A26892:45
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. If they are vain or false, shame them by detecting it, or you shame your selves by blaming them, when you cannot show the error: Expose not your selves to laughter by avoiding just distinction to escape confusion; that is, avoiding knowledge to escape Ignorance, or Light to escape darkness. 2. It is ambiguity and confusion that breedeth and feedeth almost all our pernicious Controversies: And even those that bring in error by vain distinction, must be confuted by better distinguishers, and not by ignorant Confounders. I will believe the Holy Ghost, 2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16. that Logomachy is the plague by which the hearers are subverted, and ungodliness increased; and that Orthotomie or right dividing the Word of Truth is the Cure. And Heb. 5. 15. Discerning both good and evil, is the work of long and well exercised senses.
Answ. 1. If they are vain or false, shame them by detecting it, or you shame your selves by blaming them, when you cannot shew the error: Expose not your selves to laughter by avoiding just distinction to escape confusion; that is, avoiding knowledge to escape Ignorance, or Light to escape darkness. 2. It is ambiguity and confusion that breedeth and feedeth almost all our pernitious Controversies: And even those that bring in error by vain distinction, must be confuted by better distinguishers, and not by ignorant Confounders. I will believe the Holy Ghost, 2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16. that Logomachie is the plague by which the hearers are subverted, and ungodliness increased; and that Orthotomie or right dividing the Word of Truth is the Cure. And Heb. 5. 15. Discerning both good and evil, is the work of long and well exercised senses.
Object. VII. Is this your reducing our faith to the primitive simplicity, and to the Creed? What a toilsome task do you make Religion by overdoing? Is any man able to remember all these numberless Directions.