A26892:2153
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.
2. Because they live not in any gross disgraced vice: They go not to Stage-plays, or unseasonably to Ale-houses or Taverns; they are not drunken, nor gamesters, nor spend not their hours in unnecessary recreations or pastimes: They are no fornicators, nor wallow in wealth. But the flesh may be pleased and served in a way that hath no disgrace accompanying it in the world: May not a man make his ease, or his prosperity, or the pleasing of his appetite without any infamous excesses, to be as much his felicity and highest end, and that which practically he taketh for his Best, as well as if he did it in a shameful way? Is not many a man a gluttonous flesh-pleaser, that maketh his delight the highest end of all his eating and drinking; and pleaseth his appetite without any restraint, but what his health and reputation put upon him, though he eat not till he vomit or be sick? Even the flesh it self may forbid a sensualist to be drunk, or to eat till he be sick. For sickness and shame are displeasing to the flesh. Many a man covereth a life of sensuality, not only with a seeming temperance, unreproved of men, but also with a seeming strictness and austerity. But conscience might tell them, where they have their good things.1
2. Because they live not in any gross disgraced vice: They go not to Stage-playes, or unseasonably to Ale-houses or Taverns; they are not drunken, nor gamesters, nor spend not their hours in unnecessary recreations or pastimes: They are no fornicators, nor wallow in wealth. But the flesh may be pleased and served in a way that hath no disgrace accompanying it in the world: May not a man make his ease, or his prosperity, or the pleasing of his appetite without any infamous excesses, to be as much his felicity and highest end, and that which practically he taketh for his Best, as well as if he did it in a shameful way? Is not many a man a gluttonous flesh-pleaser, that maketh his delight the highest end of all his eating and drinking; and pleaseth his appetite without any restraint, but what his health and reputation put upon him, though he eat not till he vomit or be sick? Even the flesh it self may forbid a sensualist to be drunk, or to eat till he be sick. For sickness and shame are displeasing to the flesh. Many a man covereth a life of sensuality, not only with a seeming temperance, unreproved of men, but also with a seeming strictness and austerity. But conscience might tell them, where they have their good things.1