A26892:2283
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 6 › Tit. 1. Directions against evil and idle Thoughts.
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.
§. 14. Direct. 13. Take •eed l•st any practical error corrupt your understandings: or lest you be engaged 1in any ill design: For these will command your thoughts into a course of sinful attendance and service to their ends. He that erreth and thinks his sin is his virtue or his duty, will indulge the thoughts of it without control: Yea he will drive on his mind to such cogitations; and steal from the authority and word of God, the motives and incentives of his sin: As false prophets speak against God in the name of God, and against his word as by the pretended authority of his word; so an •rring mind, will fetch its arguments from God and from the Scripture, for those sinful thoughts which are against God and Scripture. And if evil thoughts will so hardly be kept out when we plead the authority of God and his word against them, and do the best we can to hinder them; how will they prevail when you plead the authority of God and the sacred Scriptures for them, and take it to be your duty to kindle and promote them. For instance; all the sinful thoughts by which the Romish Clergy are contriving, the support of their Kingdom of darkness in the world, and the continuance of their tyranny in the Church, are but the products of their error, which ••lls them that all this should be done, as pleasing to God, and profitable to the Church. All the bl••dy thoughts of persecutors, against the Church and holy ways of Christ, have been cherished by this […] thought, John 16. 23. The time cometh that whoever killeth you, will Think that he doth God service: and th•se things they will do unto you, because they have not known the Father nor me. All P•uls bloody contrivances and practices against the Church, did come from this: Act. 26. 9. I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth: which thing I also did—All the scornful and reproachful thoughts and speeches of many of the ungodly, against a holy life are hence: