A26892:1857
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.
§. 34. Direct. 8. And remember that honour is such a thing as is found sooner by an honest contempt 1of it, than by an inordinate affectation of it, and seeking it. It is a shadow which goeth from you if you follow it, and follows you as fast as you go from it. Whose names are now more honourable upon earth, than those Prophets, and Apostles, and Martyrs, and Preachers, and holy mortified Christians, who in their days set lightest by the approbation of the world, and were made the scorn or football of the times in which they lived? Those that have been satisfied with the approbation of their heavenly Father, who saw them in secret, have been rewarded by him openly. It is even in the eyes of rational men a far greater honour to live to God, above worldly honour, than to seek it. And so much as a man is perceived to affect and seek it, so much he loseth of it: For he is thought to need it; and men perceive that he plays a low and pitiful game, that is so desirous of their applause! As they would contemn a man that should lick up the spittle of every man where he comes, so will they contemn him that liveth on their thoughts and breath, and honour him more that lives on God.
§. 34. Direct. 8. And remember that honour is such a thing as is found sooner by an honest contempt 1of it, than by an in•rdinate affectation of it, and seeking it. It is a shaddow which goeth from you if you follow it, and follows you as fast as you go from it. Whose names are now more honourable upon earth, than those Prophets, and Apostles, and Martyrs, and Preachers, and holy mortified Christians, who in their dayes set lightest by the approbation of the world, and were made the scorn or football of the times in which they lived? Those that have been satisfied with the approbation of their heavenly Father, who saw them in secret, have been rewarded by him openly. It is even in the eyes of rational men a far greater honour to live to God, above worldly honour, than to seek it. And so much as a man is perceived to affect and seek it, so much he loseth of it: For he is thought to need it; and men perceive that he playes a low and piti•ul game, that is so desirous of their applause! As they would contemn a man that should lick up the spittle of every man where he comes, so will they contemn him that liveth on their thoughts and breath, and honour him more that lives on God.