A26892:1874
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.
§. 50. 15. There is among men so great a contrariety of judgements, and dispositions, and interests, that they will never agree among themselves; and if you please one, the rest will be thereby displeased. 1He that you please is an enemy to another; and therefore you displease his enemy, by pleasing him. Sometime State-differences divide Kingdoms into parties, and one party will be displeased with you, if you be of the other, and both if you are neuters, or dislike them both: and each party think their cause will justify any accusations they can charge you with, or odious titles they can give you, if not any sufferings they can bring upon you. Church-differences and Sects have been found in all ages: And you cannot be of the opinion of every party: When the world aboundeth with such variety of conceits, you cannot be of all at once. And if you be of one party, you must displease the rest: If you are of one side in controverted opinions, the other side accounteth you erroneous: And how far will the supposed interest of their cause and party carry them? One half of the Christian world at this day, condemneth the other half as Schismatical at least, the other half doing the like for them. And can you be Papists, and Protestants, and Greeks, and every thing? If not, you must displease as many as you please. Yea, more, if mutable men shall change never so oft, they will expect that you change as fast as they, and whatever their contrary interests require, you must follow them in: One year you must swear, and another you must unswear all again: whatever cause or action they engage in, be it never so devilish, you must approve of it and countenance it, and all that they do, you must say is well done. In a word, you must teach your tongue to say or swear any thing, and you must s•ll your innocency, and hire out your consciences wholly to their service, or you cannot please them: Michaiah must say with the rest of the Prophets, Go and prosper, or else he will be hated, as not prophesying good of Ahab, but evil, 1 Kings 22. 8. And how can you serve all interests at once. It seems the providence of God hath, as of purpose, wheeled about the affairs of the world to try and shame man-pleasers and temporizers in the sight of the Sun.
§. 50. 15. There is among men so great a cont•ariety of judgements, and dispositions, and interests, that they will never agree among themselves; and if you please one, the rest will be thereby displeased.