A26892:1712
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.
§. 22. Direct. 19. When you see the evidence of Divine Revelation and authority, it is enough to silence 1your doubts and cavils about particular words or circumstances. For you know that God is True and Infallible; and you know that you are silly ignorant worms, that are utterly at a loss, when you have •ot one at hand to open every difficulty to you: And that all arts and sciences seem full of difficulties and contradictions to ignorant unexperienced novices.
- 1Direct. 19.
§. 23. Direct. 20. Allow all along in your learning, for the difficulties which must needs arise, from 1the translation, ambiguity of all humane language, change and variety of words and customs, time, place and other circumstances, and especially from your own unacquaintedness with all these: That so your own infirmities and ignorance, and mistakes in reasoning, may not be ascribed to the truth.
- 1Direct. 20.
§. 24 Direct. 21. Understand the proper use of holy Scripture, and so how far it is Divine; that so you 1be not tempted to unbelief, by expecting in it that which never was intended, and then finding your causeless expectations frustrate. It is not so Divine as to the terms, and style, and order, and such modal and circumstantial matters, as if all the exactness might be expected in it, that God could put into a Book: Nor is it intended as a system of Physics, or Logic, or any subservient sciences or arts: But it is an Infallible Revelation of the will of God, for the Government of the Church, and the conducting men to life eternal: And it is ordered and worded so as to partake of such humane infirmity, as yet shall no way impeach the Truth or efficacy of it; but rather make it more suitable to the generality of men, whose infirmity required such a style and manner of handling. So that as a child of God hath a Body from Parents, which yet is of God, but s of God, as to partake of the infirmities of the parents; or rather as Adam had a body from God, but yet from Earth; and accordingly frail; but a soul more immediately from God, which was more pure and divine; so