A26892:2241
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. 4. The Thieves or Time-wasters to be watchfully avoided.
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.
and rids so little ground, and doth so little work, and so poorly resisteth opposition, that he makes little of it, and all is but next to sitting still and doing nothing. It is a sad thing that men should not only lose their time, in sinful pleasures; but they must lose it also in reading, and hearing, and praying, by doing all in a heartless drowsiness! Thus he also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster, Prov. 18. 9. If he begin in the Spirit, and for a Spurt seem to be in earnest, he flags, and tireth, and endeth in the fl•sh: Proverbs 12. 27. The slothful roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. If he see and confess a vice, he hath not a heart to rise against it, and resolutely resist it, and use the means by which it must be overcome. Prov. 24. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. I went by the field of the slothful, and by the Vineyard of the man void of understanding; and •o it was all grown over with Thorns, and Nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw and considered it well, I looked upon it and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. Shake off then this unmanly sluggishness: Remember that you run for the immortal Crown: and therefore see that you lose no time, and look not at the things that are behind; that is, do not cast an eye, or lend an ear1 to any person or thing that would call you back or stop you: Heaven is before you, Judg. 18. 9. We have seen the Land, and behold it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go and to enter, and possess the Land, (as the five Danite Spies said to their brethren). Abhor a sluggish habit of mind: Go cheerfully about what you have to do: and do it diligently and with your might: Even about your lawful worldly business, it is a Time-wasting sin to be slothful: If you are servants or labourers you rob your Masters and those that hire you; who hired you to work and not to be idle. Whatever you are, you rob God of your service, and your selves of your precious Time, and all that you might get therein. It's they that are lazy in their Callings, that can find no Time for holy duties: