A26892:1578
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.
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 ⟨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 phantastical pleasure, nor against inordinate self-love. And it is a sensual Heaven, under a spiritual Name, which the carnal hope for.
61. This carnal man may Love God as a Means▪ to this Felicity so dreamed of; as knowing that without him it cannot be had, and tasting corporal comforts from him here: And he may Love Holiness as it removeth his contrary calamities, and as he thinks it is crowned with such a reward. But he had rather have that reward of it self without Holiness.