A26892:2004
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.
§. 78. Sign 27. If a proud man be wronged, he looketh for great submission before he will forgive:1 you must lye down at his feet, and make a very full confession, and behave your self with great submission; especially if the Law be in his hands. And he is prone to revenge, and cruel in his revenge: But if he have wronged others, he is hardly brought to confess that he wronged them; and more hardly to humble himself for reconciliation, and ask them forgiveness: when a humble person, is ready to let go his right for peace, and easily forgiveth, and easily stoopeth to ask forgiveness.
- 1Sign 27.
§. 79. Sign 28. Lastly, Pride maketh men inordinately desire to have an honourable memorial1 kept of their names when they are dead (if they are persons that rise to the hopes of such a remembrance): Many a monument hath Pride erected: Many a Book it hath written to this end:2 Many a good work materially it hath done, and made it bad by such a base intention! Many a Hospital, and Alms-house, and School-house it hath built! And many a pound it hath given to charitable uses in pretension, but to proud and selfish uses in intention. Not that any should causelessly suspect another's ends, or blemish the deserved honour of good works, which it is lawful ordinately to regard: But we should suspect our own hearts, and take heed of so horrible a sin, which would turn the excellentest parts and works into poison or corruption: And remember how heinous a thing it is, for a man to be laying proud designs, when he is turning to the dust, and going to appear before his Judge? yea, to set up the monuments of his Pride over his rotten flesh and bones: And to show that he dyeth in so great a sin without repentance, by endeavouring that as much as may be of it may survive, when he is dead and gone! If such wicked ends, do sometime offer to intrude into necessary excellent works, an honest heart must abhor them and cast them out, and beg forgiveness; and not for that forbear his work, nor refuse the comfort of his more sincere desires and intents: But such good works do sink the hypocrite into Hell, that are principally done as a service to Pride, to leave a name on earth behind him.