A26892:2029
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.
§. 92. Direct. 11. Look upon thy great and manifold sins, which dwell in thy heart, and have been 1committed in thy life, and there thou wilt see cause for great humiliation. If thy body were full of Toads and Serpents, and thou couldst see or feel them crawling in thee, wouldst thou then be proud? Why so many sins are ten thousand fold worse, and should make thee far viler in thy own esteem. If thou were possessed with Devils, and knewest it, wouldst thou be proud? Why Devils possessing thy body are not so bad or hurtful to thee, as sin in thy soul. The sight of a sin should more take down thy pride, than the sight of a Devil. Should that man be proud that hath lived as thou hast lived, and sinned as thou hast sinned, from thy childhood until now? that hath lost so much time, and abused so much mercy, and neglected so much means, and omitted so many duties to God and man, and been guilty of so many sinful thoughts, and so many false or foolish words, and hath broken2 all the Laws of God? Should not he be deeply humbled that hath yet so much ignorance, error, unbelief, hypocrisy, sensuality, worldliness, hard-heartedness, security, uncharitableness, lust, envy, malice, impatience and selfishness, as is in thee? Should not thy very Pride it self be matter of thy great humiliation, to think that so odious a sin should yet so much prevail? Look thus on thy leprous defiled soul, and turn thy very Pride against it self? Know thy self, and thou canst not be Proud.
§. 92. Direct. 11. Look upon thy great and manifold sins, which dwell in thy heart, and have been 1committed in thy life, and there thou wilt see cause for great humiliation. If thy body were full of Toads and Serpents, and thou couldst see or feel them crawling in thee, wouldst thou then be proud? Why so many sins are ten thousand fold worse, and should make thee far viler in thy own esteem. If thou were possessed with Devils, and knewest it, wouldst thou be proud? Why Devils possessing thy body are not so bad or hurtful to thee, as sin in thy soul. The sight of a sin should more take down thy pride, than the sight of a Devil. Should that man be proud that hath lived as thou hast lived, and sinned as thou hast sinned, from thy childhood untill now? that hath lost so much time, and abused so much mercy, and neglected so much means, and omitted so many duties to God and man, and been guilty of so many sinful thoughts, and so many false or foolish words, and hath broken