A26892:2292
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. 2. Directions to furnish the Mind with good 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.
That which tells a man best, what he hath to do, doth best tell him what he hath to think on: But the approach of death, and the appearance of eternity, doth best tell a dull and fleshly sinner, what he hath to do: This tells, and tells him roundly, that he must presently search his heart and life, and judge himself as one that is going to the final judgement; and that it is high time for him to look out for the remedy for his sin and misery, &c. And therefore it will command his thoughts this way: Ask any Lawyer, Physician, or Tradesman what commands his Thoughts; and you will find that his Interest, and his Ends, and work command them. Know what it is to have an immortal soul, that must live in Joy or Woe for ever, and what it is to be always so near to the irreversible determining sentence, and what it is to have this short uncertain time and no more, to make our preparation in, and then its easy to foretell which way your thoughts will go. A man that knoweth his house is on fire, will be thinking how to quench it: A man that knoweth he is entering into a mortal sickness, will be thinking how to cure it. There is no better way to have your Thoughts both furnished and acted aright, than to know your Interest, and right End.
That which tells a man best, what he hath to do, doth best tell him what he hath to think on: But the approach of death, and the appearance of eternity, doth best tell a dull and fleshly sinner, what he hath to do: This tells, and tells him roundly, that he must presently search his heart and life, and judge himself as one that is going to the final judgement; and that it is high time for him to look out for the remedy for his sin and misery, &c. And therefore it will command his thoughts this way: Ask any Lawyer, Physicion, or Tradesman what commands his Thoughts; and you will find that his Interest, and his Ends, and work command them. Know what it is to have an immortal soul, that must live in Joy or Wo for ever, and what it is to be alwayes so near to the irreversible determining sentence, and what it is to have this short uncertain time and no more, to make our preparation in, and then its easie to foretell which way your thoughts will go. A man that knoweth his house is on fire, will be thinking how to quench it: A man that knoweth he is entring into a mortal sickness, will be thinking how to cure it. There is no better way to have your Thoughts both furnished and acted aright, than to know your Interest, and right End.