A26892:1883
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.
§. 58. Direct. 10. Remember what a life of unquietness and continual vexation you choose▪ if you place your peace or happiness in the good will or word of man. For having showed you how impossible a •ask you undertake, it must needs follow that the pursuit of it must be a life of torment: To engage1 your selves in so great cares, and be sure to be disappointed! To make that your end, which you cannot attain! To find that you labour in vain, and daily meet with displeasure instead of the favour you expected; must needs be a very grievous life. You are like one that dwelleth on the top of a mountain, and yet cannot endure the wind to blow upon him: Or like him that dwelleth in a wood, and yet is afraid of the shaking of a leaf. You dwell among a world of ulcerated, selfish, contradictory, mutable, unpleasable minds, and yet you cannot endure their displeasure. Are you Magistrates? The people will murmur at you, and those that are most incompetent and uncapable will be the forwardest to censure you, and think that they could govern much better than you: Those2 that bear the necessary burdens of the common safety and defence, will say that you oppress them; and the malefactors that •re punished, will say you deal unmercifully by them, and those that have a cause never so unjust, will say you wrong them, if it go not on their side: Are you Pastors and Teachers? You will seem too rough to one, and to smooth to another; yea too rough to the same man when by reproof or censure you correct his faults, who censureth you as too smooth and a friend to sinners, when you are to deal in the cause of others. No sermon that you preach is like to be pleasing to all your hearers; nor any of your ministerial works. Are you Lawyers?3 The Clients that lost their cause, behind your backs will call you unconscionable, and say you betrayed them: And those that prevailed, will call you covetous, and tell how much money you took of them, and how little you did for it: So that its no wonder that among the vulgar, your profession is the matter of their reproach. Are you Physicians? You will be accused as guilty of the death of many that die; and as covetous takers of their money whether the Patient die or live: For this is the common talk of the vulgar, except of some few with whom your care hath much succeeded. Are you Trades-men?