inclination with a certain Liberty: And though the Act of simple Complacency or Volition towards our own Being and Felicity be so Free as yet to be Necessary; yet the Comparate Act (by which comparing several Goods, we choose one and refuse another) may be so Free as not to be necessary; that is, A man may will his own Annihilation rather than some greater evil (of which anon); Not as good in it self, and therefore not willed for it self, but as a Means to a greater good; and so he may Less Nill it than a greater evil.
14. Though the will (or higher faculties) are Naturally inclined also to Love our selves, and our own felicity; yet they exercise this inclination with a certain Liberty: And though the Act of simple Complacencie or Volition towards our own Being and Felicity be so Free as yet to be Necessary; yet the Comparate Act (by which comparing several Goods, we choose one and refuse another) may be so Free as not to be necessary; that is, A man may will his own Annihilation rather than some greater evil (of which anon); Not as good in it self, and therefore not willed for it self, but as a Means to a greater good; and so he may Less Nill it than a greater evil.