A26892:1901
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.
§. 6. II. Pride lying in the heart is oft mis-judged of by others, that see but the outward appearances,1 and sometime by the person himself that understandeth not the nature of it. The inward appearances that are mistaken for pride, and are not it, are such as these. 1. When a man in power and Government hath a spirit suitable to his place and work: This is not Pride but virtue. 2. When natural strength and vigour of spirits expelleth pusillanimity; especially when faith beholding God expelleth all inordinate respect to men and fear of all that they can do, this is not pride but Christian magnanimity and fortitude; and the contrary is not humility but weakness, and pusillanimity, and cowardice. 3. When a wise man knoweth in what measure he is wise, and in what measure other men are ignorant, or erroneous, and when he is conscious of his knowledge, and delighted and pleased in it through the love of truth, and thankful to God for revealing it to him, and blessing so far his studies and endeavours, all this is mercy and duty, and not pride. For truth is amiable and delectable in it self. And he that knoweth must needs know that he knoweth▪ as he that seeth doth perceive by seeing that he seeth. And if it be a fault to know that I know, it must be a fault to know at ⟨p. 230⟩all. B•t some knowledge is necessary and unresistible, and we cannot avoid it: And that which is good ••••t be valued, and we must be thankful for it. Humility doth no more require that a wise man think •••• knowledge equal with a fools, or ignorant mans, than that a sound man take himself to be sick. ••. When a wise man valueth the useful knowledge which God hath given him, above all the glory and vanities of the world, which are indeed of lower worth, this is not Pride, but a due estimation of things. 5. When a wise man desireth that others were of his mind, for their own good, and the propagating of the truth, this is not Pride, but Charity and love of truth: Else preachers were the2 pr•udest men, and Paul had done ill in labouring so much for mens conversion, and saying to Agrippa, As 2. 29. [I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost ad allther such as I am, except these onds]. 6.