A26892:2148
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.
§. 16. Object. 2. But I feel it is natural to me, and therefore can be no sin. Answ. 1. The inordinate, violent unruly appetite is no otherwise Natural to you, than as a leprosy is to a leprous generation: And will you love your disease, because it is natural? It is no otherwise Natural, than it is to be malicious, and revengeful, and to disobey your Governors, and abuse your neighbours: And yet I think they will not judge you innocent, for rebellion or abuse, because its natural to you. 2. Though the Appetite be natural, is not Reason to Rule it as natural to you? And is not the subjection of the Appetite to Reason natural? If it be not, you have lost the nature of man, and are Metamorphosed into the nature of a Beast. God gave you a higher nature to govern your appetite and lower nature: And though Reason cannot take away your Appetite, it can rule it and keep you from fulfilling it, in any thing or measure that's unmeet.
§. 16. Object. 2. But I feel it is natural to me, and therefore can be no sin. Answ. 1. The inordinate, violent unruly appetite is no otherwise Natural to you, than as a leprosie is to a leprous generation: And will you love your disease, because it is natural? It is no otherwise Natural, than it is to be malicious, and revengeful, and to disobey your Governours, and abuse your neighbours: And yet I think they will not judge you innocent, for rebellion or abuse, because its natural to you. 2. Though the Appetite be natural, is not Reason to Rule it as natural to you? And is not the subjection of the Appetite to Reason natural? If it be not, you have lost the nature of man, and are Metamorphosed into the nature of a Beast. God gave you a higher nature to govern your appetite and lower nature: And though Reason cannot take away your Appetite, it can rule it and keep you from fulfilling it, in any thing or measure thats unmeet.
§. 17. Object. 3. But it appeareth by the case of Eve, that the Appetite was the same in innocency: therefore it is no sin. Answ. You must not forget the difference between 1. The Appetite it self: 2. The violence and unruly disposition of the appetite: 3. And the actual obeying and pleasing of the appetite. The first (the Appetite it self) was in innocency, and is yet no sin: But the other two (the violence of it, and the obeying it) were not in innocency, and are both sinful.