A26892:2388
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. 5. Directions to the Melancholy about their 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.
This is the miserable case of these poor people, greatly to be pitied; and not to be despised by any? I have spoken nothing but what I have often seen and known. And let none despise such: for men of all sorts do fall into this misery: learned and unlearned, high and low, good and bad, yea some that have lived in greatest jollity and sensuality, when God hath made them feel their folly.
This is the miserable case of these poor people, greatly to be pittyed; and not to be despised by any? I have spoken nothing but what I have often seen and known. And let none despise such: for men of all sorts do fall into this misery: learned and unlearned, high and low, good and bad, yea some that have lived in greatest jollity and sensuality, when God hath made them feel their folly.
§. 3. The causes of it are, 1. Most commonly some worldly loss, or cross, or grief, or care, which made too deep an impression on them. 2. Sometime excess of fear upon any common occasion of danger. 3. Sometime over-hard and unintermitted studies, or thoughts which screw up and rack the fantasy too much. 4. Sometime too deep fears, or too constant and serious and passionate thoughts and cares about the danger of the soul. 4. The great preparatives to it, (which are indeed the principal cause) are a weak Head, and Reason joined with strong Passion: which are oftest found in Women, and those to whom it is natural: 5. And in some it is brought in, by some heinous sin, the sight of which they cannot bear, when Conscience is but once awakened.
§. 3. The causes of it are, 1. Most commonly some worldly loss, or cross, or grief, or care, which made too deep an impression on them. 2. Sometime excess of fear upon any common occasion of danger. 3. Sometime over-hard and unintermitted studies, or thoughts which screw up and rack the fantasie too much. 4. Sometime too deep fears, or too constant and serious and passionate thoughts and cares about the danger of the soul. 4. The great preparatives to it, (which are indeed the principal cause) are a weak Head, and Reason joyned with strong Passion: which are oftest found in Women, and those to whom it is natural: 5. And in some it is brought in, by some heynous sin, the sight of which they cannot bear, when Conscience is but once awakened.