A Christian Directory

Name: A Christian Directory
Author: Richard Baxter

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 1 › Chapter 1 › Part 1 › Direction 5: Direction 5. F thou wouldst not be destitute of saving Grace, let thy Reason be exercis…

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.

[ Earlier:231–244 of 9,947

:231p. 10

Direction 5. F thou wouldst not be destitute of saving Grace, let thy Reason be exercised about the¹ matters of thy salvation, in some proportion of frequent, sober, serious Thoughts, as thou art convinced the weight of the matter doth require.

1Direct. 5.

:232p. 10–11

§. 1. To have Reason is common to all men, even the sleepy and distracted: To use Reason is common to¹ all that have their senses awake and fit to serve their Minds: To use Reason in the greatest matters, is proper to wise men, that know for what end God made them Reasonable. Inconsiderate men are all ungodly men: For Reason not used is as bad as no Reason (and will prove much worse in the day of reckoning.) The truth is, though sinners are exceeding blind and erroneous, about the things of God, yet all Gods precepts are so Reasonable, and tend so clearly to our joy and happiness, that if the Devil did not win most souls by silencing Reason, and laying it asleep, or drowning its voice, with the noise and crowd of worldly business, Hell would not have so many sad inhabitants. I scarce believe that God will condemn any sinner that ever lived in the world (that had the use of Reason) no not the Heathens that had but one talent, but he will be able to say to them as Luk. 19. 22. Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant: Thou knewest, &c. To serve God and labour diligently for salvation, and prefer it before all worldly things, is so Reasonable a thing, that every one that Repenteth of the contrary course, doth call it from his heart an impious madness. Reason must needs be for God that made it. Reason must needs be for that which is its proper End and Use. Sin as it is in the Understanding, is nothing but Unreasonableness: a blindness and error: a loss

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A Christian Directory

Direction 5. F thou wouldst not be destitute of saving Grace, let thy Reason be exercised about the¹ matters of thy salvation, in some proportion of frequent, sober, serious Thoughts, as thou art convinced the weight of the matter doth require.

Direction 6. Suffer not the Devil by company, pleasure or worldly business to divert or hinder thee¹ from these serious Considerations.

Direction 6. SUffer not the Devil by company, pleasure or worldly business to divert or hinder thee¹ from these serious Considerations.

Direction 7. IF thou wouldst be converted and saved, be not a malicious or peevish enemy to those¹ that would convert and save thee: Be not angry with them that tell thee of thy sin or duty, as if they did thee wrong or hurt.

Direction 7. IF thou wouldst be converted and saved, be not a malicious or pievish enemy to those¹ that would convert and save thee: Be not angry with them that tell thee of thy sin or duty, as if they did thee wrong or hurt.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

Direction 5. F thou wouldst not be destitute of saving Grace, let thy Reason be exercised about the1 matters of thy salvation, in some proportion of frequent, sober, serious Thoughts, as thou art convinced the weight of the matter doth require.

Direction 6. Suffer not the Devil by company, pleasure or worldly business to divert or hinder thee1 from these serious Considerations.

Direction 6. SUffer not the Devil by company, pleasure or worldly business to divert or hinder thee1 from these serious Considerations.

Direction 7. IF thou wouldst be converted and saved, be not a malicious or peevish enemy to those1 that would convert and save thee: Be not angry with them that tell thee of thy sin or duty, as if they did thee wrong or hurt.

Direction 7. IF thou wouldst be converted and saved, be not a malicious or pievish enemy to those1 that would convert and save thee: Be not angry with them that tell thee of thy sin or duty, as if they did thee wrong or hurt.

Transcription key

Direction 5. F thou wouldst not be destitute of saving Grace, let thy Reason be exercised about the¹ matters of thy salvation, in some proportion of frequent, sober, serious Thoughts, as thou art convinced the weight of the matter doth require.

Direction 6. Suffer not the Devil by company, pleasure or worldly business to divert or hinder thee¹ from these serious Considerations.

Direction 6. SUffer not the Devil by company, pleasure or worldly business to divert or hinder thee¹ from these serious Considerations.

Direction 7. IF thou wouldst be converted and saved, be not a malicious or peevish enemy to those¹ that would convert and save thee: Be not angry with them that tell thee of thy sin or duty, as if they did thee wrong or hurt.

Direction 7. IF thou wouldst be converted and saved, be not a malicious or pievish enemy to those¹ that would convert and save thee: Be not angry with them that tell thee of thy sin or duty, as if they did thee wrong or hurt.