A26892:1867
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.
§. 44. 9. You will find that Censoriousness is a comm•n Vice, and though few are competent judges of your actions, as not being acquainted with all the case, yet every one almost will be venturing to ••st in his censure: A proud presumptuous understanding is a very common vice; which thinks it self presently capable of judging as soon as it heareth but a piece of the case, and is not conscious of its own fallibility, though it have daily experience of it. Few are at your elbow, and none in your heart, and therefore know not the circumstances and reasons of all that you do, nor hear what you have to say for your selves; and yet they will presume to censure you, who would have absolved you, if they had but heard you speak. It is rare to meet even with professors of greatest sincerity that are very tender and fearful of sinning, in this point of rash ungrounded judging, without capacity or call.
§. 44. 9. You will find that Cens•riousness is a comm•n Vice, and though few are competent judges of your actions, as not being a•quainted with all the case, yet every one almost will be venturing to ••st in his censure: A proud presumptuous understanding is a very common vice; which thinks it self presently capable of judging as soon as it heareth but a piece of the case, and is not conscious of its own fallibility, though it have daily experience of it. Few are at your elbow, and none in your heart, and therefore know not the circumstances and reasons of all that you do, nor hear what you have to say for your selves; and yet they will presume to censure you, who would have absolved you, if they had but heard you speak. It is rare to meet even with professors of greatest sincerity that are very tender and fearful of sinning, in this point of rash ungrounded judging, without capacity or call.
§. 45. 10. You live among unpeaceable twattlers and tale-carriers, that would please others by accusing you. Who is it that hath ears that hath not not such Vermin as these Earwigs busy at them? Except here and there an upright man, whose angry countenance hath still driven away such backbiting tongues. And all shall be said behind your backs, when you are uncapable of answering for your selves. And if it be a man that the hearers think well of that accuseth or backbiteth you, they think it lawful than to believe them: And most that are their friends, and of their party, and for their interest, shall be sure to be thought so honest as to be credible. And it is not strange, for a learned, ingenious, yea, a godly person to be too forward in uttering from the mouths of others, an evil report: And then the hearer thinks he is fully justified for believing it, and reporting it again to others. David himself by the temptation of a Ziba, is drawn to wrong Mephisheth the Son of his great deserving friend,