A26892:2184
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.
Part 1 › Chapter 5 › The Directions contemplative for Redeeming Time.
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.
He durst not sleep quietly in thy condition a night, lest death should snatch him away to Hell, and canst thou sport and play in it, and live securely in a sensual course? O what a thing it is to be hoodwinked in misery, and to be led asleep to Hell? who could persuade men to live thus awake, and go dancing to Hell with their eyes open! O if we should but imagine a Peter or a Paul or any of the blessed, to be again brought into such a case as one of these unsanctified sinners, and yet to know what now they know! what would they do? would they feast, and game, and play and trifle away their time in it? or would they not rather suddenly bewail their former misspent time, and all their sins, and cry day and night to God for mercy, and fly to Christ, and spend all their time in Holiness and obedience to God! Alas poor sinner, do but look into thy heart, and see there what thou hast yet to do (of greater weight than trimming and playing): I almost tremble to think and write what a case thou art in, and what thou hast to do, while thou livest as if thou hadst Time to spare! If thou know not, I will tell thee, and the Lord make thee know it: Thou hast a hardened heart to be yet softened; and an unbelieving heart to be brought to a lively powerful Belief of the word of God and the unseen world: Thou hast an unholy Heart and life to be made Holy, if ever thou wilt see the face of God, Heb. 12. 14. Matth. 18. 3. Joh. 3. 3, 5, 6. Thou hast a Heart-full of sins to be mortified and subdued: and an unreformed life to be reformed: (And what abundance of particulars do these Generals contain!) Thou hast a pardon to procure through Jesus Christ, for all the sins that ever thou didst commit, and all the duties which ever thou didst omit: Thou hast an offended God to be reconciled to, and for thy estranged soul to know as thy Father in Jesus Christ! what abundance of Scripture truths hast thou to learn which thou art ignorant of? How many holy duties, as Prayer, Meditation, holy conference, &c. to learn which thou art unskilful in? and to perform when thou hast learned them? How many works of Justice and Charity to mens souls and bodies hast thou to do? How many needy ones to relieve as thou art able? and the sick to visit, and the naked to clothe, and the sad to comfort, and the ignorant to instruct, and the ungodly to exhort?