A26892:39
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.
Answ. 1. I have but a little while to live, and therefore must work while it is day. Time will not stay. 2. I do show them to those that I take to be most judicious, and never refused any mans censure; But it is not many that have leisure to do me so great a kindness. But that I commit them not to the perusal of every Objector, is a fault uncurable, by one that never had an Amanuensis, and hath but one Copy usually. 3. And if I could do it, how should I be sure that they would not differ as much among themselves, as they do from me? And my Writings would be like the Picture which the great Painter exposed to the censure of every passenger, and made it ridiculous to all, when he altered all that every one advised him to alter. And, to tell you the truth, I was never yet blamed by one side as not sufficiently pleasing them, but I was blamed also by the contrary side, for coming so near them: And I had not wit enough to know which party of the accusers was the wiser? And therefore am resolved to study to please God and Conscience, and to take man-pleasing, when inconsistent, for an impossible and unprofitable work, and to cease from man whose breath is in his Nostrils, whose thoughts all perish as he passeth off the Judicature of his Stage, to the Judicature of God.
Answ. 1. I have but a little while to live, and therefore must work while it is day. Time will not stay. 2. I do shew them to those that I take to be most judicious, and never refused any mans censure; But it is not many that have leisure to do me so great a kindness. But that I commit them not to the perusal of every Objector, is a fault uncurable, by one that never had an Amanuensis, and hath but one Copy usually. 3. And if I could do it, how should I be sure that they would not differ as much among themselves, as they do from me? And my Writings would be like the Picture which the great Painter exposed to the censure of every passenger, and made it ridiculous to all, when he altered all that every one advised him to alter. And, to tell you the truth, I was never yet blamed by one side as not sufficiently pleasing them, but I was blamed also by the contrary side, for coming so near them: And I had not wit enough to know which party of the accusers was the wiser? And therefore am resolved to study to please God and Conscience, and to take man-pleasing, when inconsistent, for an impossible and unprofitable work, and to cease from man whose breath is in his Nostrils, whose thoughts all perish as he passeth off the Judicature of his Stage, to the Judicature of God.