A26892:1641
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.
107. By this you may gather what a confirmed Christian is, even one in whom the pure Love of God as God, and all things for God, is predominant and more potent than (not only the vicious, but also) the good, and lawful, and necessary love of himself.
108. Though Christians therefore must study themselves, and keep up a care of their own salvation, yet must they much more study God, his Greatness, Wisdom and Goodness as shining in his works and word, and in his Son, and as foreseen in the Heavenly Glory: And in this knowledge of God and Christ is life eternal. And nothing more tendeth to the holy advancement and perfection of the soul, than to keep continually due apprehensions of the Divine Nature, Properties and Glorious appearances in his works upon the Soul, so as it may become a constant course of contemplation, and the habit and constitution of the mind, and the constant guide of Heart and Life.
109. The attainment of this would be a taste of Heaven on Earth: Our wills would follow the will of God, and Rest therein, and abhor reluctancy: All our duty would be both quickened and sweetened with Love: Self-interest would be disabled from either seducing us to sin, or vexing us with griefs, cares, fears or discontents. We should so far trust soul and body in the Will and Love of God, as to be more comforted that both, are at his will than if they were absolutely at our own. And GOD being our All, the constant, fixing, satisfying object of our Love, our souls would be constantly fixed and satisfied, and live in such experience of the sanctifying grace of Christ, as would most powerfully conquer our unbelief; and in such foretasts of Heaven, as would make Life sweet, Death welcome, and Heaven unspeakably desirable to us. But it is not the mere Love of personal Goodness as our own perfection that would do all this upon us.
109. The attainment of this would be a tast of Heaven on Earth: Our wills would follow the will of God, and Rest therein, and abhor reluctancy: All our duty would be both quickned and sweetned with Love: Self-interest would be disabled from either seducing us to sin, or vexing us with griefs, cares, fears or discontents. We should so far trust soul and body in the Will and Love of God, as to be more comforted that both, are at his will than if they were absolutely at our own. And GOD being our All, the constant, fixing, satisfying object of our Love, our souls would be constantly fixed and satisfied, and live in such experience of the sanctifying grace of Christ, as would most powerfully conquer our unbelief; and in such foretasts of Heaven, as would make Life sweet, Death wellcome, and Heaven unspeakably desirable to us. But it is not the meer Love of personal Goodness as our own perfection that would do all this upon us.