A26892:186
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.
§. 1. IF ungodly miserable sinners were as few, as the Devil and their self-love would make1 themselves believe, I might forbear this part of my work as needless. For the whole need not the Physician, but the sick. If you go into twenty Families, and ask them all, Whether any of them are in an unsanctified state, unrenewed and unpardoned, and under the wrath and Curse of God? You will meet with few that will not tell you, they hope it is better with them than so, and though they are sinners as all are, yet that they are repenting pardoned sinners. Nay, there is scarce one of many of the most wicked and notoriously ungodly, but hope they are in a penitent pardoned state. Even the haters of God will say they love him; and the scorners at godliness will say, that they are not ungodly, and that it is but hypocrisy and singularity that they deride: And it were well for them, if saying so would go for proof, and he that will be their Judge would take their words. But God will not be deceived, though foolish men are wise enough to deceive themselves. Wickedness will be wickedness when it hath clothed it self with the fairest names▪ God will condemn it when it hath found out the most plausible pretences and excuses. Though the Ungodly think to bear it out in pride and scorn, and think to be saved by their hypocritical lip-service, as soon as the most holy Worshippers of the Lord, yet shall they be like chaff, which the wind driveth away: they shall not be able to stand in judgement, nor sinners in the Congregation of the righteous; Psal. 1. 4, 5, 6. And if God know better than foolish men, then certainly the flock is little to whom the Father will give the Kingdom, Luke 12. 32. And wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matth. 7. 13. When Christ was asked, Lord are there few that be saved? he answered, Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13. 23, 24. But alas, we need no other information than common experience, to tell us whether the greatest part of men be Holy, and Heavenly, and Self-denying;