A26892:2426
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.
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.
Know as much as you can know, of the works of God, and of the languages and customs of the world: but still remember that to know God in Christ better, is the growth which you must daily study: And when you know them most, you have still much more need to know better these great things, which you know already; than to know more things, which you never knew: The Roots of faith may still increase, and the branches and fruits of Love may be still greater and sweeter! As long as you live, you may still know better the Reasons of your Religion (though not better Reasons); and you may know better how to use your knowledge. And whatever you know, let it be that you may be led up to Know God more, or Love him more, or serve him better.
§. 11. Direct. 5. With fear and detestation watch and resolve, against all carnal worldly ends; and see that your hearts be not captivated by your fleshly interest; nor grow not to a high esteem of the pleasures, or profits or honours of this world, nor to relish any fleshly accommodations, as very pleasant and desirable: but that you take up with God and the hopes of Glory as your satisfying portion, and follow Christ as Cross-bearers, denying your selves, and dead to the world, and resolved and prepared to forsake all for his sake.
§. 12. These are words that you can easily say your selves: but these are things that are so hardly 1learnt, that many of the most Learned and Reverend perish, for want of being better acquainted with them: (And I shall never take that man to be wisely learned, that hath not learnt to scape damnation) Christs Cross is to be learned before your Alphabet. To impose the Cross is quickly learnt, but to learn to bear it is the difficulty. To lay the Cross on others is to be the followers of Pilate: but to bear it when it is laid on us, is to be the followers of Christ. If you grow corrupted with a love of honour and riches and preferment, and come to the study of Divinity with a fleshly worldly mind and End, you will but serve Satan while you seem to be seeking after God, and damn your souls among the doctrines and means of salvation, and go to God for materials to chain you faster to the Devil, and steal a nail from Divinity to fasten your ears unto his door. And you little know how Judas's gain, will gripe and torment the awakened Conscience! and how the rust will witness against you, and how it will eat your flesh as fire,