A26892:1583
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.
65. Yet this good of our own is not the highest, nor all the good which God intendeth, and we must intend, but it is subordinate unto the greater good fore-mentioned.
66. As a carnal man may have opinionative uneffectual convictions, that God and his Love are his spiritual felicity (better than sensual) yea, and that God is his ultimate End above his own felicity it self, so the sanctifying of man consisteth in bringing up these convictions to be truly effectual and practical, to renew and rule the Mind, and Will, and Life.
67. Whether this be done by first knowing God as the Beginning and End, above our selves, and then knowing (effectually) that he is mans felicity; or whether self-love be first excited to Love him as our own felicity, and next we be carried up to Love him for himself as our highest End, it cometh all to one when the work is done; And we cannot prove that God tieth himself constantly to either of these methods alone. But experience telleth us, that the later is the usual way; and that as Nature, so Grace beginneth with the smallest seed, and groweth upward towards perfection: And that self-love and desire of▪ endless felicity and fear of endless misery, are the first notable effects or changes on a repenting soul.
67. Whether this be done by first knowing God as the Beginning and End, above our selves, and then knowing (effectually) that he is mans felicity; or whether self-love be first excited to Love him as our own felicity, and next we be carryed up to Love him for himself as our highest End, it cometh all to one when the work is done; And we cannot prove that God tyeth himself constantly to either of these methods alone. But experience telleth us, that the later is the usual way; and that as Nature, so Grace beginneth with the smallest seed, and groweth upward towards perfection: And that selflove and desire of endless felicity and fear of endless misery, are the first notable effects or changes on a repenting soul.