A26892:2016
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.
6. Pride hindereth every means and duty, from doing you good; and oft-times corrupteth them and turneth them into sin. Sometimes it keepeth men •rom the duty, and sometime it keepeth them from the benefit of the duty. It makes men think that they are so whole and well▪ as to have little need of all this physic, yea or of their daily necessary food. They think all this is more ado than needs: What need of all this preaching, and praying, and reading, and holy conference, and meditation, and heavenly mindedness? One is ashamed of it, and another wants it not, and another is above it; and they ask you, where are we commanded to pray in our family, and to pray so oft, and to hear so oft, and read any book but the Holy Scriptures, &c. For they feel no obligation from General commands,1 (as to pray continually, and always, and not wax faint, nor be weary of well doing, to redeem the time, and do all to edification, and be fervent in spirit serving the Lord, &c.) Because they •e•l not that need or sweetness which should help them to perceive that frequency is good or necessary for them. If the Physician bid two men [eat often,] and one of them hath a strong appetite, and the other hath none; he that is hungry will interpret the word [often] to signify t•ri•e a day at least, and he that hath no appetite will think that once a day is [often]. Healthful m•n do not use to ask, How prove you that I am bound to eat twice or thrice a day? Feeling the need and benefit, they will be satisfied with an allowance without a command: They will rather ask, How prove you that I may not do it? For they feel reason in themselves to move them to it, i• God restrain them not. So it is with an humble soul about the means of his edification and salvation: It feeleth a need of preaching, and prayer, and holy spending the Lords day, and family duties, &c. Yea it feeleth the need and benefit of frequency in duties, and is glad of leave to draw near to God, and feels the bond of Love constrain: Whereas the Proud are full and senseless, and could easily be content with little in Religion, if the Laws of God or man constrained them nt; and will do no more than needs they must. Yea some of late have been advanced by Pride, above all Ordinances; that is, above obedience to God, in the use of his appointed means;