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Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Part 1
Chapter 4
Part 2
p. 207

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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Householder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not about WORDS, to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to show thy self approved UNTO GOD, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Babblings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICKS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICKS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICKS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Housholder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not aboutTitle page of A Christian Directory, London, 1673

A26892:1758

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

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.

[ Earlier:1755–1770 of 9,947

:1755p. 207

1. They are the servants of sin, Rom. 6. 16. in the power of it; corrupted by it; and yet they feel it not.

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2. They have the guilt of many thousand sins upon them, all is unpardoned that ever they committed, and yet they feel it not.

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3. They have the threatenings and curses of God in force against them in his Word; even words so terrible, as you would think might affright them out of their sins or their wits; and they take on them to believe this Word of God; and yet they feel not.

3. They have the threatnings and curses of God in force against them in his Word; even words so terrible, as you would think might affright them out of their sins or their wits; and they take on them to believe this Word of God; and yet they feel not.

:1758p. 207

4. They are in the power of the Devil; ruled and deceived by him, and taken captive by him at his will, Acts 26. 18.

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Position

Cited: :1758
On this page: :1755–1770
Section: :1741–1778
Whole work: 9,947 passages

Cite

Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (London, 1673), pt. 1, ch. 4, pt. 2, p. 207. EEBO-TCP A26892.

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The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Printer: Robert White
Bookseller: Nevill Simmons
Year: 1673
Size: [35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port.
Words: 1,175,050
Catalogue: Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847
Text: EEBO-TCP A26892

Passages: 9,947
Sections: 502

The author

Richard Baxter 1615–1691

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

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WORDS,

to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to shew thy self approved

UNTO GOD,

a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

RIGHTLY DIVIDING

the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Bablings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.

2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.

LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.

2 Tim. 2. 26

.

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5. They may be certain that if they dye in this condition they shall be damned, and they are uncertain whether they shall live another day: they are never sure to be one hour longer out of Hell: and yet they feel not.

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6. They know that they must dye, and that it is a great change, and of the greatest endless,¹ consequence, that death will make with them, and they know that this is sure and near, and are past doubt of it, and yet they feel it not.

1Fer•emini, moriem n•, sentieti. • an caeci autem an videntes, id in vestra manu est. Optate igitur bene mori (quod ipsum nisi bene vixeritis frustra est.) Optate, inquam, initimini, & quod in vobis est facile: reliquum illi committite; qui vos in hanc vitam ultro non vocatos intulit; egressuris, non nisi vocatus & rogatus manum dabit. Non mori autem nolite optare. Petrarch. Dial. 107. l. 2.

:1761p. 207

7. They must shortly appear before the Lord, and be judged for all that they have done in the body, and be doomed to their endless state, and yet they feel not.

:1762p. 207

8. They know that life is short, and that they have but a little time to prepare for all this terrible change, and that it must go with them for ever, as they now prepare; and yet they feel not.

:1763p. 207

9. They hear and read of the case of hardened wicked men, that have gone before them, and have resisted grace, and lost their time, as they now do: and they read or hear of the miserable end that such have come to: and yet they feel not.

9. They hear and read of the case of hardned wicked men, that have gone before them, and have resisted grace, and lost their time, as they now do: and they read or hear of the miserable end that such have come to: and yet they feel not.

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10. They have a world of examples continually before them: They see the filthy lives of many for their warning, and the holy lives of others for their imitation, and see▪ how Christ and Satan strive for souls; and yet they feel not.

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11. They are always before the eye of God, and do all this before his face: He warneth them, and calleth them to repentance: and yet they feel not.

11. They are alwayes before the eye of God, and do all this before his face: He warneth them, and calleth them to repentance: and yet they feel not.

:1766p. 207

12. They have Christ as it were crucified before their eyes, Gal. 3. 1. They hear of his sufferings: They may see in him what sin is, and what the Love of God is: He pleadeth with them his blood and sufferings against their obstinate unkindness; and yet they feel not.

:1767p. 207

13. They have everlasting joy and glory offered them, and Heaven so opened to them in Gods promises, that they may see it as in a glass: 1 Cor. 13. 12. They take on them to believe, how much the blessed Spirits there abhor such wickedness as theirs: and yet they feel not.

13. They have everlasting joy and glory offered them, and Heaven so opened to them in Gods promises, that they may see it as in a glass: 1 Cor. 13. 12. They take on them to believe, how much the blessed Spirits there abhorr such wickedness as theirs: and yet they feel not.

:1768p. 207

14. They have the Torments of Hell opened to them in the Word of God: They read what impenitent souls must suffer to all eternity: They hear some in despair in this life roaring in the misery of their souls: They hear the joyful thanksgivings of believers, that Christ delivereth them from those torments; and yet they feel not.

:1769p. 207

15. All the promises of Salvation in the Gospel, do put in an exception against these men, unless they be converted: They are made to the penitent, and not to the impenitent: There is Justification and life; but not for them. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, that walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit: Rom. 8. 1. But he that believeth not, is condemned already: John 3. 18, 36. and they that after their hardness and impenitent hearts, do treasure up wrath against the day of wrath, shall have tribulation and anguish, Rom. 2. 5, 6, 7. Here is comfort for repenting sinners, but none (but on condition they Repent) for them: when others are welcomed to Christs marriage feast, he saith to these [How came you in hither?] and yet they feel not.

15. All the promises of Salvation in the Gospel, do put in an exception against these men, unless they be converted: They are made to the penitent, and not to the impenitent: There is Justification and life; but not for them. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus, that walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit: Rom. 8. 1. But he that believeth not, is condemned already: John 3. 18, 36. and they that after their hardness and impenitent hearts, do treasure up wrath against the day of wrath, shall have tribulation and anguish, Rom. 2. 5, 6, 7. Here is comfort for repenting sinners, but none (but on condition they Repent) for them: when others are welcomed to Christs marriage feast, he saith to these [How came you in hither?] and yet they feel not.

:1770p. 207–208

16. They still carry about with them the doleful evidences of all this misery: One would think the ambitious, and covetous, and voluptuous might see these death-marks on themselves; and the ungodly might feel that God hath not their hearts; especially they that hate the godly, and show their wolvish cruelty against them, and are the progeny of Cain; and yet they feel not any of this, but live as quietly, and talk as pleasantly, as if all were well with them, and their souls were safe, and their calling and election were made sure. Alas, if these souls were not hardened in sin, we should see it in their tears, or hear it in their complaints; they would after Sermon sometime come to the Minister, as they Acts 2. 37. & Acts 16. 30. Sirs, what must we do to be saved? or we should see it in their lives, or hear of it by report of others, who would observe the change that grace hath made; and Sermons would stick longer by them, and not at best be turned off with a fruitless commendation; and saying, it was a good Sermon, and there is an end of it. Judge now by this true description which I have given you, what a hardened sinner is. And then the godly may so see ⟨p. 208⟩cause to bewail the remnants of this mischief, as yet to be daily thankful to God, that they are not in the power of it.

16. They still carry about with them the doleful evidences of all this misery: One would think the ambitious, and covetous, and voluptuous might see these death-marks on themselves; and the ungodly might feel that God hath not their hearts; especially they that hate the godly, and shew their wolvish cruelty against them, and are the progeny of Cain; and yet they feel not any of this, but live as quietly, and talk as pleasantly, as if all were well with them, and their souls were safe, and their calling and election were made sure. Alas, if these souls were not hardned in sin, we should see it in their tears, or hear it in their complaints; they would after Sermon sometime come to the Minister, as they Acts 2. 37. & Acts 16. 30. Sirs, what must we do to be saved? or we should see it in their lives, or hear of it by report of others, who would observe the change that grace hath made; and Sermons would stick longer by them, and not at best be turned off with a fruitless commendation; and saying, it was a good Sermon, and there is an end of it. Judge now by this true description which I have given you, what a hardned sinner is. And then the godly may so see ⟨p. 208⟩cause to bewail the remnants of this mischief, as yet to be daily thankful to God, that they are not in the power of it.

PuritansEngland

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

•: an illegible letter
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⟨p. 12⟩: a page break in the printed book