A26892:1604
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.
86. But because this is a great, though tender point, and it that I have more generally touched in the Case, Whether Faith in Christ, or Love to God as our End go first; and because indeed it is it for which I principally premise the rest of these Propositions, I shall presume to venture a little further, and more distinctly to tell you, how much of Love to God is in our first Justifying faith, and how much not? and how far the state of such a Believer is a middle state between mere Preparation, or common Grace, and proper Sanctification or possession of the Holy Ghost? And so how far Vocation giving us the first faith, and Repentance differeth from Sanctification: And the rather because my unriper thoughts and Writings defended Mr. Pemble, who made them one, in opposition to the stream of our Divines. And I conceive that all these following Acts about the point in question, are found in every true Believer, at his first faith, though not distinctly noted by himself.
86. But because this is a great, though tender point, and it that I have more generally touched in the Case, Whether Faith in Christ, or Love to God as our End go first; and because indeed it is it for which I principally premise the rest of these Propositions, I shall presume to venture a little further, and more distinctly to tell you, how much of Love to God is in our first Justifying faith, and how much not? and how far the state of such a Believer is a middle state between meer Preparation, or common Grace, and proper Sanctification or possession of the Holy Ghost? And so how far Vocation giving us the first faith, and Repentance differeth from Sanctification: And the rather because my unriper thoughts and Writings defended Mr. Pemble, who made them one, in opposition to the stream of our Divines. And I conceive that all these following Acts about the point in question, are found in every true Believer, at his first faith, though not distinctly noted by himself.
1. The sinner hath an Intellectual notice, that there is a God (for an Atheist is not a believer) and so that this God is the First and Last, the best of beings, the Maker, Owner, Ruler and Benefactor of the world, the just end of all created being and actions, and to be Loved and Pleased above our selves: (For all this is but to believe that there is a God.)