A26892:2408
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.
§. 21. Direct. 17. Charge not your souls any deeper than there is cause with the effects of your disease. 1Indeed remotely a man that in distraction thinks or speaks amiss, may be said to be faulty, so far as his sin did cause his disease: but directly and of it self, the involuntary effects of sickness are no sin: Melancholy is a mere disease in the spirits and imagination, though you feel no sickness: And it is as natural for a melancholy person to be hurried and molested with doubts and fears and despairing thoughts, and blasphemous temptations, as it is for a man to talk idly in a fever when his understanding faileth; or to think of and desire drink, when his Fever kindleth vehement thirst. And how much would you have a man in a fever accuse himself for such a thirst, or such thoughts, desire or talk? If you had those hideous thoughts in your dreams, which you have when you are awake, would you think them unpardoned sins, or rather unavoidable infirmities? why your distemper makes them to be to you, but almost as dreams.
§. 21. Direct. 17. Charge not your souls any deeper than there is cause with the effects of your disease. 1Indeed remotely a man that in distraction thinks or speaks amiss, may be said to be faulty, so far as his sin did cause his disease: but directly and of it self, the involuntary effects of sickness are no sin: Melancholy is a meer disease in the spirits and imagination, though you feel no sickness: And it is as natural for a melancholy person to be hurryed and molested with doubts and fears and despairing thoughts, and blasphemous temptations, as it is for a man to talk idly in a feaver when his understanding faileth; or to think of and desire drink, when his Feaver kindleth vehement thirst. And how much would you have a man in a feaver accuse himself for such a thirst, or such thoughts, desire or talk? If you had those hideous thoughts in your dreams, which you have when you are awake, would you think them unpardoned sins, or rather unavoidable infirmities? why your distemper makes them to be to you, but almost as dreams.
- 1Direct. 17.