A26892:1817
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.
§ 32. Direct. 27. Remember how much of sincerity consisteth in seriousness, and how much of Hypocrite 1consisteth in seeming, and dreaming, and trifling in the things of God and our salvation: see therefore that you keep your souls awake, in a sensible and serious frame. Read over the fifty Considerations which in the third Part of my Saints Rest I have given to convince you of the necessity of being serious. See that there be as much in your faith as in your Creed, and as much in your Hearts and Lives as in your Belief. Remember that seeming and dreaming will not mortify deep-rooted s•s, nor conquer strong and subtle enemies; nor make you acceptable to God, nor save your s••ls from his revenging justice. Remember what a mad kind of profaneness it is to j••st and ••ifle about Heaven and Hell, and to dally with the great and dreadful God. Seeing all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy con••••sation and godliness? 2 Pet. 3. 11. You pray for an obedience answering the pattern of the heavenly society, when you say [Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.] And will you be such Hypocrites as to pray that you may i•itate Saints and Angels in the purity and obedience of your hearts and lives, and when you have done, take up with shows, and seemings, and saying a few words, and a lifeless Image of that Holiness which you never had; yea, and perhaps deride and persecute in others, the very thing which you daily pray for. O horrible abuse of the All-seeing God! Do you no more believe or fear his justice? When the Apostle saith, Gal. 6. 7. Be not deceived, God is not mocked; he intim••••th that Hypocrites go about to put a scorn on God by a Mock-religion, though it is not he, but themselves that will prove mocked in the end. They offer God a deaf Nut, or an empty Shell or Ca•k for a Sacrifice. An Hypocrite differeth from a true Christian, as a Fencer from a Soldier, He playeth his part very formlly upon a Stage with much applause; but you may perceive that he is not in good sadness, by his t flng and formality, and never killing any of his sins. Would men show no more of the great everlasting matters of their own proest Belief, in any seriousness of affection or endeavour, than most men do, if they were not Hypocrites?