A26892:2370
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.
§. 9. 5. Public necessities or service may with some be so great as to dispense with all secret duty1 both of prayer and contemplation (except short mental ejaculations) for some days together. So in Wars it oft falls out that necessity forbiddeth all set or solemn holy service for many days together, (even on the Lords Day): So a Physician may sometime be tied to so close attendance on his Patients as will not allow him time for a set prayer: so sometime a Preacher may be so taken up in preaching, and exhorting, and resolving peoples weighty doubts, that they shall scarce have time for secret duties, for some days together: (Though such happy impediments are rare:) In these cases to do the lesser is a sin, when the greater is neglected.
§. 9. 5. Publick necessities or service may with some be so great as to dispense with all secret duty1 both of prayer and contemplation (except short mental ejaculations) for some dayes together. So in Wars it oft falls out that necessity forbiddeth all set or solemn holy service for many dayes together, (even on the Lords Day): So a Physicion may sometime be tyed to so close attendance on his Patients as will not allow him time for a set prayer: so sometime a Preacher may be so taken up in preaching, and exhorting, and resolving peoples weighty doubts, that they shall scarce have time for secret duties, for some dayes together: (Though such happy impediments are rare:) In these cases to do the lesser is a sin, when the greater is neglected.
- 1Rule 5.
§. 10. 6. Servants, who are not Masters of their time, must be faithful in employing it to their1 Masters service, and take none for holy duty from that part, which they should work in; but rather from their rest so far as they are able; intermixing Meditations with their labours when they can: But redeeming such time as is allowed them, the more diligently, because their opportunities are so rare and short.