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Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Part 1
Chapter 3
Appendix
p. 188

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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Householder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not about WORDS, to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to show thy self approved UNTO GOD, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Babblings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICKS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICKS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICKS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Housholder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not aboutTitle page of A Christian Directory, London, 1673

A26892:1609

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 1 › Chapter 3 › Appendix: APPENDIX.

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.

[ Earlier:1606–1621 of 9,947

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5. He repenteth, that is, is sorry that he hath not all this while Loved God as God, and sought felicity therein.

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6. He is willing and desirous for the time to come, to Love God as God above himself, and to Please him before himself; that is, to have a heart disposed to do it.

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7. He findeth that he cannot do it of himself, nor with his old carnal indisposed heart.

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8. He believeth that Christ by his Doctrine and Spirit, is the appointed Saviour to bring him to it.

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9. He gladly consenteth that Christ shall be such a Saviour to him, and shall not only justify him from guilt, and save him from sensible punishment, but also thus bring him to the Perfect Love of God.

9. He gladly consenteth that Christ shall be such a Saviour to him, and shall not only justifie him from guilt, and save him from sensible punishment, but also thus bring him to the Perfect Love of God.

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Cited: :1609
On this page: :1606–1621
Section: :1513–1682
Whole work: 9,947 passages

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Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (London, 1673), pt. 1, ch. 3, p. 188. EEBO-TCP A26892.

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The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Printer: Robert White
Bookseller: Nevill Simmons
Year: 1673
Size: [35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port.
Words: 1,175,050
Catalogue: Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847
Text: EEBO-TCP A26892

Passages: 9,947
Sections: 502

The author

Richard Baxter 1615–1691

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

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WORDS,

to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to shew thy self approved

UNTO GOD,

a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

RIGHTLY DIVIDING

the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Bablings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.

2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.

LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.

:1611p. 188

10. He had rather Christ would bring him to this by sanctification, than to enjoy all the pleasures of sin for a season, yea, or to have a perpetual sensitive felicity, without this perfect Love to God, and Pleasing of him.

:1612p. 189

11. God being declared to him in Jesus Christ, a God of Love, forgiving sin, and conditionally giving pardon and life to his very Enemies, as he is hence the easilier Loved with Thankfulness for-our selves, so the Goodness of his Nature in himself is hereby insinuated and notified with some secret complacency to the soul. He is sure Good that is so merciful and ready to do Good, and that so wonderfully as in Christ is manifested.

:1613p. 189

12. So that as Baptism (which is but explicit Justifying faith, or the expression of it in covenanting with God) is our Dedication by Vow to all the Three Persons; to God the Father, as well as to the Son and Holy Ghost; so faith it self is such an Heart-dedication.

12. So that as Baptism (which is but explicite Justifying faith, or the expression of it in covenanting with God) is our Dedication by Vow to all the Three Persons; to God the Father, as well as to the Son and Holy Ghost; so faith it self is such an Heart-dedication.

:1614p. 189

13. Herein I dedicate my self to God as God, to be Glorified and Pleased in my Justification, Sanctification and Glorification, that is, in my Reception of the fruits of his Love, and in my Loving him above all as God: or to be Pleased in me, and I in him for ever.

:1615p. 189

14. In all this the understanding acknowledgeth God to be God (by Assent) and to be Loved above my self, and the Will desireth so to Love him: But the object of the Will here directly, is its own future Disposition and Act: It doth not say, I do already Love God, as God above my self; but only I would so Love him, and I would be so changed as may dispose me so to Love him; I acknowledge that I should so love him, and that I do Love him for his mercies to my self and others. Nor can it be said, that Volo Veil or Volo amare, a desire to Love God as such, is direct Love to God. Because it is not all one to have God to be the object of my Will, and to have my own Act of Willing or Loving to be the object of it. And because that a man may for other ends (as for mere fear of Hell) Will to Will or Love, that which yet he doth not Will or Love, at least for it self.

14. In all this the understanding acknowledgeth God to be God (by Assent) and to be Loved above my self, and the Will desireth so to Love him: But the object of the Will here directly, is its own future Disposition and Act: It doth not say, I do already Love God, as God above my self; but only I would so Love him, and I would be so changed as may dispose me so to Love him; I acknowledge that I should so love him, and that I do Love him for his mercies to my self and others. Nor can it be said, that Volo Velle or Volo amare, a desire to Love God as such, is direct Love to God. Because it is not all one to have God to be the object of my Will, and to have my own Act of Willing or Loving to be the object of it. And because that a man may for other ends (as for meer fear of Hell) Will to Will or Love, that which yet he doth not Will or Love, at least for it self.

:1616p. 189

15. In this case above all others, it is manifest that every conviction of the understanding doth not accordingly determine the Will. For in this new convert the understanding saith plainly, God is to be Loved as God, above my self: But the Will saith, I cannot do it, though I would. I am so captivated by self-love, and so void of the true Love of God, that I can say no more, but that Propter me vellem amare Deum propter se; I love my own felicity so well, that I love God as my felicity and Love him under the notion of God the perfect Good, who is infinitely better than my self; and desire a heart to Love him more than my self; but I cannot say, that I yet do it, or that I love him best or most, whom I acknowledge to be best, and as such to be loved.

:1617p. 189

16. Yet in all this there is not only semen amoris, a seed of divine love to God as God, but the foundation of it laid, and some obscure secret conception of it beginning, or in fieri, in the soul. For while the understanding confesseth God to be most Amiable, and the Will desireth that felicity which doth consist in loving him above my self, and experience telleth me, that he is Good to me, and therefore good in himself, it can hardly be conceived, but that in all this there is some kind of secret love to God, as better than my self.

:1618p. 189

87. In all this note, that it is one thing to Love God under the notion of the Infinite Good, better than my self and all things, and another thing for the will to Love him more, as that notion obligeth.

:1619p. 189

88. And the reason why these are often separated, is, because besides a slight intellectual apprehension, there is necessary to the Wills just determination, a clear and deep apprehension, with a right disposition of the Will, and a suscitation of the Active Power.

:1620p. 189

89. Yea, and every slight Volition or Velleity will not conquer opposing Concupiscence and Volitions: nor is every Will effectual to command the life, and prevail against its contrary.

:1621p. 189

90. Therefore I conceive, that in our first believing in Christ, even to Justification, though our Reason tell us that he is more Amiable than our selves, and we are desirous so to Love him for the future, and have an obscure weak beginning of Love to God as God, or as so conceived; yet 1. The strength of sensitive self-love, maketh our Love to our selves more passionately strong; 2. And that Reason, at least in its Degree of Apprehension is too Intense in apprehending our self-interest, and too remiss in apprehending the Amiableness of God as God; And so far even our Rational Love is yet greater to our selves, though as to the Notion, God hath the preeminence: 3. And that in this whole affair of our Baptismal Covenanting, Consent or Christianity, our Love to our own felicity as such, is more Powerful and effectual, in moving the soul, and prevailing for our resolution for a new life, than is our Love to God as for himself, and as God.

90. Therefore I conceive, that in our first believing in Christ, even to Justification, though our Reason tell us that he is more Amiable than our selves, and we are desirous so to Love him for the future, and have an obscure weak beginning of Love to God as God, or as so conceived; yet 1. The strength of sensitive self-love, maketh our Love to our selves more passionately strong; 2. And that Reason, at least in its Degree of Apprehension is too Intense in apprehending our self-interest, and too remiss in apprehending the Amiableness of God as God; And so far even our Rational Love is yet greater to our selves, though as to the Notion, God hath the preheminence: 3. And that in this whole affair of our Baptismal Covenanting, Consent or Christianity, our Love to our own felicity as such, is more Powerful and effectual, in moving the soul, and prevailing for our resolution for a new life, than is our Love to God as for himself, and as God.

Puritans

England

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

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