A Christian Directory

Name: A Christian Directory
Author: Richard Baxter

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 1 › Chapter 1 › Part 1

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.

[ Earlier:194–209 of 9,947

:194p. 4–5

§. 11. 8. I suppose that as thou knowest God is just, in his Laws and Judgements, so that he is so faithful that he will not, and so All-sufficient, that he need not deceive mankind, and Govern them by mere deceit: This better beseems the Devil, than God: And therefore that as he governeth man on ⟨p. 5⟩earth by the Hopes and fears of another life, he doth not delude them into such Hopes or fears▪ and as he doth not procure obedience by any Rewards or Punishments in this life, as the principal means (the wicked prospering, and the best being persecuted and afflicted here) therefore his Rewards and Punishments must needs be principally hereafter in the life to come: For if he have no Rewards or Punishments, he hath no Judgement: and if he have no judgement, he hath no Laws (or else no Justice▪ ) and if he have no Laws, (or no Justice,) he is no Governor of Man, (or not a righteous Governor:) and if he be not our Governor (and just) he is not our God: and if he were not our God, we had never been his Creatures, nor had a being, or been men.

§. 11. 8. I suppose that as thou knowest God is just, in his Laws and Iudgements, so that he is so faithful that he will not, and so All-sufficient, that he need not deceive mankind, and Govern them by meer deceit: This better beseems the Devil, than God: And therefore that as he governeth man on ⟨p. 5⟩earth by the Hopes and fears of another life, he doth not delude them into such Hopes or fears▪ and as he doth not procure obedience by any Rewards or Punishments in this life, as the principal means (the wicked prospering, and the best being persecuted and afflicted here) therefore his Rewards and Punishments must needs be principally hereafter in the life to come: For if he have no Rewards or Punishments, he hath no Iudgement: and if he have no judgement, he hath no Laws (or else no Iustice▪ ) and if he have no Laws, (or no Iustice,) he is no Governour of Man, (or not a righteous Governour:) and if he be not our Governour (and just) he is not our God: and if he were not our God, we had never been his Creatures, nor had a being, or been men.

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

A Christian Directory

Direction 1. IF thou be truly willing to be sanctified and a child of God, Remain not in a state of Ignorance,¹ but do thy best to come into the light, and understand the Word of God, in the matters of salvation.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

Direction 1. IF thou be truly willing to be sanctified and a child of God, Remain not in a state of Ignorance,1 but do thy best to come into the light, and understand the Word of God, in the matters of salvation.

Transcription key

Direction 1. IF thou be truly willing to be sanctified and a child of God, Remain not in a state of Ignorance,¹ but do thy best to come into the light, and understand the Word of God, in the matters of salvation.