Part 1 › Chapter 1 › Part 2: The Temptations whereby the Devil hindereth mens Conversion: with the proper Remedies a…, A Christian Directory by Richard Baxter (1673) | AskReformation

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:379p. 31

§. 46. Temp. 23. Yea, Satan will do his worst to make them Heretics, and teach them some doctrine ¹of licentiousness suitable is their lusts: Its hard being wicked still against Conscience in the open light: This is kicking against the pricks: too smarting work to be easily born: Therefore the Devil will make them a Religion which shall please them, and do their sins no ha•m: Either a Religion made up of loose Opinions, like the Familists, Ranters, Libertines and Antinomians (and the Jesuits too much); or else made up of trifling formalities, and a great deal of bodily exercise and Stage-actings and complement, as much of the Popish devotion is: And a little will draw a carnal heart to believe a carnal doctrine: Its easier to get such a new Religion, than a new heart. And then the Devil tells them that now they are in the right way, and therefore they shall be saved. A great part of the world think their case is good, because they are of such or such a Sect, or Party, and of that which (they are told by their Leaders) is the true Church and way.

§. 46. Temp. 23. Yea, Satan will do his worst to make them Hereticks, and teach them some doctrine ¹of licentiousness suitable is their lusts: Its hard being wicked still against Conscience in the open light: This is kicking against the pricks: too smarting work to be easily born: Therefore the Devil will make them a Religion which shall please them, and do their sins no ha•m: Either a Religion made up of loose Opinions, like the Familists, Ranters, Libertines and Antinomians (and the Jesuites too much); or else made up of trifling formalities, and a great deal of bodily exercise and Stage-actings and complement, as much of the Popish devotion is: And a little will draw a carnal heart to believe a carnal doctrine: Its easier to get such a new Religion, than a new heart. And then the Devil tells them that now they are in the right way, and therefore they shall be saved. A great part of the world think their case is good, because they are of such or such a Sect, or Party, and of that which (they are told by their Leaders) is the true Church and way.

1Tempt. 23.

:386p. 31–32

§. 53. Direct. 26. Against this consider, that if you had never so many good works, they are all¹ but your duty; and make no satisfaction for your sin. But what good works can you do, that shall save a wicked soul! and that God will accept without your Hearts! Your hearts must be first cleansed,² and your selves devoted and sanctified to God: For an evil Tree will bring forth evil fruit! First make the Tree good, and the fruit will be good! It is the Love of God, and the hatred of sin, and a holy and heavenly life which are the good works that God chiefly calleth for; and Faith, and Repentance, and Conversion in order to these: And will God take your lip-labour, or the leavings of your ⟨p. 32⟩••••sh by way of alms, while the world and fleshly pleasure have your hearts? Indeed, you do no work that's truly good! The matter may be good: but you poison it with bad Principles and Ends. The carnal mind is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can be; but is enmity to God, Rom. 8. 6, 7.

§. 53. Direct. 26. Against this consider, that if you had never so many good works, they are all¹ but your duty; and make no satisfaction for your sin. But what good works can you do, that shall save a wicked soul! and that God will accept without your Hearts! Your hearts must be first cleansed,² and your selves devoted and sanctified to God: For an evil Tree will bring forth evil fruit! First make the Tree good, and the fruit will be good! It is the Love of God, and the hatred of sin, and a holy and heavenly life which are the good works that God chiefly calleth for; and Faith, and Repentance, and Conversion in order to these: And will God take your lip-labour, or the leavings of your ⟨p. 32⟩••••sh by way of alms, while the world and fleshly pleasure have your hearts? Indeed, you do no work that's truly good! The matter may be good: but you poyson it with bad Principles and Ends. The carnal mind is not subject to the Law of God, nor indeed can be; but is enmity to God, Rom. 8. 6, 7.

1Direct. 26.
2See Prov. 28▪ 9▪ Prov. 15▪ 26▪ 8▪ Prov. 21. 27. Isa. 1. 13. 14.