A26892:1587
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.
69. And the hypocrites uneffectual Love to God and Holiness is much discovered in this, that (as he loveth dead Saints, and their Images and Holy-days, because they trouble him not) so he best loveth (opinionatively) and least hateth (practically) the Saints in Heaven, and the Holiness that is far from him, and God as he conceiveth of him as one that is in Heaven to glorify men; But he hateth (practically, though not professedly) the God that would make him holy, and deprive him of all his sinful pleasures, or condemn him for them: And he can better like Holiness in his Pastor, neighbour or child, than in Himself.
69. And the hypocrites uneffectual Love to God and Holiness is much discovered in this, that (as he loveth dead Saints, and their Images and Holy-dayes, because they trouble him not) so he best loveth (opinionatively) and least hateth (practically) the Saints in Heaven, and the Holiness that is far from him, and God as he conceiveth of him as one that is in Heaven to glorifie men; But he hateth (practically, though not professedly) the God that would make him holy, and deprive him of all his sinful pleasures, or condemn him for them: And he can better like Holiness in his Pastor, neighbour or child, than in Himself.
70. Therefore sincerity much consisteth in the Love of self-holiness; but not as for self alone; but as carrying self and all to God.
71. As the Sun-beams do without any interception reach the eye, and by them without interception our sight ascendeth and extendeth to the Sun; so Gods communicated Goodness and Glorious Revelation extend through, and by all inferior mediums to our understandings, and our wills; And our Knowledge and Love ascendeth and extendeth through all, and by all again to God. And as it were unnatural for the eye illuminated by the Sun, to see it self only, or to see the mediate creatures, and not to see the Light and Sun by which it seeth (nay, it doth least see it self); so is it unnatural for the soul to understand and Love it self alone (which it little understandeth and should Love with self-denial) and the Creatures only; and not to Love God by whom we know and Love the creature.