A26892:2348
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.
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.
§. 28. Direct. 14. Yet do not over-do in point of violence or length; but carry on the work sincerely 1according to the abilities of your minds and bodies; lest going beyond your strength, you craze your brains, and discompose your minds, and disable your selves to do any thing at all. Though we cannot estimatively love God too much, yet is it possible to think of him with too much passion, or too long at once: Because it may be more than the Spirits and brain can bear: And if once they be overstrained, if they break not, like a Lute-string screwed too high, they will be like a leg that is out of joint, that can pain you, but not bear you. While the soul •ideth on so lame or dull a Horse, as the body is, it must not go the pace which it desireth, but which the body can bear; or else it may quickly be dismounted, or like one that rideth on a tired Horse: It is not the Horse that goeth at first with chafing heat, and violence, which will travel best: But you must put on in the pace that you are able to hold out. You little know how lamentable and distressed a case you will be in, or how great an advantage the Tempter hath, if once he do but tire you by over-doing!
§. 28. Direct. 14. Yet do not over-do in point of violence or length; but carry on the work sincerely 1according to the abilities of your minds and bodies; lest going beyond your strength, you craze your brains, and discompose your minds, and disable your selves to do any thing at all. Though we cannot estimatively love God too much, yet is it possible to think of him with too much passion, or too long at once: Because it may be more than the Spirits and brain can bear: And if once they be overstrained, if they break not, like a Lute-string screwed too high, they will be like a legg that is out of joint, that can pain you, but not bear you. While the soul •ideth on so lame or dull a Horse, as the body is, it must not go the pace which it desireth, but which the body can bear; or else it may quickly be dismounted, or like one that rideth on a tired Horse: It is not the Horse that goeth at first with chafing heat, and violence, which will travel best: But you must put on in the pace that you are able to hold out. You little know how lamentable and distressed a case you will be in, or how great an advantage the Tempter hath, if once he do but tire you by over-doing!