A26892:2013
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.
3. Pride bringeth sufferings, and then maketh them seem intolerable: It makes the sin•er more vex and gall his mind with striving and impatient aggravating his afflictions, than the suffering o• it self would ever do.
3. Pride bringeth sufferings, and then maketh them seem intollerable: It makes the sin•er more vex and gall his mind with striving and impatient aggravating his afflictions, than the suffering o• it self would ever do.
4. Pride is a deep-rooted and a self preserving sin: And therefore harder to be killed and rooted up than other sins. In hindereth the discovery of it self. It driveth away the light: It hateth reproof: It will not give the sinner leave to see his pride when it is reproved; Nor to confess it i• he see i•; nor to be humbled for it if he do confess it; no• to loath himself▪ and forsake it, though conviction and terror seems to humble him. Even while he heareth all the signs o• pride, he will not see it in himself: When he feeleth his hatred of reproof, and knoweth that this is a sign of pride in others, yet he will not know it in himself: If you would go about •o cure him of this or any other fault, you shall feel that you are handling a wasp or an adder: Yet when he is spitting the venom of pride against the reprover, he perceiveth not that he is proud: This venom is his nature, and therefore is not felt nor troublesome: If all the Town or Congregation should note him as notoriously proud, yet he himself, that should best know himself, will not observe it. It is a wonder to see how this •in keepeth strength, in persons that have long taken pains for their souls, and seem to be in all other respects the most serious mortified Christians! Yet let them but be touched in their interest or reputation or seem o be slighted, or see another preferred before them while they are neglected, and they boil with envy, malice or discontent, and show you that the Heart of in, even SELFISHNESS and PRIDE is yet alive, unbroken and too strong. Especially if they are not persons of a natural gentleness and mildness, but of a more passionate temper; than Pride hath, more yl and fuel to kindle it into these discernible flames. He is a Christian indeed that hath conquered Pride.