A26892:22
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.
7. Note also that the third and fourth parts are very much defective of what they should contain, about the Power and Government of Gods officers in Church and State; of which no Readers will expect a reason but strangers, whose expectations I may not satisfy. But as I must profess that I hope nothing here hath proceeded, from Disloyalty, or disrespect to Authority, Government, Unity, Concord, Peace or Order, or from any opposition to Faith, Piety, Love, or Justice; so if unknown to me, there be any thing found here, that is contrary or injurious to any one of these, I do hereby renounce it, and desire it may be taken as non-scriptum.
7. Note also that the third and fourth parts are very much defective of what they should contain, about the Power and Government of Gods officers in Church and State; of which no Readers will expect a reason but strangers, whose expectations I may not satisfie. But as I must profess that I hope nothing here hath proceeded, from Disloyalty, or disrespect to Authority, Government, Unity, Concord, Peace or Order, or from any opposition to Faith, Piety, Love, or Iustice; so if unknown to me, there be any thing found here, that is contrary or injurious to any one of these, I do hereby renounce it, and desire it may be taken as non-scriptum.
II. The Ends and Uses for which I wrote this Book are these: 1. That when I could not Preach the Gospel as I would, I might do it as I could. 2. That three sorts might have the benefit as followeth.
I That the Younger and more unfurnished, and unexperienced sort of Ministers, might have a promptuary at hand, for Practical Resolutions and Directions on the subjects that they have need to deal in. And though Sayrus and Fragoso have done well, I would not have us under a necessity, of going to the Romanists for our ordinary supplies: Long have our Divines been wishing for some fuller Casuistical Tractate: Perkins began well. Bishop Sanderson hath done excellently de Juramento; Amesius hath exceeded all, though briefly: Mr. David Dickson hath put more of our English Cases about the state of Sanctification, into Latin, than ever was done before him. Bishop Jer. Tailor hath in two Folio's but begun the copious performance of the work. And still men are calling for more, which I have attempted: Hoping that others will come after and do better than we all.