A26892:2212
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 › Tit. 2. Directions Contemplative for Redeeming Opportunity.
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.
§. 28. Opportunity or Season is the flower of Time! All Time is precious; but the season is most precious: The present Time is the season to works of present necessity: And for others, they have all their particular seasons, which must not be let slip.
§. 28. OPportunity or Season is the flower of Time! All Time is precious; but the season is most precious: The present Time is the season to works of present nec•ssity: And for others, they have all their particular seas•ns, which must not be let slip.
Direct. 1. Remember that it is the great difference between the happy Saint and the unhappy world, 1that one is wise in time, and the other is wise too late. The godly know while knowledge will do good: The wicked know when knowledge will but torment them. All those that you see now so exceedingly contrary in their judgement to the godly, will be of the very same opinion shortly, when it will do them no good. Bear with their difference and contradiction; for it will be but a very little while. There is not one man that now is the furious enemy of holiness, but will confess ere long that Holiness was best: Do they now despise it as tedious fantastical hypocrisy? They will shortly know, that it was but the cure of a distracted mind, and the necessary duty to God, which Religion and right reason do command: Do they now say of sin, What harm is in it? They will shortly know that it is the poison of the soul, and worse than any misery or death. They will think m•re highly of the worth of Christ, of the necessity of all possible diligence for our souls, of the preciousness of Time, of the wisdom of the Godly, of the excellencies of Heaven, and of the Word of God and all holy Means, than any of those do that are now reproached by them, for being of this mind. But what the better will they be for this? No more than Adam for knowing good and evil. No more than it will profit a man when he is dead, to know of what disease he dyed. No more than it will profit a man to know what is poison, when he hath taken it and is past remedy. The Thief will be wise at the Gallows; and the Spendthrift-prodigal when all is gone. But they that will be safe and happy, must be wise in Time. The godly know the worth of Heaven before it is lost: and the misery of damnation, before they feel it; and the necessity of a Saviour while he is willing to be a Saviour to them; and the evil of sin before it hath undone them; and the preciousness o Time before it is gone; and the worth of mercy while mercy may be had; and the need of praying, while praying may prevail: They sleep not till the door is shut, and then knock and cry, Lord open to us, as the foolish ones,