Part 1 › Chapter 4 › Part 2: Directions against Hardness of Heart., A Christian Directory by Richard Baxter (1673) | AskReformation

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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.

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§. 10. Direct. 7. Live if you can possibly under a lively quickening Ministry, and in the company of ¹serious lively Christian•: It is true, that we should be deeply affected with the truths of God, how coldly soever they be delivered: But the question is not, what is our duty, but what is our disease and […] and the proper remedy: All men should be so holy, as not to need any exhortations to […] at all: But shall Ministers therefore neglect such exhortations, or they that need them •••• away their •ars? Hear if possible that Minister that first feels what he speaks, and so speaks what •• feels, as tendeth most to make you feel: Isa. 58. 1, 2. Cry aloud; spare not, lift up thy ••••• like a Trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Israel their sins: Though ••c• •• seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a Nation that did righteousness, and forsook n•t •••• Ordinances of their God. God is the chief agent, but he useth to work according to the •••••• of the instrument. O woeful case! to hear a dead Minister speaking to a dead people, the living truths of the living God! As Christ said, If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch: And if the dead must raise the dead, and the ungodly enemies of a holy life must bring men to godliness and to a holy life, it must be by such a power as once made use of clay and spittle, to open the eyes of the blind. It seems it was a Proverb in Christs days, Let the dead bury their dead: ²But not, Let the dead raise the dead: God may honour the bones of the dead Prophet with the raising a Corps that is cast into its grave, and toucheth them: A meeting of a dead Minister and a dead people, is like a place of graves; and though it be a lamentable thing to hear a man speak without any life, of life eternal, yet God can concur to the quickening of a soul. But sure we have no great reason to expect that ordinarily he should convert men so miraculously, without the moral aptitude of means. It is most incongruous for any man in his familiar discourse, to speak without great seriousness and reverence, of things concerning life eternal: But for a Preacher to talk of God, of Christ, of Heaven and Hell, as coldly and sleepily, as if he were persuading men not to believe him, or regard him, that no more regards himself, is less tolerable.

§. 10. Direct. 7. Live if you can possibly under a lively quickning Ministry, and in the company of ¹seri•us lively Christian•: It is true, that we should be deeply affected with the truths of God, how coldly soever they be delivered: But the question is not, what is our duty, but what is our disease and 〈…〉 and the proper remedy: All men should be so holy, as not to need any exhortations to 〈…〉 at all: But shall Ministers therefore neglect such exhortations, or they that need them •••• away their •ars? Hear if possible that Minister that first feels what he speaks, and so speaks what •• feels, as tendeth most to make you feel: Isa. 58. 1, 2. Cry aloud; spare not, lift up thy ••••• like a Trumpet, and shew my people their transgressions, and the house of Israel their sins: Though ••c• •• seek me daily, and delight to know my wayes, as a Nation that did righteousness, and forsook n•t •••• Or•inance• of their God. God is the chief agent, but he useth to work according to the •••••• of the instrument. O woful case! to hear a dead Minister speaking to a dead people, the living truths of the living God! As Christ said, If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch: And if the dead must raise the dead, and the ungodly enemies of a holy life must bring men to godliness and to a holy life, it must be by such a power as once made use of clay and spittle, to open the eyes of the blind. It seems it was a Proverb in Christs dayes, Let the dead bury their dead: ²But not, Let the dead raise the dead: God may honour the bones of the dead Prophet with the raising a Corps that is cast into its grave, and toucheth them: A meeting of a dead Minister and a dead people, is like a place of graves; and though it be a lamentable thing to hear a man speak without any life, of life eternal, yet God can concurr to the quickning of a soul. But sure we have no great reason to expect that ordinarily he should convert men so miraculously, without the moral aptitude of means. It is most incongruous for any man in his familiar discourse, to speak without great seriousness and reverence, of things concerning life eternal: But for a Preacher to talk of God, of Christ, of Heaven and Hell, as coldly and sleepily, as if he were perswading men not to believe him, or regard him, that no more regards himself, is less tolerable.

1Direct. 7.
22 •••• 13 •1.

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It is a sad thing to hear a man draw out a dreaming dull discourse about such astonishing weighty things? and to speak as if it were the business of his art, to teach men to sleep while the names of Heaven and Hell are in their ears; and not to be moved while they hear the message of the living God, about their life or death everlasting. If a man tell in the Streets of a fire in the Town, or a Soldier bring an Alarm of the enemy at the Gates, in a reading or jesting tone, the hearers will neglect him, and think that he believeth not himself. I know it is not mere noise that will convert a soul: A bawling fervency which the hearers may discern to be but histrionical and affected, and not to come from a serious heart, doth harden the auditors worst of all: A rude unreverent noise is unbeseeming an Ambassador of Christ: But an ignorant saying of a few confused words, or a sleepy recital of the most pertinent things, do as little beseem them. Christ raised not Lazarus by the loudness of his voice: But where the natural ears are the passage to the mind, the voice and manner should be suitable to the matter. Noise without seriousness and pertinent matter, is like Gunpowder without Bullet, that causeth sound, and no execution: And the weightiest matter without clear explication and lively application, is like Bullet without Powder: If you will throw Canon Bullets at the enemy with your hands, they will sooner fall on your feet than on them. And it is deadness aggravated by hypocrisy, when a lifeless Preacher will pretend moderation, as if he were afraid of speaking too loud and earnestly, le•t he should awake the dead, whom lightning and thunder will not awake; and when he will excuse himself by accusing those that are not as drowsy or dead as he; and would make men believe that seriousness is intemperate rage or madness: If you are cast upon a cold and sleepy Minister, consider the matter more than the manner: But choose not such a one for the cure of hardness and insensibility of heart.

It is a sad thing to hear a man draw out a dreaming dull discourse about such astonishing weighty things? and to speak as if it were the business of his art, to teach men to sleep while the names of Heaven and Hell are in their ears; and not to be moved while they hear the message of the living God, about their life or death everlasting. If a man tell in the Streets of a fire in the Town, or a Souldier bring an Allarm of the enemy at the Gates, in a reading or jeasting tone, the hearers will neglect him, and think that he believeth not himself. I know it is not meer noise that will convert a soul: A bawling fervency which the hearers may discern to be but histrionical and affected, and not to come from a serious heart, doth harden the auditors worst of all: A rude unreverent noise is unbeseeming an Embassador of Christ: But an ignorant saying of a few confused words, or a sleepy recital of the most pertinent things, do as little beseem them. Christ raised not Lazarus by the lowdness of his voice: But where the natural ears are the passage to the mind, the voice and manner should be suitable to the matter. Noise without seriousness and pertinent matter, is like Gunpowder without Bullet, that causeth sound, and no execution: And the weightiest matter without clear explication and lively application, is like Bullet without Powder: If you will throw Canon Bullets at the enemy with your hands, they will sooner fall on your feet than on them. And it is deadness aggravated by hypocrisie, when a lifeless Preacher will pretend moderation, as if he were afraid of speaking too lowd and earnestly, le•t he should awake the dead, whom lightning and thunder will not awake; and when he will excuse himself by accusing those that are not as drowzie or dead as he; and would make men believe that seriousness is intemperate rage or madness: If you are cast upon a cold and sleepy Minister, consider the matter more than the manner: But choose not such a one for the cure of hardness and insensibility of heart.

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§. 11. Direct. 8. Take notice how sensible tender hearted Christians are, of sins far less than those ¹that you make a jest of: And how close those matters come to their hearts that touch not yours. And have not you as much cause to be moved as they? and as much need to lay such things to heart? Did you but know what a trouble it is to them, to be haunted with temptations to the unbelief and Atheism which prevaileth with you; though they are far from choosing them or delighting in them! Did you see how involuntary thoughts and frailties make some of them aweary of themselves! and how they even hate their hearts for believing no more, and loving God no more, and for being so strange to God and Heaven, when yet there is nothing in the world so dear to them, nor hath so much of their Estimation or Endeavour! You would think sure that if such hearts had your sin and misery to feel, they would feel it to their grief indeed, (unless the sin it self did hinder the feeling, as it doth with you). Let tender hearted Christians instruct you, and not be witnesses against you.

§. 11. Direct. 8. Take notice how sensible tender hearted Christians are, of sins far less than those ¹that you make a jeast of: And how close those matters come to their hearts that touch not yours. And have not you as much cause to be moved as they? and as much need to lay such things to heart? Did you but know what a trouble it is to them, to be haunted with temptations to the unbelief and Atheism which prevaileth with you; though they are far from choosing them or delighting in them! Did you see how involuntary thoughts and frail•ies make some of them aweary of themselves! and how they even hate their hearts for believing no more, and loving God no more, and for being so strange to God and Heaven, when yet there is nothing in the world so dear to them, nor hath so much of their Estimation or Endeavour! You would think sure that if such hearts had your sin and misery to feel, they would feel it to their grief indeed, (unless the sin it self did hinder the feeling, as it doth with you). Let tender hearted Christians instruct you, and not be witnesses against you.

1Direct. 8.

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§. 15. Direct. 12. Be often with the sick, and in the house of mourning, and read thy lesson in ¹the Church-yard, and let the grave, and bones, and dust instruct thee: When thou seest the End of all the living; perhaps thou wilt somewhat lay it to heart. Sight will sometime do more than the hearing of greater things. Fear may possibly touch the heart, that hath not yet so much ingenuity as to be melted by the force of Love. And ordinarily the humbling and softening of a hard impenitent heart begins in Fear, and ends in Love. The work of preparation is in a manner the work of Fear alone: The first work of true Conversion is begun in a great measure of fear, and somewhat of Love; but so little as is scarce perceived, because of the more sensible operations of Fear. And as a Christian groweth, his Love increaseth, till perfect Love in the state of perfection have cast out all tormenting fear, though not our Reverence or filial fear of God. Look therefore into the grave, and remember man that thou must dye! thou must dye! it is past all controversy that thou must dye: And dost thou know where thou must appear, when death hath once performed its office? Dost thou not believe that after Death comes Judgement? Dost thou not know that thou art now in a life of trial, in order to endless Joy or misery? and that this life is to be lived but once? and if thou miscarry now, thou art undone for ever? and that all the hope of preventing thy damnation, is Now while this life of trial doth continue? Now is the accepted time: this is the day of salvation: If Hell be prevented, it must be Now prevented! If ever thou wilt pray, if ever thou wilt be converted, if ever thou wilt be made an heir of Heaven, it must be Now: O man, how quickly will patience have done with thee, and time be gone, and then, O then, it will be too late. Knowest thou not, that all the care, and labour, and hope of the Devil for thy damnation is laid out this way, if it be possible to find thee other work, or take thee up with other thoughts, or keep thee asleep with presumptuous hopes, and carnal mirth, and pleasures, and company, or quiet thee by delays, till time be gone, and it be too late? And wilt thou let him have his will, and pleasure him with thy own perdition? Dost thou think these are not things to be considered on? Do they not deserve thy speediest seriousest thoughts.

§. 15. Direct. 12. Be often with the sick, and in the house of mourning, and read thy lesson in ¹the Church-yard, and let the grave, and bones, and dust instruct thee: When thou seest the End of all the living; perhaps thou wilt somewhat lay it to heart. Sight will sometime do more than the hearing of greater things. Fear may possibly touch the heart, that hath not yet so much ingenuity as to be melted by the force of Love. And ordinarily the humbling and softning of a hard impenitent heart begins in Fear, and ends in Love. The work of preparation is in a manner the work of Fear alone: The first work of true Conversion is begun in a great measure of fear, and somewhat of Love; but so little as is scarce perceived, because of the more sensible operations of Fear. And as a Christian groweth, his Love encreaseth, till perfect Love in the state of perfection have cast out all tormenting fear, though not our Reverence or filial fear of God. Look therefore into the grave, and remember man that thou must dye! thou must dye! it is past all controversie that thou must dye: And dost thou know where thou must appear, when death hath once performed its office? Dost thou not believe that after Death comes Judgement? Dost thou not know that thou art now in a life of tryal, in order to endless Ioy or misery? and that this life is to be lived but once? and if thou miscarry now, thou art undone for ever? and that all the hope of preventing thy damnation, is Now while this life of tryal doth continue? Now is the accepted time: this is the day of salvation: If Hell be prevented, it must be Now prevented! If ever thou wilt pray, if ever thou wilt be converted, if ever thou wilt be made an heir of Heaven, it must be Now: O man, how quickly will patience have done with thee, and time be gone, and then, O then, it will be too late. Knowest thou not, that all the care, and labour, and hope of the Devil for thy damnation is laid out this way, if it be possible to find thee other work, or take thee up with other thoughts, or keep thee asleep with presumptuous hopes, and carnal mirth, and pleasures, and company, or quiet thee by delayes, till time be gone, and it be too late? And wilt thou let him have his will, and pleasure him with thy own perdition? Dost thou think these are not things to be considered on? Do they not deserve thy speediest seriousest thoughts.

1Direct. 21.