A26892:1628
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.
94. By this time we may see that as Christ is the way to the Father, and the Saviour and recoverer of lapsed man from Himself to God, so •aith in Christ as such is a Mediate and Medicinal Grace and work; And that faith is but the bellows of Love; And that our first Believing in Christ, though it be the regenerating work, which generateth Love, yet is but a middle state, between an unregenerate and a regenerate: Not as a third state specifically distinct from both, but the initium of the latter; or as the embryo or state of Conception in the womb, is as to a man and no man: Faith containeth Love in fieri.
94. By this time we may see that as Christ is the way to the Father, and the Saviour and recoverer of lapsed man from Himself to God, so •aith in Christ as such is a Mediate and Medicinal Grace and work; And that faith is but the bellows of Love; And that our first Believing in Christ, though it be the regenerating work, which generateth Love, yet is but a middle state, between an unregenerate and a regenerate: Not as a third state specifically distinct from both, but the initium of the latter; or as the embrio or state of Conception in the womb, is as to a man and no man: Faith containeth Love in fieri.
95. As the Love of our selves doth most powerfully, (though not only) move us to close with Christ as our Saviour, so while hereby we are united unto Him, we have a double assistance or influx from him for the production of the purer Love of God. The one is Objective in all the Divine demonstrations of Gods Love, in his Incarnation, Life, Death, Resurrection, in his Doctrine, Example, Intercession, and in all his benefits given us; in our pardon, adoption, and the promises of future Glory. The other is in the secret operations of the Holy Spirit which he giveth us to concur with these means, and make them all effectual.