A26892:1899
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.
Part 1 › Chapter 4 › Part 5: Directions against Pride, and for Humility.
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.
§. 4. As the Love of God and man are the comprehensive duties of the Decalogue, expressed most1 in the first and last Commandment, but yet extending themselves to all the rest; so SELFISHNESS and PRIDE (which is a principal part of it) are the opposite sins, forbidden principally in the first and last Commandment, as contrary to the Love of God and man, but so as it is contrary to the rest. They are sins against the very Relation it self that God and man do stand in to us, and not only against a particular Law: They are against the very constitution of the Kingdom of God, and not only against the Administration: It is Treason or Idolatry against God, and a setting up our selves in some part of his prerogative: And it is a monstrous extuberancie in the Body, and a rising of one member above and so against the rest; either superiors (and so against the fifth command) or equals (against the rest).
- 1Against what Commandment.
§. 5. HUMILITY is contrary to pride; and therefore consisteth, 1. In a contentedness with1 that degree and state which God hath assigned us. 2. In mean thoughts of our selves, esteeming our selves no Greater, Wiser or Better than we are. 3. In a willingness and desire that others should not think of us, or speak of us, or use us, as greater, or wiser, or better than we are; that they should give us no more honour, praise or Love than is our due; the redundancy being but a deceit or lie, and an abuse of us and them. 4. In the avoiding of all inordinate aspiring endeavours, and a contented exercise of our assigned offices, and doing the meanest works of our own places. 5. In the avoiding of all ostentation or appearance of that greatness, wisdom or goodness which we have not, and fitting our speeches, apparel, provisions, furniture and all our deportment and behaviour to the meanness of our parts, and place, and worth. This is the very Nature of Humility: The more particular signs I shall open afterwards.