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 6: Direction 6. Suffer not the Devil by company, pleasure or worldly business to divert or…Part 1 › Chapter 1 › Part 1 › Direction 6: Direction 6. SUffer not the Devil by company, pleasure or worldly business to divert or…

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:235–250 of 9,947

:235p. 11

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.

1Direct. 6.

:236p. 11

§. 1. The Devil hath but two ways to procure thy damnation. The one is by keeping thee from any sober Remembrance of spiritual and eternal things: and the other is, if thou wilt needs think of them, to deceive thee into false erroneous thoughts. To bring to pass the first of these (which is the most common powerful means) his ordinary way is by diversion: finding thee still something else to¹ do: putting some other thoughts into thy mind, and some other work into thy hand; so that thou canst never have leisure for any sober thoughts of God: When ever the Spirit of God knocks at thy door, thou art so taken up with other company, or other business, that thou canst not hear, or wilt not open to him. Many a time he hath been ready to teach thee, but thou wast not at leisure to hear and learn. Many a time he secretly jogged thy conscience, and checked thee in thy sin, and called thee aside to consider soberly about thy spiritual and everlasting state; when the noise of foolish mirth and pleasures, or the bustles of encumbering cares and business, have caused thee to stop thy ears and put him off, and refuse the motion. And if the abused Spirit of God depart, and leave thee to thy beloved mirth and business, and to thy self, it is but just; And then thou wilt never have a serious effectual thought of Heaven perhaps till thou have lost it; nor a sober thought of Hell, till thou art in it; (unless it be some despairing, or some dull uneffectual thought.)

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

A Christian Directory

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.

Direction 8. IF thou art willing indeed to be converted, do thy best to discover that yet thou art unconverted,¹ and in a lost and miserable state.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

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.

Direction 8. IF thou art willing indeed to be converted, do thy best to discover that yet thou art unconverted,1 and in a lost and miserable state.

Transcription key

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.

Direction 8. IF thou art willing indeed to be converted, do thy best to discover that yet thou art unconverted,¹ and in a lost and miserable state.