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 18: Direction 18. IF you would prove true Converts, come over to God as your Father and fell…Part 1 › Chapter 1 › Part 1 › Direction 18: Direction 18. IF you would prove true Converts, come over to God as your Father and fel…

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.

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Direction 18. IF you would prove true Converts, come over to God as your Father and felicity, with¹ desire and delight, and close with Christ, as your only Saviour with thankfulness and joy, and set upon the way of Godliness with pleasure and alacrity, as your exceeding privilege, and the only way of profit, honour and content: and do it not as against your wills, as those that had rather do otherwise if they durst, and account the service of God an unsuitable and unpleasant thing.

Direction 18. IF you would prove true Converts, come over to God as your Father and felicity, with¹ desire and delight, and close with Christ, as your only Saviour with thankfulness and joy, and set upon the way of Godliness with pleasure and alacrity, as your exceeding priviledge, and the only way of profit, honour and content: and do it not as against your wills, as those that had rather do otherwise if they durst, and account the service of God an unsuitable and unpleasant thing.

1Direct. 18.

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§. 1. You are never truly changed, till your Hearts be changed: And the Heart is not changed till¹ the Will or Love be changed. Fear is not the man: but usually is mixed with unwillingness and dislike, and so is contrary to that which is indeed the Man. Though fear may do much for you, it will not do enough: It is oft more sensible than Love even in the best, as being more passionate and violent: but yet there is no more Acceptableness in all, than there is Will or Love. God sent not Soldiers, or Inquisitors or Persecutors to convert the world by working upon their Fear, and driving them upon that which they take to be a mischief to them: But he sent poor Preachers that had no matter of worldly fears or hopes to move their auditors with but had authority from Christ to offer them eternal life; and who were to convert the world by proposing to them the best and most desirable condition, and showing them where is the true felicity, and proving the certainty and excellency of it to them, and working upon their Love, Desire and Hope: God will not be your God against your wills, while you esteem him as the Devil, that is only terrible and hurtful to you, and take his service for a slavery, and had rather be from him, and serve the world and the flesh, if it were not for fear of being damned. He will be feared as Great, and Holy, and Just: but he will also be Loved as Good, and Holy, and Merciful, and every way suited to be the felicity and Rest of souls. If you take not God to be better than the Creature, (and better to you) and Heaven to be better for you than earth, and Holiness than Sin, you are not converted: But if you do, then show it by your willingness, alacrity and delight. Serve him with gladness and cheerfulness of heart, as one that hath found the way of life, and never had cause of gladness until now. If you see your servant do all his work with groans, and tears, and lamentations, you will not think he is well pleased with his Master and his work. Come to God willingly with your hearts, or you come not to him indeed at all. You must either make him and his service your delight, or at least your Desire; as apprehending him most fit to be your delight, so far as you enjoy him.

[ 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.