A26892:1851
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.
§. 29. 3. It is God only that passeth the final sentence, from whom there is no appeal to any other:1 But from humane judgement there lieth an appeal to God. Their judgement must be judged of by him: Things shall not stand as now men censure them: Many a bad cause is now judged good, through the Multitude or Greatness of those that favour it: And many a good cause is now condemned: Many a one is taken as a Malefactor because he obeyeth God and doth his duty; But all these things must be judged over again, by him that hath denounced a Wo• to them that call evil2 good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness. He that saith to the wicked▪ thou art Righteous, people shall curse him, nations shall abhor him: Prov. 24. 24. It were ill with the best of the servants of Christ, if the judgement of the world must stand, who condemn them as fools, and hypocrites, and what they list: Then the Devils judgement would stand: But he is the wise man that God will judge to be wise at last; and he only is the happy man that God calls happy. The erring judgement of a creature is but like an ignorant mans writing the names of several things upon an Apothecaries boxes; If he write the names of Poisons upon some, and of Antidotes on others, when3 there are no such things within them, they are not to be estimated according to those names. How different are the names that God and the world do put upon things and persons now? And how few now approve of that which God approveth of, and will justify at last? How many will God judge heterodox, and wicked, that men judged orthodox, and worthy of applause? And how many will God judge orthodox and sincere, that were called Heretics and Hypocrites by men? God will not verify every word against his servants, which angry men, or contentious disputants say against them. The learning or authority or other advantages of the contenders, may now bear down the reasons and reputations of more wise and righteous men than they, which God will restore and vindicate at last. The names of Luther, Zuinglius, Calvin and many other excellent servants of the Lord, are now made odious in the writings and reports of Papists, by their impudent lies: But God judgeth otherwise, with more righteous judgement. O what abundance of persons and causes will be justified at the dreadful day of God, which the world condemned?