A26892:1594
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.
76. If God were not thus to be Loved for our selves (subordinated to him) Thankfulness would not be a Christian duty.
77. Our Love to God is a Love of Friendship, and a desire of a kind of Union, Communion, or Adherence. But not such as is between creatures where there is some sort of equality: But as between them that are totally unequal; the one infinitely below the other, and absolutely subject and subordinate to him.
78. Therefore though in Love of Friendship, a Union of both parties, and consequently a conjunct interest of both (and not one alone) do make up the ultimate End of Love; yet here it should be with an utter disproportion, we being obliged to know God as Infinitely Better than our selves, and therefore to Love him incomparably more (though yet it will be but according to the proportion of the faculties of the Lover.)
79. The purest process of Love therefore, is first thankfully to perceive the Divine Efficiencies, and to Love God as communicative of what we and all things are, and have, and shall receive, and therein to see his perfect Goodness in Himself, and to Love him as God for that Goodness; wherein is nothing but the final Act which is our Love, and the Final Object which is the Infinite Good: so that the Act is mans (from God) but nothing is to be joined with God as the absolutely final Object; For that were to join somewhat with God as God.