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:311–326 of 9,947

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And he is resolved, when trial calleth him to part with God and his conscience, or with the world, that he will rather let go God and Conscience, and venture upon the pains hereafter which he thinks to be uncertain, than to run upon a certain calamity or undoing here: At least, he hath no Resolution to the contrary, which will carry him out in a day of trial. This is his fifth principle: And his sixth principle is, That yet he will not torment himself, or blot his name, with confessing himself a temporizing worldling, resolved to turn any way to save himself. And therefore he will be sure to believe nothing to be Truth and duty that is dangerous; but will furnish himself with Arguments to prove that it is not the will of God; and that sin is no sin: Yea perhaps conscience and duty shall be pleaded for his sin: It shall be out of tenderness, and piety, and charity to others, that he will sin; and will charge them to be the sinners that comply not and do not wickedly as well as he. He will be one that shall first make a Controversy of every sin which his flesh calls necessary, and of every Duty which his flesh counts intolerably dear: And then when it is a Controversy, and many reputed Wise, and some reputed Good are on his side, he thinks he is on equal terms with the most honest and sincere: He hath got a burrow for his Conscience and his Credit: He will not believe himself to be an Hypocrite, and no one else must think him one, lest they be uncharitable: For then the censure must fall on the whole party, and then it is sufficient to defend his reputation of piety to say, Though we differ in opinion, we must not differ in affection, and must not condemn each other for such differences (A very great Truth where rightly applied). But what is it O Hypocrite, that makes thee differ in cases where thy flesh is interested rather than in any other? And why wast thou never of that mind till now that thy worldly interest requireth it? And how cometh it to pass, that thou art• always on the self-saving opinion? And whence is it that thou consultest with those only that are of the opinion which thou desirest should be true, and either not at all, or partially and slightly, with those that are against it?

And he is resolved, when tryal calleth him to part with God and his conscience, or with the world, that he will rather let go God and Conscience, and venture upon the pains hereafter which he thinks to be uncertain, than to run upon a certain calamity or undoing here: At least, he hath no Resolution to the contrary, which will carry him out in a day of tryal. This is his fifth principle: And his sixth principle is, That yet he will not torment himself, or blot his name, with confessing himself a temporizing worldling, resolved to turn any way to save himself. And therefore he will be sure to believe nothing to be Truth and duty that is dangerous; but will furnish himself with Arguments to prove that it is not the will of God; and that sin is no sin: Yea perhaps conscience and duty shall be pleaded for his sin: It shall be out of tenderness, and piety, and charity to others, that he will sin; and will charge them to be the sinners that comply not and do not wickedly as well as he. He will be one that shall first make a Controversie of every sin which his flesh calls necessary, and of every Duty which his flesh counts intollerably dear: And then when it is a Controversie, and many reputed Wise, and some reputed Good are on his side, he thinks he is on equal terms with the most honest and sincere: He hath got a burrow for his Conscience and his Credit: He will not believe himself to be an Hypocrite, and no one else must think him one, lest they be uncharitable: For then the censure must fall on the whole party, and then it is sufficient to defend his reputation of piety to say, Though we differ in opinion, we must not differ in affection, and must not condemn each other for such differences (A very great Truth where rightly applyed). But what is it O Hypocrite, that makes thee differ in cases where thy flesh is interessed rather than in any other? And why wast thou never of that mind till now that thy worldly interest requireth it? And how cometh it to pass, that thou art alwayes on the self-saving opinion? And whence is it that thou consultest with those only that are of the opinion which thou desirest should be true, and either not at all, or partially and slightly, with those that are against it?

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

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.