A26892:1748
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.
Part 1 › Chapter 4 › Part 2: Directions against Hardness of Heart.
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.
§. 3. Direct. 2. Think well of the unspeakable greatness and importance of those Truths and Things 1which should affect you, and of those duties which are required of you: Eternity of I•y or Torment is such an amazing thing, that one would think every thought, and every mention either of it, or of any thing that concerneth it, should go to our very hearts, and deeply affect us, and should command the obedience and service of our souls. It is true, they are things unseen, and therefore less apt in that respect to affect us, than things visible: But the Greatness of them should recompense that disadvantage a thousand fold. If our lives la• upon every word we speak, or upon every step we go, how carefully should we speak and go? But O how deeply should things affect us which our everlasting life is concerned in? One would think a thing of so great moment, as dying and passing into an endless life of pain or pleasure, should so take up and transport the mind of m•n, that we should have much ado to bring our selves to mind, regard, or talk of the inconsiderable interests of the fl•sh. How ⟨p. 205⟩unexcusable a thing, is a senseless, careless, negligent heart, when God looketh on us, and Heaven or Hell is a little before us? Yea, when we are so heavily laden with our sins, and compassed about with so many enemies, and in the midst of such great and manifold dangers, to be yet senseless under all, is (so far) to be dead. Will not the wounds of sin, and the threatenings of the Law, and the accusations of conscience make you feel? He that cannot feel the prick of a Pin, will feel the stab of a Dagger, if he be alive.
§. 3. Direct. 2. Think well of the unspeakable greatness and importance of those Truths and Things 1which should affect you, and of those duties which are required of you: Eternity of I•y or Torment is such an amazing thing, that one would think every thought, and every mention either of it, or of any thing that concerneth it, should go to our very hearts, and deeply affect us, and should command the obedience and service of our souls. It is true, they are things unseen, and therefore less apt in that respect to affect us, than things visible: But the Greatness of them should recompence that disadvantage a thousand fold. If our lives la upon every word we speak, or upon every step we go, how carefully should we speak and go? But O how deeply should things affect us which our everlasting life is concerned in? One would think a thing of so great moment, as dying and passing into an endless life of pain or pleasure, should so take up and transport the mind of mn, that we should have much ado to bring our selves to mind, regard, or talk of the inconsiderable interests of the flsh. How