A26892:441
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.
Direct. 3. Labour to understand the true Method of Divinity, and see Truths in their several degrees1 and order; that you take not the last for the first; nor the lesser for the greater. Therefore see that you be well grounded in the Catechism; and refuse not to learn some Catechism that is sound and full, and keep it in memory while you live.
Direct. 3. LAbour to understand the true Method of Divinity, and see Truths in their several degrees1 and order; that you take not the last for the first; nor the lesser for the greater. Therefore see that you be well grounded in the Catechism; and refuse not to learn some Catechism that is sound and full, and keep it in memory while you live.
- 1Leg. Accost. l. 4. c. 21. & 22 de fructu catechizandi. Et Li. 5.Leg. Acost. l. 4. c. 21. & 22 de fructu catechizandi. Et Li. 5.
§. 1. Method or right order exceedingly helpeth, understanding, memory and practice. Truths 1have a dependence on each other: The lesser branches spring out of the greater, and those out of the stock and root. Some duties are but means to other duties, or subservient to them, and to be measured accordingly: And if it be not understood which is the chief, the other cannot be referred to it. When two things materially good come together, and both cannot be done, the greater must take place, and the lesser is no duty at that time, but a sin, as preferred before the greater. Therefore it is one of the commonest difficulties among Cases of Conscience, to know which duty is the greater, and to be preferred. Upon this ground Christ healed on the Sabbath day, and pleaded for his Disciples rubbing the ears of corn, and for Davids eating the show bread, and telleth them, that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath, and that God will have mercy, and not Sacrifice.