A26892:1797
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.
§. 13. Direct. 8. Make conscience of the duties of obedience to superiors, and of justice and mercy 1towards men, as well as of acts of piety to God. Say not a long mass in order to devour a widows house, or a Christians life or reputation. Be equally exact in justice and mercy as you are in prayers. And labour as much to exceed common men in the one as in the other! Set your selves to do all the good you can to all, and do hurt to none: And do to all men as you would they should do to you.
- 1Direct. 8.
§. 14. Direct. 9. Be much more busy about your selves than about others: and more censorious of 1your selves than of other men, and more strict in the Reforming of your selves than of any others. For this is the character of the sincere: When the Hypocrite is little at home and much abroad; and is a sharp reprehender of others, and perniciously tender and indulgent to himself. Mark his discourse in all companies and you shall hear how liberal he is in his censures and bitter reproach of others? How such men and such men (that differ from him, or have opposed him, or that he hates), are thus and thus faulty and bad and hateful: Yea he is as great an accuser of his adversaries for Hypocrisy as if he were not an Hypocrite himself: Because he can accuse them of a Heart-sin without any visible control: If he called them Drunkards, or Swearers, or Persecutors, or Oppressors, all that know them could know that he belieth them: but when he speaks about matters in the2 dark, he thinks the reputation of his lies have more advantage. Many a word you hear from him, how bad his adversaries are, but if such hypocritical talk did not tell you, he would not tell you how bad he is himself.
§. 14. Direct. 9. Be much more busie about your selves than about others: and more censorious of