A26892:2185
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.
what abundance of duty hast thou to perform in thy Relations? to Parents or Children, to Husband or Wife, as a Master or a Servant, and the rest? Thou little knowest what sufferings thou hast to prepare for! Thou hast Faith, and Love and Repentance and patience and all Gods graces, to get and to exercise daily, and to increase? Thou hast thy accounts to prepare, and assurance of salvation to obtain, and Death and Judgement to prepare for: what thinks thy heart of all this work! Put it off as lightly as thou wilt, it is God himself that hath laid it on thee, and it must be done in time or thou must be undone for ever! And yet it must not be thy toil, but thy delight: This is appointed thee for thy chiefest recreation. Look into the Scripture and into thy Heart, and thou wilt find that all this is to be done. And dost thou think in thy Conscience that this is not greater business, than thy gaudy dressings, thy idle visits, or thy needless sports? which is more worthy of thy Time?
what abundance of duty hast thou to perform in thy Relations? to Parents or Children, to Husband or Wife, as a Master or a Servant, and the rest? Thou little knowest what sufferings thou hast to prepare for! Thou hast Faith, and Love and Repentance and patience and all Gods graces, to get and to exercise daily, and to increase? Thou hast thy accounts to prepare, and assurance of salvation to obtain, and Death and Judgement to prepare for: what thinks thy heart of all this work! Put it off as lightly as thou wilt, it is God himself that hath laid it on thee, and it must be done in time or thou must be undone for ever! And yet it must not be thy toyl, but thy delight: This is appointed thee for thy chiefest recreation. Look into the Scripture and into thy Heart, and thou wilt find that all this is to be done. And dost thou think in thy Conscience that this is not greater business, than thy gawdy dressings, thy idle visits, or thy needless sports? which is more worthy of thy Time?
§. 10. Direct. 3. Remember how gainful the Redeeming of Time is, and how exceeding comfortable 1in the review? In Merchandise, or any trading; in husbandry or any gaining course, we use to say of a man that hath grown rich by it, that he hath made use of his Time! But when Heaven, and communion with God in the way, and a life of holy strength and comfort, and a death full of joy and hope is to be the gain, how cheerfully should Time be Redeemed for these? If it be pleasant