A26892:1645
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.
If all this be so, you have not only attained sincerity (which is not now the question), but this Divine nature, and high confirmed Holiness; Though withal you never so much desire your own salvation, which is but to desire more of this Love: And though your Nature have such a sensitive selfish desire of Life and Pleasure, as is brought into subjection to this Divine Love.
If all this be so, you have not only attained sincerity (which is not now the question), but this Divine nature, and high confirmed Holiness; Though withall you never so much desire your own salvation, which is but to desire more of this Love: And though your Nature have such a sensitive selfish desire of Life and Pleasure, as is brought into subjection to this Divine Love.
If any be offended that so many propositions must be used in opening the case, and say that they rather confound mens wits than inform them; I Answer, 1. The matter is high, and I could not ascend by a shorter ladder. Nor have I the faculty of climbing it per saltum, stepping immediately from the lowest to the highest part: If any will make the case plainer in fewer words, and with less ado, I shall thankfully accept his labour as a very great benefit when I see it: 2. Either all these particulars are really diverse, and really pertinent to the matter in question or not: If not, it is not blaming the number that will evince it, but naming such particulars as are either unjustly or unnecessarily either distinguished or inserted: And if it be but repeating the same things that is blamed, I shall be glad if all these words and more would make such weighty cases clear; and do confess that after all I need more light, and am almost stalled with the difficulties my self. But if the particulars can be neither proved false nor needless, but the Reader be only overset with multitude, I would entreat him to be patient with other men that are more laborious and more capable of knowledge; And let him know that if his difficulties do not rather engage him in a diligent search, than tempt him to impatience and accusation, I number him not only with the slothful contemners, but therefore also with the enemies of knowledge; even as I reckon the neglecters and contemners and accusers of Piety among its enemies.