A26892:2297
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.
§. 4. Direct. 4. Get but the Love of God well kindled in your Heart, and it will find employment, 1even the most high and sweet employment, for your Thoughts. Your selves shall be the Judges, whether2 your Love doth not for the most part, rule your thoughts; assigning them their work, and directing them when, and how long to think on it? See but how a lustful lover is carried after a beloved silly piece of flesh? Their thoughts will so easily and so constantly run after it, that they need no spur! Mark in what a stream it carrieth them! how it feedeth and quickeneth their invention, and elevateth an ordinary fancy into a Poetical and passionate strain! What abundance of matter can a Lover find, in the narrow compass of a dirty Corpse for his thoughts to work on night and day? And will not the Love of God then, much more fill and feast your thoughts? How easily can the Love of money, find matter for the thoughts of the worldling from one year to another? Its easy to think of any thing which you love. O what a happy spring of Meditation, is a rooted predominant Love of God? Love him strongly, and you cannot forget him: You will then see him in every thing that meets you; and hear him in every one that speaketh to you: If you miss him, or have offended him, you will think on him with grief: If you taste of his Love, you will think of him with Delight: If you have but hope, you will think of him with Desire, and your Minds will be taken up in seeking him, and in understanding and using the Means by which you may come to enjoy him. Love is ingenious, and full, and quick, and active, and resolute: It is valiant, and patient, and exceeding industrious; and delighteth to encounter difficulties, and to appear in labours, and to show it self in advantageous sufferings: and therefore it maketh the mind in which it reigneth, exceeding busy; and findeth the thoughts a world of work. If God be not in all the thoughts of the ungodly, Psal. 10. 4. it is because he is not in his heart. He may be nigh their mouths, but is far from their reins. Jer. 12. 2. Do those men believe themselves, or would they be believed by any one that is wise, who say, they Love God above all, and yet neither think of him, nor love to think of him? but are unwearied in thinking of their wealth, and honours, and the pleasures of their flesh?