A26892:1673
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.
Object. 9. It is better to Be a man, though a sinner and miserable in Hell, than not to be at all. Else God would never ordain, cause or permit it.
Answ. 1. It is better to the highest ends, Gods Glory and the Universal Order, to be a punished man, than to be nothing (when God will have it so): Because Punishment as to those highest ends is ⟨p. 195⟩good: Though it is not best for the poor miserable sinner. But the same cannot be said of sin. It is indeed better also to those highest ends, to be a Man though a sinner (while God continueth humanity): But not to be a Man and a sinner: For the latter implieth some Good to be in the sin: which hath no Good, and therefore God neither causeth it, nor willeth it, though he permit it: But though a sinful man is better than no man to Gods ends, it followeth not, that to be a man, is better than to be a good man.
Answ. 1. It is better to the highest ends, Gods Glory and the Universal Order, to be a punished man, than to be nothing (when God will have it so): Because Punishment as to those highest ends is ⟨p. 195⟩good: Though it is not best for the poor miserable sinner. But the same cannot be said of sin. It is indeed better also to those highest ends, to be a Man though a sinner (while God continueth humanity): But not to be a Man and a sinner: For the latter implyeth some Good to be in the sin: which hath no Good, and therefore God neither causeth it, nor willeth it, though he permit it: But though a sinful man is better than no man to Gods ends, it followeth not, that to be a man, is better than to be a good man.
Object. 10. If that be best and most amiable, which is most to the glory of God, then it is more amiable to be a sinner in Hell torment glorifying his Justice, than not to be at all, or to be a brute.