A26892:2438
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.
§. 22. Ordinarily Students have not judgement enough to form their own Common-place-Books till they are old in Studies, and have read most of the authors which they would remember: And therefore the young must here have a judicious helper. And when they have done, injudiciousness will be apt to fill it with less necessary things, and to make an unmeet choice of matter, if they have not care and an instructor.
§. 22. Ordinarily Students have not judgement enough to form their own Common-place-Books till they are old in Studies, and have read most of the authors which they would remember: And therefore the young must here have a judicious helper. And when they have done, injudiciousness will be apt to fill it with less necessary things, and to make an unmeet choice of matter, if they have not care and an instructer.
§. 23. Direct. 11. Highly esteem of a just Method in Divinity, and in all your studies: and labour to 1get an accurate Scheme or Skeleton, where at once, you may see every part in its proper place. But remember 2that if it be not sound, it will be a snare; and one error in your Scheme or Method will be apt to introduce abundance more.
- 1Direct. 11.
- 2Since the writing of this, I have begun a Methodus Theologiae.
§. 24. Its a poor and pitiful kind of knowledge, to know many loose parcels, and broken members of truth; without knowing the whole, or the place, and relation which they have to the rest. To know letters and not syllables, or syllables and not words, or words and not sentences, or sentences and not the scope of the discourse, are all but an unprofitable knowledge. He knoweth no Science rightly that hath not anatomized it, and carrieth not a true Scheme or Method of it in his mind. But among the many that are extant, to commend any one to you which I most esteem, or take to be without error, is more than I dare do.