A26892:1795
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.
§. 12. Direct. 7. Place n•t more in the externals, or modes, or circumstances, or ceremonies of worship 1than is due; and lay not out more zeal for indifferent or little things, than cometh to their share; but 2let the great substantials of Religion have the precedency and be far preferred before them: Let the Love of God and man be the sum of your obedience: And be sure you learn well what that meaneth; I will have mercy and not sacrifice. And remember that the great thing which God requireth of you, is to do Justice, and love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Destroy not him with your meat f•r whom Christ dyed. Call not for fire from Heaven upon dissenters; and think not every man intolerable in the Church, that is not in every little matter of your mind. Remember that the hypocrisy of the Pharisees is described by Christ, as consisting in a zeal for their own traditions and the inventions of men, and the smallest matters of the Ceremonial Law, with a neglect of greatest moral duties, and a furious cruelty against the spiritual worshippers of God. Math. 15. 2. Why do thy disciples transgress the Tradition of the Elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. v. 7. Ye Hypocrites well did Isaiah prophesy of you saying, This people draweth ni•• •nt• me with their mouth, and h••••ureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: but in vain do they worship me teaching f•r doctrines the commandments of men. Math. 23. 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, &c. They bind heavy burdens, which they touch not themselves. All their works they do to be seen of men: They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the burdens of their garments; and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief s•ats in the Synagogues, and greetings in public, and to be called Rabbi—But they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men, and were the greatest enemies of the entertainment of the Gospel by the people: They tithed mint and anise and cummin, and omitted the great matters of the Law, Judgement and Mercy and Faith. They strained at a gnat and swallowed a Camel: They had a great veneration for the dead Prophets and Saints, and yet were persecutors and murderers of their successors that were living. v. 23, &c. By this description you may see which way Hypocrisy doth most ordinarily work: