A26892:2232
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.
§. 45. Direct. 7. Endure patiently some smaller inconvenience and loss, for the avoiding of greater, and 1for the redeeming of Time for greater duties; and let little things be resolutely cast out of your way, when they would draw out your Time by insensible degrees. The Devil would cunningly steal that from you by drops, which he cannot get you to cast away profusely at once: He that will not spend prodigally by the pounds, may run out by not regarding pence. You shall have the pretences of decency and seemliness, and civility, and good manners, and avoiding offence, and censure, and of some necessity too, to draw out your precious Time from you by little and little; And if you are so easy as to yield, it will almost all be wasted by this temptation. As if you be Ministers of Christ whose Time must be spent in your studies and pulpits and in conference with your people, and visiting them and watching over them, and it is your daily groans, that Time is short and work is long, and that you are forced to omit so many needful studies, and pass by so many needy souls, for want of Time; Yet if you look not well about you, and will not bear some censure and offence, you shall lose even the rest of the Time, which now you do improve. Your friends about you will be tempting and telling you, O this friend must needs be visited, and the other friend must be civilly treated; you must not shake them off so quickly: They look for more of your time and company: you are much obliged to them: they will say you are uncivil and morose: such a scholar comes to be acquainted with you; and he will take it ill; and misrepresent you to others, if you allow him not Time for some familiar discourse. Its one that never was with you before; and never took up▪ any of your Time: (And so saith the next and the next as well as he.) Such a one visited you, and you must needs visit him again. There is this journey or that which must needs be gone: and this business and that which must needs be done: Yea ones very family-occasions will steal away all his Time if he watch not narrowly:
§. 45. Direct. 7. Endure patiently some smaller inconvenience and loss, for the avoiding of greater, and 1for the redeeming of Time for greater duties; and let little things be resolutely cast out of your way, when they would draw out your Time by insensible degrees. The Devil would cunningly steal that from you by drops, which he cannot get you to cast away profusely at once: He that will not spend prodigally by the pounds, may run out by not regarding pence. You shall have the pretenses of decencie and seemliness, and civility, and good manners, and avoiding offence, and censure, and of some necessity too, to draw out your precious Time from you by little and little; And if you are so easie as to yield, it will almost all be wasted by this temptation. As if you be Ministers of Christ whose Time must be spent in your studies and pulpits and in conference with your people, and visiting them and watching over them, and it is your daily groans, that Time is short and work is long, and that you are forced to omit so many needful studies, and pass by so many needy souls, for want of Time; Yet if you look not well about you, and will not bear some censure and offence, you shall lose even the rest of the Time, which now you do improve. Your friends about you will be tempting and telling you, O this friend must needs be visited, and the other friend must be civilly treated; you must not shake them off so quickly: They look for more of your time and company: you are much obliged to them: they will say you are uncivil and morose: such a scholar comes to be acquainted with you; and he will take it ill; and misrepresent you to others, if you allow him not Time for some familiar discourse. Its one that never was with you before; and never took up any of your Time: (And so saith the next and the next as well as he.) Such a one visited you, and you must needs visit him again. There is this journey or that which must needs be gone: and this business and that which must needs be done: Yea ones very family-occasions will steal away all his Time if he watch not narrowly: