A26892:1999
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 › Signs of Pride in common converse.
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.
Alterius ne sit, qui suus esse potest.
But yet man is a sociable creature; and we are made to be helpful to each other: we are like the wheels of a Watch, that can none of them do their work alone, without the concurrence of the rest: And therefore a proud man that would live wholly on himself, and scorneth to be beholden, would break himself off from the place that God hath set him in, and separate himself from humane society, and be either a world of himself or a God to others. But God hath caused all the members purposely to stand in need of one another, that none might be despised, and that all might still exercise Love in communicating, and Humility in accepting of each others help.
§. 76. Sign 25. Pride maketh people desirous to equal their Superiors, and exceed their equal•,1 in Apparel, or hansom dwellings, and provisions, and entertainments, and all appearances that tend to2 ⟨p. 278⟩[…] ⟨p. 279⟩[…] ⟨p. 278⟩[…] ⟨p. 279⟩[…] ⟨p. 244⟩set them out, and make them seem considerable in the world: For it excessively regards the eye of man: A fit respect to Decency must be had (so we place no greater a necessity in it than we ought:) But pride would fain go with the highest, and have more curiosity than needs; and maketh a greater matter of Decency than the thing requireth. I am not of their humour, that censure every man whose hair is not of their cut, and whose garments are not of their fashion, and who are bred in a way of more gentility and ceremony than my self: But yet the affectation of imitating fashion-mongers, and bearing a port above ones rank, and rather desiring the converse and company of superiors than inferiors, and to live like those that are a step above us, than those that are a step below us, are signs as significant of Pride, as the Robes of a Judge or a Doctor are of their dignities and degrees. I am sure Humility hath learnt this lesson,