A26892:31
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.
Answ. 1. I have seldom, if ever, in all my Ministry, omitted one Sermon for all my Writings: I was not able to Live in London nor ride abroad; But through Gods mercy I seldom omitted any opportunities at home.
Answ. 1. I have seldome, if ever, in all my Ministry, omitted one Sermon for all my Writings: I was not able to Live in London nor ride abroad; But through Gods mercy I seldom omitted any opportunities at home.
2. And if I Preach the same Doctrine that I write, why should not men be as angry with me for preaching it, as for writing it. But if it be good and true, why is it not as good Preach by the Press to many thousands, and for many years after I am dead, as to Preach to a Parlour full for a few hours? Or why is not both as good as one?
3. I will not take the Reverend Objector to be ignorant that Writing, and publishing the Word of God by it, is preaching it, and the most public preaching: And hath the example of the Apostles and Evangelists as well as speaking: And one is no more appropriate to them than the other: though the Extraordinaries of both be proper to them. And do you not perceive what self-condemning contradiction it is, at the same time to cry out against those that dissuade you from preaching, or hinder you, and tell you it is needless, and you are proud to think that the world needeth your preaching, and yet your selves to say the very same against your brethren's preaching by the Press. I know an ignorant illiterate Sectary might say, Writing is no preaching, and you are called to preach and not to write; But I must reverence you more than to suppose you so absurd. Other men forbid you but less public preaching, and you reproach me for more public Preaching: that's the difference. How hard is it to know what Spirit we are of? Did you think that you had been Patrons of idleness, and Silencers of Ministers, while you declaim so much against it. Your pretence that you would have me preach more is feigned. Are you sure that you preach oftener than I do? When I persuaded Ministers heretofore to Catechize and instruct all their Parishes personally, family by family, you said it was more toil than was our duty: and now you are against much Writing too; and yet would be thought laborious Ministers.