A26892:1576
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.
58. It is therefore exceeding hard in this depraved state of nature, to Love God or any thing better than our selves: because we Love more by Sense than by Reason; and Reason is weak and serveth the interest of Sense.
59. Yet the same man who is prevalently sensual, may know that he hath a rational immortal soul; and that Knowledge and Rectitude are the Felicity of this soul; and that it is the Knowledge and Love of, and Delight in God, the highest Good, that can make him perpetually happy: And therefore as these are apprehended as a means of his own Felicity, he may have some kind of Love or Will unto them all.
60. The thing therefore that every carnal man would have, is an everlasting perfect sensual pleasure; And he apprehendeth the state of his souls perfection mostly as consisting in this kind of felicity: And even the Knowledge and Love of God which he taketh for part of his felicity, is principally apprehended but as a speculative gratifying of the imagination, as carnal men now desire ⟨p. 186⟩knowledge. Or if there be a righter notion of God and Holiness to be Loved for themselves, even ultimately above our sensual pleasure and our selves, yet this is but an uneffectual dreaming Knowledge, producing but an answerable lazy wish: And it will not here prevail against the stronger Love of sensuality and fantastical pleasure, nor against inordinate self-love. And it is a sensual Heaven, under a spiritual Name, which the carnal hope for.
60. The thing therefore that every carnal man would have, is an everlasting perfect sensual pleasure; And he apprehendeth the state of his souls perfection mostly as consisting in this kind of felicity: And even the Knowledge and Love of God which he taketh for part of his felicity, is principally apprehended but as a speculative gratifying of the imagination, as carnal men now desire