A26892:2397
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.
§. 10. Direct. 6. Be most in those duties which you are best able to bear: which with most, is, Prayer 1with others, hearing and good discourse. As a sick man whose stomach is against other meats, must eat of that which he can eat of. And God hath provided variety of means that one may do the work, when the other are wanting. Do not misunderstand me: In cases of absolute necessity, I say again, you must strive to do it whatever come of it. If you are backward to believe, to Repent, to Love God and your neighbour, to live soberly, righteously and godly, to pray at all; here you must strive, and not excuse it by any backwardness; for it is that which must needs be done, or you are lost. But a man that cannot read may be saved without his reading▪ and a man in prison or sickness may be saved without hearing the word, and without the Church-communion of Saints: And so a man disabled by melancholy, may be saved by shorter thoughts and ejaculations, without set and long meditations and secret prayers: And other duties which he is able for, will supply the want of these. Even as nature hath provided two eyes, and two ears, and two nostrils, and two reins, and lungs, that when one is stopped or faulty, the other may supply its wants for a time: So is it here.
§. 10. Direct. 6. Be most in those dutys which you are best able to bear: which with most, is, Prayer 1with others, hearing and good discourse. As a sick man whose stomach is against other meats, must eat of that which he can eat of. And God hath provided variety of means that one may do the work, when the other are wanting. Do not misunderstand me: In cases of absolute necessity, I say again, you must strive to do it whatever come of it. If you are backward to believe, to Repent, to Love God and your neighbour, to live soberly, righteously and godly, to pray at all; here you must strive, and not excuse it by any backwardness; for it is that which must needs be done, or you are lost. But a man that cannot read may be saved without his reading▪ and a man in prison or sickness may be saved without hearing the word, and without the Church-communion of Saints: And so a man disabled by melancholy, may be saved by shorter thoughts and ejaculations, without set and long meditations and secret prayers: And other duties which he is able for, will supply the want of these. Even as nature hath provided two eyes, and two ears, and two nostrils, and two reins, and lungs, that when one is stopt or faulty, the other may supply its wants for a time: So is it here.