A26892:330
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.
PART. II. The Temptations whereby the Devil hindereth mens Conversion: with the proper Remedies against them.
§. 1. THE Most Holy and Righteous Governor of the world, hath so restrained Satan and all our enemies, and so far given us Free-will, that no man can be forced to sin against his will: It is not sin if it be not (positively or privatively) voluntary. All our enemies in Hell or Earth cannot make us miserable without our selves; nor keep a sinner from true Conversion, and Salvation, if he do it not himself; no nor compel him to one sinful thought, or word, or deed, or omission, but by tempting and enticing him to be willing: All that are Graceless, are wilfully Graceless. None go to Hell, but those that chose the way to Hell, and would not be persuaded out of it: None miss of Heaven, but those that did set so light by it, as to prefer the world and sin before it, and refused the holy way that leadeth to it. And surely man that naturally loveth himself, would never take so mad a course, if his reason were not laid asleep, and his understanding were not woefully deluded: And this is the business of the Tempter, who doth not drag men to sin by violence, but draw and entice them by Temptations: I shall therefore take it for the next part of my work, to open these Temptations, and tell you the Remedies.
§. 1. THE Most Holy and Righteous Governour of the world, hath so restrained Satan and all our enemies, and so far given us Free-will, that no man can be forced to sin against his will: It is not sin if it be not (positively or privatively) voluntary. All our enemies in Hell or Earth cannot make us miserable without our selves; nor keep a sinner from true Conversion, and Salvation, if he do it not himself; no nor compell him to one sinful thought, or word, or deed, or omission, but by tempting and entising him to be willing: All that are Graceless, are wilfully Graceless. None go to Hell, but those that chose the way to Hell, and would not be perswaded out of it: None miss of Heaven, but those that did set so light by it, as to prefer the world and sin before it, and refused the holy way that leadeth to it. And surely man that naturally loveth himself, would never take so mad a course, if his reason were not laid asleep, and his understanding were not wofully deluded: And this is the business of the Tempter, who doth not drag men to sin by violence, but draw and entice them by Temptations: I shall therefore take it for the next part of my work, to open these Temptations, and tell you the Remedies.