A26892:2295
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.
All this you may so know by sound believing, as to be carried to it as sincerely as if your eyes had seen it, Heb. 11. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 7. And yet can your thoughts be idle, or carnal, or worldly and sinful for want of work? Are your meditations dry and barren for want of matter to employ them. Doth the fire of Love or other holy affections go out for want of fuel to feed it? Is not Heaven and Eternity spacious enough for your minds to expatiate in? Is not such a world as that, sufficient for you to study, with fresh and delectable variety of discoveries from day to day? or that which is more delightful than variety! Would you have more matter, or higher and more excellent matter, or sweeter and more pleasant matter, or matter which doth nearlier concern your selves! Get that faith which all that shall be saved Live by, which makes things absent as operative (in some measure) as if they were present, and that which will be, as if it now were, and that which is unseen, as if it were now open to your eyes; and then your Thoughts will want neither matter to work upon, nor altogether an actuating excitation.
All this you may so know by sound believing, as to be carried to it as sincerely as if your eyes had seen it, Heb. 11. 1. 2 Cor. 5. 7. And yet can your thoughts be idle, or carnal, or worldly and sinful for want of work? Are your meditations dry and barren for want of matter to employ them. Doth the fire of Love or other holy affections go out for want of fuell to feed it? Is not Heaven and Eternity spatious enough for your minds to expatiate in? Is not such a world as that, sufficient for you to study, with fresh and delectable variety of discoveries from day to day? or that which is more delightful than variety! Would you have more matter, or higher and more excellent matter, or sweeter and more pleasant matter, or matter which doth nearlier concern your selves! Get that faith which all that shall be saved Live by, which makes things absent as operative (in some measure) as if they were present, and that which will be, as if it now were, and that which is unseen, as if it were now open to your eyes; and then your Thoughts will want neither matter to work upon, nor altogether an actuating excitation.