A Christian Directory

Name: A Christian Directory
Author: Richard Baxter

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 1 › Part 1 › Direction 17: Direction 17. That in all this you may be sincere, and not deceived by an hypocritical…Part 1 › Chapter 1 › Part 1 › Direction 17: Direction 17. THat in all this you may be sincere, and not deceived by an hypocritical…

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:310–325 of 9,947

:310p. 22

§. 2. This is the true Character of a self-deceiving hypocrite. He is neither so fully persuaded of¹ the certain truth of the Scripture and the life to come, nor yet so mortified to the flesh and world, as to take the joys of Heaven for his whole portion, and to subject all his worldly prosperity and hopes thereunto, and to part with all things in this world, when it is necessary to the securing of his salvation: And therefore he will not lose his hold of present things, nor forsake his worldly interest for Christ, as long as he can keep it. Nor will he be any further religious, than may stand with his bodily welfare; resolving never to be undone by his godliness, but in the first place to save himself, and his prosperity in the world, as long as he can: And therefore he is truly a carnal worldly minded man; being denominated from what is predominant in him: And yet because he knoweth that he must dye, and for ought he knows, he may then find against his will, that there is another life which he must enter upon, le•t the Gospel should prove true, he must have some Religion: And therefore he will take up as much as will stand with his temporal welfare, hoping that he may have both tha• and Heaven hereafter: and he will be as Religious as the predominant interest of the flesh will give him leave. He is resolved rather to venture his soul, than to be here undone: and that's his first principle. But he is resolved to be as godly as will stand with a worldly fleshly life: that's his second principle. And he will hope for Heaven as the end of such a way as this: that's his third. Therefore he will place most of his Religion in those things which are most consistent with worldliness and carnality, and will not cost his flesh too dear; as in being as this or that opinion, Church, or party, (whether Papist, Prot[…]t, or some smaller party) in adhering to that party, and being zealous for them, in acquiring and using such parts and gifts, as may make him highly esteemed by others; and in doing such good works as cost him not too dear, and in forbearing such sins as would procure his disgrace and shame, and cost his flesh dearer to commit them, than forbear them; and such other as his flesh can spare: This is his fourth principle:

§. 2. This is the true Character of a self-deceiving hypocrite. He is neither so fully perswaded of¹

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A Christian Directory

Direction 19. Remember still that Conversion, is the turning from your carnal selves to God, and¹ therefore that it engageth you in a perpetual opposition to your own corrupt Conceits and Wills, to mortify and annihilate them, and captivate them wholly to the holy Word and Will of God.

Direction 19. REmember still that Conversion, is the turning from your carnal selves to God, and¹ therefore that it engageth you in a perpetual opposition to your own corrupt Conceits and Wills, to mortifie and annihilate them, and captivate them wholly to the holy Word and Will of God.

Direction 20. Lastly, Be sure that you renounce all conceit of self-sufficiency or merit in any thing¹ you do, and wholly rely on the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Head, and Life, and Saviour, and Intercessor with the Father.

Direction 20. LAstly, Be sure that you renounce all conceit of self-sufficiency or merit in any thing¹ you do, and wholly rely on the Lord Iesus Christ, as your Head, and Life, and Saviour, and Intercessor with the Father.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

Direction 19. Remember still that Conversion, is the turning from your carnal selves to God, and1 therefore that it engageth you in a perpetual opposition to your own corrupt Conceits and Wills, to mortify and annihilate them, and captivate them wholly to the holy Word and Will of God.

Direction 19. REmember still that Conversion, is the turning from your carnal selves to God, and1 therefore that it engageth you in a perpetual opposition to your own corrupt Conceits and Wills, to mortifie and annihilate them, and captivate them wholly to the holy Word and Will of God.

Direction 20. Lastly, Be sure that you renounce all conceit of self-sufficiency or merit in any thing1 you do, and wholly rely on the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Head, and Life, and Saviour, and Intercessor with the Father.

Direction 20. LAstly, Be sure that you renounce all conceit of self-sufficiency or merit in any thing1 you do, and wholly rely on the Lord Iesus Christ, as your Head, and Life, and Saviour, and Intercessor with the Father.

Transcription key

Direction 19. Remember still that Conversion, is the turning from your carnal selves to God, and¹ therefore that it engageth you in a perpetual opposition to your own corrupt Conceits and Wills, to mortify and annihilate them, and captivate them wholly to the holy Word and Will of God.

Direction 19. REmember still that Conversion, is the turning from your carnal selves to God, and¹ therefore that it engageth you in a perpetual opposition to your own corrupt Conceits and Wills, to mortifie and annihilate them, and captivate them wholly to the holy Word and Will of God.

Direction 20. Lastly, Be sure that you renounce all conceit of self-sufficiency or merit in any thing¹ you do, and wholly rely on the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Head, and Life, and Saviour, and Intercessor with the Father.

Direction 20. LAstly, Be sure that you renounce all conceit of self-sufficiency or merit in any thing¹ you do, and wholly rely on the Lord Iesus Christ, as your Head, and Life, and Saviour, and Intercessor with the Father.