A26892:1877
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.
§. 52. 17. If you have a design for a name of honour when you are dead, consider what power a prevailing faction may have to corrupt the History of your life, and represent you to posterity perfectly contrary to what you are; and how impossible it is for posterity to know whose History is the product of malicious shameless lies, and whose is the narrative of impartial truth. What contrary Histories are1 there of particular persons and actions written by men of the •ame Religion: as of Pope Gregory the seventh, and the Emperors that contended with him: and about Pope Joan, and many the like cases, where you may read scores of Historians on one side, and on the other.
§. 52. 17. If you have a design for a name of honour when you are dead, consider what power a prevailing faction may have to corrupt the History of your life, and represent you to posterity perfectly contrary to what you are; and how impossible it is for posterity to know whose History is the product of malicious s••meless lies, and whose is the narrative of impartial truth. What contrary Histories are1 there of particular persons and actions written by men of the •ame Religion: as of Pope Gregory the seventh, and the Emperours that contended with him: and about Pope Ioan, and many the like cases, where you may read scores of Historians on one side, and on the other.
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§. 53. 18. Remember that the holiest Saints or Apostles could never please the world, nor escape their censures, slanders and cruelties; no nor Jesus Christ himself. And can you think by honest means to please them better than Christ and all his Saints have done? You have not the wisdom that Christ had to please men, and to avoid offence: You have not the perfect innocency and unblameableness that Christ had: You cannot heal their sicknesses and infirmities, and do that good to them to please and win them, as Jesus Christ did. You cannot convince them, and constrain them to reverence you, by manifold miracles, as Jesus Christ did. Can you imitate such an excellent pattern as is set you, by the holy, patient, charitable, unwearied Apostle Paul,