A26892:326
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.
§. 3. Indeed Conversion is your implanting into Christ, and your uniting to him, and marriage with him, that he may be your life, and help, and hope. He is the way, the truth and the life: and no man cometh to the Father, but by him. John 14. 6. God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son: He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son, hath not life. 1 John 5. 11, 12. He is the Vine, and we are the branches: As the branch cannot bear fruit of it self, except it abide in the Vine, so neither can we, except we abide in him: He that abideth not in Christ, is cast forth as a branch and withered, to be burned: John 15. 4, 5, 6. All your life and help is in him, and from him: Without Christ you cannot Believe in the Father, as in one that will show you any saving Mercy, but only as the Devils that believe him Just, and tremble at his Justice; without Christ you cannot Love God, nor have any lively apprehensions of his Love. Without Christ you can have no Hope of Heaven, and therefore no endeavours for it. Without him you cannot come near to God in prayer, as having no confidence, because no admittance, acceptance or hope. Without him how terrible are the thoughts of death, which in him we may see as a conquered thing: and when we remember that he was dead and is now alive, and the Lord of life, and hath the Keys of Death and Hell, with what boldness may we lay down this flesh, and suffer death to undress our souls? It is only in Christ that we can comfortably think of the world to come; when we remember that he must be our Judge, and that in our Nature glorified he is now in the Highest, Lord of all; and that he is preparing a place for us, and will come again to take us to himself, that where he is, there we may be also, John 14. 3. Alas, without Christ, we know not how to live an hour; nor can have hope or peace in any thing we have or do; nor look with comfort either upward or downward, to God or the Creature, nor think without terrors ⟨p. 25⟩of our sins, of God, or of the life to come. Resolve therefore that as true Converts, you are wholly to Live upon Jesus Christ, and to do all that you do by his Spirit and strength; and to expect all your acceptance with God upon his account: