A26892:2228
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. 3. Directions Practical 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.
§. 41. Direct. 4. Live continually as under the Government of God; and keep Conscience tender, and 1in the performance of its office; and always be ready to render an account to God and Conscience of what you do. If you live as under the Government of God, you will be still doing his work; you will be remembering his judgement; you will be trying your work whether it be such as he approveth: This will keep you from all Time-wasting vanities. If you keep Conscience tender, it will presently check and reprehend you for your sin: and when you lose but a minute of Time it will tell you of the loss: whereas a seared Conscience is past feeling, and will give you over to lasciviousness, Ephes. 4. 19. 1 Tim. 4. 2. and will make but a jest at the loss of time; or at least will not effectually tell you either of the sin or loss: If you keep Conscience to its office, it will ask you frequently, what you are doing? and try your works: It will take account of Time when it is spent, and ask you, what you have been doing? and how you have spent every day and hour: And (as Seneca could say) He will be the more careful what he doth; and how he spends the day, who looks to be called to a reckoning for it every night. This will make the foreseen day of Judgement have such a continual awe upon you, as if you were presently going to it; while conscience, with respect to it, is continually fore-judging you. Whereas they that have silenced or discarded Conscience, are like School-boys that bolt their Master out of doors, who do it with a design to spend the time in play, which they should have spent in learning: But the after-reckoning pays for all.
§. 41. Direct. 4. Live continually as under the Government of God; and keep Conscience tender, and 1in the performance of its office; and always be ready to render an account to God and Conscience of what you do. If you live as under the Government of God, you will be still doing his work; you will be remembring his judgement; you will be trying your work whether it be such as he approveth: This will keep you from all Time-wasting vanities. If you keep Conscience tender, it will presently check and reprehend you for your sin: and when you lose but a minute of Time it will tell you of the loss: whereas a seared Conscience is past feeling, and will give you over to laseiviousness,