A26892:2155
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.
4. Others think that they are no flesh-pleasers, because their wealth, and places, and degrees of honour allow them to live high in diet and delights. Its like the Rich man, Luke 16. who was clothed with purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day, did live upon his own, and as he thought agreeably to his rank and place: And the fool, Luke 12. 19, 20. that said, Soul take thy ease, eat, drink and be merry, did intend to please himself but with his own, which God had given him as a blessing on his land and labour. But no mans Riches allow him to be voluptuous: The commands of taming and mortifying the flesh, and not living after it, nor making provision for it, to satisfy it lusts, belong as much to the rich as to the poor: Though you are not to live in the same garb with the poor, you are as much bound to mortification and self-denial as the poorest. If you are Richer than others, you have more to serve God with, but not more than others to serve the flesh with. If poverty deny them any thing which might better enable their bodies or minds to serve God, you may so far go beyond them, and use with thankfulness the mercies given you: But you must no more be flesh-pleasers than they.
4. Others think that they are no flesh-pleasers, because their wealth, and places, and degrees of honour allow them to live high in dyet and delights. Its like the Rich man, Luke 16. who was clothed with purple and fine linnen, and fared sumptuously every day, did live upon his own, and as he thought agreeably to his rank and place: And the fool, Luke 12. 19, 20. that said, Soul take thy ease, eat, drink and be merry, did intend to please himself but with his own, which God had given him as a blessing on his land and labour. But no mans Riches allow him to be voluptuous: The commands of taming and mortifying the flesh, and not living after it, nor making provision for it, to satisfie it lusts, belong as much to the rich as to the poor: Though you are not to live in the same garb with the poor, you are as much bound to mortification and self-denyal as the poorest. If you are Richer than others, you have more to serve God with, but not more than others to serve the flesh with. If poverty deny them any thing which might better enable their bodies or minds to serve God, you may so far go beyond them, and use with thankfulness the mercies given you: But you must no more be flesh-pleasers than they.