A Christian Directory

Name: A Christian Directory
Author: Richard Baxter

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 1 › Chapter 1 › Part 1 › Direction 1: Direction 1. IF thou be truly willing to be sanctified and a child of God, Remain not i…

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.

[ Earlier:209–224 of 9,947

:209p. 6

§. 1. If knowledge be unnecessary, why have we Understanding? And wherein doth a man excel¹ a Beast? If any knowledge at all be necessary, certainly it must be the knowledge of the greatest and most necessary things: And nothing is so great and necessary as to Obey thy Maker, and to save thy soul. Knowledge is to be valued according to its Usefulness: If it be a matter of as great concernment, to know how to do your worldly business, and to trade and gather worldly wealth, and to understand the Laws, and to maintain your honour, as it is to know how to be reconciled unto God, to be pardoned and justified, to please your Creator, to prepare in time for death and judgement, and an endless life, then let worldly wisdom have the preeminence: But if all earthly things be dreams and shadows, and valuable only as they serve us in the way to Heaven, then surely the Heavenly Wisdom is the best. Alas, how far is that man from being wise, that is acquainted with all the punctilio's of the Law, that is excellent in the knowledge of all the Languages, Sciences and Arts, and yet knoweth not how to Live to God, to mortify the flesh, to conquer sin, to deny himself, nor to answer in Judgement for his fleshly life, nor to escape damnation! As far is such a Learned man from being wise, as he is from being happy.

§. 1. If knowledge be unnecessary, why have we Understanding? And wherein doth a man excell¹ a Beast? If any knowledge at all be necessary, certainly it must be the knowledge of the greatest and most necessary things: And nothing is so great and necessary as to Obey thy Maker, and to save thy soul. Knowledge is to be valued according to its Usefulness: If it be a matter of as great concernment, to know how to do your worldly business, and to trade and gather worldly wealth, and to understand the Laws, and to maintain your honour, as it is to know how to be reconciled unto God, to be pardoned and justified, to please your Creator, to prepare in time for death and judgement, and an endless life, then let worldly wisdom have the preheminence: But if all earthly things be dreams and shadows, and valuable only as they serve us in the way to Heaven, then surely the Heavenly Wisdom is the best. Alas, how far is that man from being wise, that is acquainted with all the punctilio's of the Law, that is excellent in the knowledge of all the Languages, Sciences and Arts, and yet knoweth not how to Live to God, to mortifie the flesh, to conquer sin, to deny himself, nor to answer in Judgement for his fleshly life, nor to escape damnation! As far is such a Learned man from being wise, as he is from being happy.

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

A Christian Directory

Direction 2. Especially labour first to understand the true nature of a state of sin, and a state¹ of Grace.

Direction 2. ESpecially labour first to understand the true nature of a state of sin, and a state¹ of Grace.

Direction 3. TO know what a life of Holiness is, believe the Word of God, and those that have¹ tried it, and believe not the slanders of the Devil and of ungodly men, that never tried or knew the things which they reproach.

Direction 3. TO know what a life of Holiness is, believe the Word of God, and those that have¹ tryed it, and believe not the slanders of the Devil and of ungodly men, that never tryed or knew the things which they reproach.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

Direction 2. Especially labour first to understand the true nature of a state of sin, and a state1 of Grace.

Direction 2. ESpecially labour first to understand the true nature of a state of sin, and a state1 of Grace.

Direction 3. TO know what a life of Holiness is, believe the Word of God, and those that have1 tried it, and believe not the slanders of the Devil and of ungodly men, that never tried or knew the things which they reproach.

Direction 3. TO know what a life of Holiness is, believe the Word of God, and those that have1 tryed it, and believe not the slanders of the Devil and of ungodly men, that never tryed or knew the things which they reproach.

Transcription key

Direction 2. Especially labour first to understand the true nature of a state of sin, and a state¹ of Grace.

Direction 2. ESpecially labour first to understand the true nature of a state of sin, and a state¹ of Grace.

Direction 3. TO know what a life of Holiness is, believe the Word of God, and those that have¹ tried it, and believe not the slanders of the Devil and of ungodly men, that never tried or knew the things which they reproach.

Direction 3. TO know what a life of Holiness is, believe the Word of God, and those that have¹ tryed it, and believe not the slanders of the Devil and of ungodly men, that never tryed or knew the things which they reproach.