A26892:2128
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.
12. The intending of Gods Glory or our spiritual good, cannot be distinctly and sensibly re-acted in every particular pleasure we take, or bit we eat, or thing we use: But a sincere Habitual Intention well laid at first in the Heart, will serve to the right use of many particular Means. As a man purposeth at his first setting out to what place he meaneth to go, and afterward goeth on though at every step, he think not sensibly of his end: so he that devoteth himself to God, and in general designeth all to his Glory, and the furtherance of his duty and salvation, will carry on small particulars to that •nd, by a secret unobserved action of the soul, performed at the same time with other actions, which only are observed. He that intendeth but his health in eating and drinking, is not remembering his health at every bit and cup: and yet hath such a Habit of care and caution, as will unobservedly keep him in his way, and help him to fit the means unto the end. As the accustomed hand of a Musician can play a Lesson on his Lute, while he thinks of something else; so can a resolved Christian faithfully do such accustomed things as eating and drinking and clothing him and labouring in his calling, to the good ends which he (first actually, and still habitually) resolved on, without a distinct remembrance and observable intention of that end.
12. The intending of Gods Glory or our spiritual good, cannot be distinctly and sensibly re-acted in every particular pleasure we take, or bit we eat, or thing we use: But a sincere Habitual Intention well laid at first in the Heart, will serve to the right use of many particular Means. As a man purposeth at his first setting out to what place he meaneth to go, and afterward goeth on though at every step, he think not sensibly of his end: so he that devoteth himself to God, and in general designeth all to his Glory, and the furtherance of his duty and salvation, will carry on small particulars to that •nd, by a secret unobserved action of the soul, performed at the same time with other actions, which only are observed. He that intendeth but his health in eating and drinking, is not remembring his health at every bit and cup: and yet hath such a Habit of care and caution, as will unobservedly keep him in his way, and help him to fit the means unto the end. As the accustomed hand of a Musicion can play a Lesson on his Lute, while he thinks of something else; so can a resolved Christian faithfully do such accustomed things as eating and drinking and cloathing him and labouring in his calling, to the good ends which he (first actually, and still habitually) resolved on, without a distinct remembrance and observable intention of that end.