A26892:2200
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.
§. 19. Direct. 12. Never forget what attendance thou hast while thou art idling or sinning away thy 1Time: How the patience and mercy of God are staying for thee: And how Sun and Moon and all the creatures are all the while attending on thee? And must God stand by, while thou art yet a little longer abusing and offending him? Must God stay till thy Cards, and Dice, and Pride, and worldly unnecessary cares will dismiss thee, and spare thee for his service? Must he wait on the Devil and the world and the flesh; to take their leavings, and stay till they have done with thee? Canst thou marvel if he make thee pay for this? If he turn away and leave thee to spend thy time, in as much vanity and idleness as thou desirest? Must God and all his creatures wait, on a careless sinner, while he is at his fleshly pleasures? Must life and time be continued to him, while he is doing nothing that is worthy of his Life and time? The long suffering of God did wait on the disobedient in the days of Noah: 1 Pet. 3. 20. But how dear did they pay for the contempt of this forbearance?
- 1Direct. 12.
§. 20. Direct. 13. Consider soberly of the ends for which thy life and Time are given thee by God: 1God made not such a creature as man for nothing: He never gave thee an hours Time for nothing: The life and time of brutes and plants is given them to be serviceable to thee: But what is thine for? Dost thou think in thy Conscience that any of thy Time, is given thee in vain? When thou art slugging, or idling or playing it away, dost thou think in thy Conscience that thou art wisely and honestly answering the ends of thy Creation and Redemption and hourly preservation? Dost thou think that God is so unwise, or disregardful of thy Time and thee, as to give thee more than thou hast need of? Thou wilt blame thy Tailor if he cut out more cloth, than will make thy garments meet for thee, and agreeable to thy use: And thou wilt blame thy Shoemaker if he make thy shoos too big for thee. And dost thou think that God is so lavish of Time, or so unskilful in his works of providence, as to cut thee out more Time, than the work which he hath cut thee out requireth? He that will call thee to a reckoning for all, hath certainly given thee none in vain. If thou canst find an hour that thou hast othing to do with, and must give no account for, let that be the hour of thy pastime. But if thou knewest thy need, thy danger, thy hopes and thy work, thou wouldst never dream of having Time to spare. For my own part, I must tell thee, if thou have Time to spare, thy case is very