A26892:1907
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.
5. When a man that hath the sense of the matters of God and mens salvation upon his heart, is zealous and diligent to teach them to others, and if he be a Minister, be fervent and laborious in his ministry, he is called Proud, as one that must needs have all men of his mind: Though compassion to souls, and aptness to teach, and Preaching instantly in season and out of season, be his necessary duty required of God. And what is the Ministry for but to change mens minds, and bring them to the full obedience of the truth?
5. When a man that hath the sense of the matters of God and mens salvation upon his heart, is zealous and diligent to teach them to others, and if he be a Minister, be servent and laborious in his ministry, he is called Proud, as one that must needs have all men of his mind: Though compassion to souls, and aptness to teach, and Preaching instantly in season and out of season, be his necessary duty required of God. And what is the Ministry for but to change mens minds, and bring them to the full obedience of the truth?
6. If a man understandeth the truth, in any point of Divinity, better than most others, and holdeth any truth which is not there in credit, or commonly received, he shall be accounted Proud, for presuming to be so singular, and seeming wiser than those that think they are wiser than he. But Humility ⟨p. 231⟩teacheth us not to err for company, nor to grow no wiser when once we arrive at the common stature; nor to forsake the truth which others understand not, nor to forbear to teach it because it is not known already. If some of the Pastors in Abyssinia, Syria, Armenia, Russia, Greece, or Italy, or Spain, were as wise as the Ministers in England are, it were no evidence of their Pride.
6. If a man understandeth the truth, in any point of Divinity, better than most others, and holdeth any truth which is not there in credit, or commonly received, he shall be accounted Proud, for presuming to be so singular, and seeming wiser than those that think they are wiser than he. But Humility