A26892:2087
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.
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.
§. 24. Direct. 3. Remember how short a time thou must keep and enjoy the wealth which thou hast 1gotten: How quickly thou must be stripped of all. Canst thou keep it when thou hast it▪ Canst thou2 make a covenant with Death, that it shall not call away thy soul? Thou knowest beforehand that thou art of short continuance, and the world is but thy Inn or passage, and that a narrow grave for thy flesh to rot in, is all that thou canst keep of thy largest possessions, save what thou layest up in Heaven, by laying it out in obedience to God. How short is l••e? How quickly gone? Thou art almost dead and gone already. What is a few days or a few years more? And wilt thou make so much ado for so short a life? And so careful a provision for so short a stay? Yea how uncertain is thy time as well as short? Thou canst not say what world thou shal• be in tomorrow. Remember man, that Thou must die, Thou must die, Thou must quickly die; Thou knowest not how soon; breath yet a few breaths more and thou art gone: And yet canst thou be covetous, and drown thy soul with earthly cares? Dost thou soberly read thy Saviours warning, Luke 12. 19, 20, 21. Is it not spoken as to thee? Thou ••ol, this night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall those things be which 3thou hast provided? So is every one that layeth up Riches for himself, and is not Rich towards God. If If thou be rich to day, and be in another world tomorrow, had not poverty been as good? Distracted soul! Dost thou make so great a matter of it, whether thou have much or little for so short a time? and takest no more care either where thou shalt be, or what thou shalt have to all eternity? Dost thou say, thou wilt cast this care on God? I tell thee, he will make thee care thy self, and care again before he will save thee? And why canst thou not cast the care of smaller matters on him, when he commandeth thee? Is it any great matter whether thou be Rich or poor, that art going so fast unto another world, where these are things of no signification? Tell me, if thou were sure that thou must die tomorrow, (yea or the next month or year,) wouldst thou not be more indifferent whether thou be Rich or Poor? And look more after greater things. Then thou wouldst be of the Apostles mind,