A26892:2410
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.
§. 23. Direct. 19. Do but mark well how much the Devil gets by keeping you in sad despondent 1thoughts; and then you may easily see that it cannot be your duty nor best for you, which is so gainful and pleasing to the Devil. By keeping you in these self-perplexing doubts and fears, he robs God of the Thanks and Praise which you owe him for all his mercies: These highest duties you cast aside, as if they did not belong to you: You give not God the honour of his most miraculous mercy, in our Redemption; nor do you study or relish, or admire or magnify, the riches of Grace in Jesus Christ! you have poor low thoughts of the infinite Love of God, and are unfit to judge of it or perceive it, being like a choleric stomach which puts a continual bitterness in the mouth, which hinders it from tasting any sweetness in their meat. It hereby unfitteth you for the Love of God, and more inclineth you to hate him, or fly from him as an enemy, while the Devil representeth him to you as one that hateth you: It loseth your Time: It depriveth you of all your willingness to duty and delight in duty, and maketh all Gods service a burden and vexation to you. It is very contrary to the spirit of adoption, and to the whole frame of Evangelical worship and obedience. And will you, under pretence of being more humbled, and sorrowful, and sensible, thus gratify Satan, and wrong God and your selves?
§. 23. Direct. 19. Do but mark well how much the Devil gets by keeping you in sad despondent 1thoughts; and then you may easily see that it cannot be your duty nor best for you, which is so gainful and pleasing to the Devil. By keeping you in these self-perplexing doubts and fears, he robs God of the Thanks and Praise which you owe him for all his mercies: These highest duties you cast aside, as if they did not belong to you: You give not God the honour of his most miraculous mercy, in our Redemption; nor do you study or relish, or admire or magnifie, the riches of Grace in Jesus Christ! you have poor low thoughts of the infinite Love of God, and are unfit to judge of it or perceive it, being like a cholerick stomach which puts a continual bitterness in the mouth, which hinders it from tasting any sweetness in their meat. It hereby unfitteth you for the Love of God, and more enclineth you to hate him, or fly from him as an enemy, while the Devil representeth him to you as one that hateth you: It loseth your Time: It depriveth you of all your willingness to duty and delight in duty, and maketh all Gods service a burden and vexation to you. It is very contrary to the spirit of adoption, and to the whole frame of Evangelical worship and obedience. And will you, under pretense of being more humbled, and sorrowful, and sensible, thus gratifie Satan, and wrong God and your selves?