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Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Part 1
Chapter 7
Tit. 1. Directions against all sinful Passions in general.
p. 329

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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Householder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not about WORDS, to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to show thy self approved UNTO GOD, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Babblings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICKS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICKS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICKS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Housholder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not aboutTitle page of A Christian Directory, London, 1673

A26892:2504

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 1 › Chapter 7 › Tit. 1. Directions against all sinful Passions in general.

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.

[ Earlier:2501–2516 of 9,947

:2501p. 329

§. 20. Direct. 16. Set Christ continually before you as your pattern, who calleth you to learn of him ¹to be meek and lowly: Matth. 11. 29. Who desired not the wealth or glory of the world: who loved his own that were in the world, but loved not the things of the world: who never was lifted up or sinfully² cast down: who never despised, or envied man, nor never feared man: who never was over-merry or over-sad: who being reviled, reviled not again; but was dumb as a lamb before the shearers.

1Direct. 16.
21 Pet. 2. 21, 22, 23, 24. Isa. 53.

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§. 21. Direct. 17. Keep as far from all occasions of your passions as other duties will allow you: And ¹contrive your affairs and occasions into as great an opposition as may be to the temptation. Run not into temptation if you would be delivered from evil: Much might be done by a willing prudent man, by the very ordering of his affairs: God and Satan works by means: let the means then be regarded.

1Direct. 17.

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Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (London, 1673), pt. 1, ch. 7, p. 329. EEBO-TCP A26892.

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The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Printer: Robert White
Bookseller: Nevill Simmons
Year: 1673
Size: [35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port.
Words: 1,175,050
Catalogue: Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847
Text: EEBO-TCP A26892

Passages: 9,947
Sections: 502

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Richard Baxter 1615–1691

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

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WORDS,

to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to shew thy self approved

UNTO GOD,

a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

RIGHTLY DIVIDING

the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Bablings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.

2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.

LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.

§. 22. Direct. 18. Have a due care of your bodies, that no distemper be cherished in them, which causeth ¹the distemper of the soul. Passions have a very great dependence on the temperament of the body: And much of the cure of them lieth (when it is possible) in the bodies emendation.

§. 22. Direct. 18. Have a due care of your bodies, that no distemper be cherished in them, which causeth ¹the distemper of the soul. Passions have a very great dependance on the temperament of the body: And much of the cure of them lieth (when it is possible) in the bodyes emendation.

1Direct. 18.

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§. 23. Direct. 19. Turn all your passions into the right channel, and make them all Holy, using them for ¹God upon the greatest things. This is the true cure: The bare restraint of them is but a palliate cure; like the easing of pain by a dose of opium. Cure the fear of man, by the fear of God, and the Love of the creature, by the Love of God, and the cares for the body, by caring for the soul, and earthly fleshly desires and delights, by spiritual desires and delights, and worldly sorrow, by profitable godly sorrow.

§. 23. Direct. 19. Turn all your passions into the right chanel, and make them all Holy, using them for ¹God upon the greatest things. This is the true cure: The bare restraint of them is but a palliate cure; like the easing of pain by a dose of opium. Cure the fear of man, by the fear of God, and the Love of the creature, by the Love of God, and the cares for the body, by caring for the soul, and earthly fleshly desires and delights, by spiritual desires and delights, and worldly sorrow, by profitable godly sorrow.

1Direct. 19.

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§. 24. Direct. 20. Control the effects, and frustrate your passions of what they would have; and that ¹will ere long destroy the cause. Cross your selves of the things which carnal Love and desire would have: Forbear the things which carnal mirth or anger would provoke you to, and the fire will go out for want of fuel. (Of which more in the particulars).

§. 24. Direct. 20. Controul the effects, and frustrate your passions of what they would have; and that ¹will ere long destroy the cause. Cross your selves of the things which carnal Love and desire would have: Forbear the things which carnal mirth or anger would provoke you to, and the fire will go out for want of fewel. (Of which more in the particulars).

1Direct. 20.

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Tit. 2. Directions against sinful Love of Creatures.

:2507p. 329

§. 1. Love is the Master Passion of the soul, because it hath the chiefest Object, even Goodness which¹ is the object of the will: And simple Love is nothing but Complacency, which is nothing but the simple Volition of Good; And it is a Passionate Volition or Complacency which we call the Passion of Love. When this is Good and when its sinful I showed before: But yet because the one half of the cure here lieth in the conviction, and it is so hard a thing to make any Lover perceive a sinfulness in his Love, I shall first help you in the trial of your Love, to show the sinfulness of it: when I have first named the objects of it.

§. 1. LOve is the Master Passion of the soul, because it hath the chiefest Object, even Goodness which¹ is the object of the will: And simple Love is nothing but Complacencie, which is nothing but the simple Volition of Good; And it is a Passionate Volition or Complacencie which we call the Passion of Love. When this is Good and when its sinful I shewed before: But yet because the one half of the cure here lieth in the conviction, and it is so hard a thing to make any Lover perceive a sinfullness in his Love, I shall first help you in the tryal of your Love, to shew the sinfullness of it: when I have first named the objects of it.

1Solus Amor facit hominem bonum vel malum. Paul S•aliger. Thes. p. 721.

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§. 2. Any creature which seemeth Good to us, may possibly be the object of sinful Love: As Honour, Greatness, authority, praises, money, houses, lands, cattle, meat, drink, sleep, apparel, sports, friends, relations, and life it self. As for Lustful Love I shall speak of it anon.

§. 2. Any creature which seemeth Good to us, may possibly be the object of sinful Love: As Honor, Greatness, authority, praises, money, houses, lands, cattle, meat, drink, sleep, apparel, sports, friends, relations, and life it self. As for Lustful Love I shall speak of it anon.

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Helps for discovering of sinful Love.

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§. 3. Direct. 1. Make Gods interest and his word the standard to judge of all affections by. That ¹which is against the Love of God, and would abate or hinder it, yea which doth not directly or indirectly tend to further it, is certainly a sinful Love: And so is all that is against his word. For the Love of God is our final act upon our ultimate end, and therefore all that tends not to it, is a sin against our very end, and so against our nature and the use of our faculties.

1Direct. 1.

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§. 4. Direct. 2. Therefore whatever creature is Loved ultimately for it self, and not for a higher end, ¹even for God, his service, his honour, his relation to it, or his excellency appearing in it, is sinfully loved. For it is made our God, when it is Loved ultimately for it self.

§. 4. Direct. 2. Therefore whatever creature is Loved ultimately for it self, and not for a higher end, ¹even for God, his service, his honour, his relation to it, or his excellencie appearing in it, is sinfully loved. For it is made our God, when it is Loved ultimately for it self.

1Direct. 2.

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§. 5. Direct. 3. Suspect all Love to creatures which is very strong and violent, and easily kindled, and ¹hardly moderated or quieted: Though you might think it is for some spiritual end or excellency, that you Love any person or any thing, yet suspect it if it be so easy and strong: Because that which is truly and purely spiritual is against corrupted nature, and comes from Grace which is but weak: we find no such easiness to Love God, and scripture, and prayer, and holiness: nor are our affections so violent to these. Its well if all the fuel and blowing we can use will keep them alive. Its two to one that the flesh and the Devil have put in some of their fuel or gunpowder, if it be fierce.

§. 5. Direct. 3. Suspect all Love to creatures which is very strong and violent, and easily kindled, and ¹hardly moderated or quieted: Though you might think it is for some spiritual end or excellencie, that you Love any person or any thing, yet suspect it if it be so easie and strong: Because that which is truly and purely spiritual is against corrupted nature, and comes from Grace which is but weak: we find no such easiness to Love God, and scripture, and prayer, and holiness: nor are our affections so violent to these. Its well if all the fewel and blowing we can use will keep them alive. Its two to one that the flesh and the Devil have put in some of their fewel or gunpouder, if it be fierce.

1Direct. 3.

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§. 6. Direct. 4. Suspect all that Love which selfishness and fleshly-interest have a hand in. Is it some¹ bodily pleasure and delight that you love so much? Or is it a good book or other help for your soul? We are so much apter to exceed and sin in carnal fleshly mindedness, than in Loving what is good for our souls, that there we should be much more suspicious: If it be violent and for the body, its ten to one there is sin in it.

1Direct. 4.

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§. 7. Direct. 5. Suspect all that Love to creatures which your Reason can give no good account of, nor ¹show you a justifiable cause. If you Love one place or person much more than others, and know not why, but Love them because you cannot choose, this is much to be suspected: Though God may sometime kindle a secret Love between friends, from an unexpressible unity or similitude of minds, beyond ⟨p. 330⟩what reason will undertake to justify, yet this is rare, and commonly fancy or folly or carnality is the cause: However it is more to be suspected and tried, than Rational Love.

§. 7. Direct. 5. Suspect all that Love to creatures which your Reason can give no good account of, nor ¹shew you a justifiable cause. If you Love one place or person much more than others, and know not why, but Love them because you cannot choose, this is much to be suspected: Though God may sometime kindle a secret Love between friends, from an unexpressible unity or similitude of minds, beyond ⟨p. 330⟩what reason will undertake to justifie, yet this is rare, and commonly fansie or folly or carnality is the cause: However it is more to be suspected and tryed, than Rational Love.

1Direct. 5.

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§. 8. Direct. 6. Suspect all that fervent Love to any Creature which is hasty before sufficient trial: for ¹commonly both persons and things have the best side outward, and seem better at the first appearance than they prove. Not but that a moderate Love may be taken up upon the first appearance of any excellency, especially spiritual: But so as to allow for a possibility of being deceived, and finding more faultiness upon a fuller trial, than we at first perceive. Have you dwelt in the house with the persons whom you so much admire? and have you tried them in their conversations? and seen them tried by crosses, losses, injuries, adversity, prosperity, or the offers of preferment or plenty in the world? you would little think what lurketh undiscovered in the hearts of many, that have excellent parts, till trial manifest it!

§. 8. Direct. 6. Suspect all that fervent Love to any Creature which is hasty before sufficient tryal: for ¹commonly both persons and things have the best side outward, and seem better at the first appearance than they prove. Not but that a moderate Love may be taken up upon the first appearance of any excellency, especially spiritual: But so as to allow for a possibility of being deceived, and finding more faultiness upon a fuller tryal, than we at first perceive. Have you dwelt in the house with the persons whom you so much admire? and have you tryed them in their conversations? and seen them tryed by crosses, losses, injuries, adversity, prosperity, or the offers of preferment or plenty in the world? you would little think what lurketh undiscovered in the hearts of many, that have excellent parts, till tryal manifest it!

1Direct. 6.

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§ 9. Direct. 7. Try your affections in prayer before God, whether they be such as you dare boldly pray ¹God either to increase or continue and bless; and whether they be such as Conscience hath no quarrel against. If they endure not this trial, be the more suspicious, and search more narrowly: The name and presence of God in Prayer, doth much dispel the frauds of carnal reasonings. Yet persons who by Melancholy are cast into diseased fears and scrupulosities, are uncapable of this way of trial.

§ 9. Direct. 7. Try your affections in prayer before God, whether they be such as you dare boldly pray ¹God either to increase or continue and bless; and whether they be such as Conscience hath no quarrel against. If they endure not this tryal, be the more suspicious, and search more narrowly: The name and presence of God in Prayer, doth much dispel the frauds of carnal reasonings. Yet persons who by Melancholy are cast into diseased fears and scrupulosities, are uncapable of this way of tryal.

1Direct. 7.

PuritansEngland

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

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