A26892:452
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.
3. And it is the way to deceive and corrupt your judgements, and make you erroneous or heretical, to your own perdition, and the disturbance of the Church: For it's two to one, but either you presently err, or else get such an itch after Notions and Opinions that will lead you to error at the last. Because you are not yet ripe and able to judge of those things, till your minds are prepared by those truths that are first in order to be received. When you undertake a work that you cannot do, no wonder if it be ill done, and must be all undone again, or worse.
Perhaps you will say, That you must not take your Religion upon trust, but must prove all things, and held fast that which is good.
Answ. Though your Religion must not be taken upon trust, there are many controverted smaller Opinions that you must take upon trust, till you are capable of discerning them in their proper evidence. Till you can reach them your selves, you must take them on trust, or not at all. Though you must believe all things of common necessity to salvation with a Divine faith; yet many subservient truths must be received first by a humane faith, or not received at all, till you are more capable of them. Nay, there is a humane faith necessarily subservient to the Divine faith, about the substance of Religion▪ and the Officers of Christ are to be trusted in their Office, as helpers of your faith. Nay, let me tell you, that while you are young and ignorant, you are not fit for Controversies about the fundamentals of Religion themselves. You may believe that there is a God, long before you are fit to hear an Atheist proving that there is no God: You may believe the Scripture to be the Word of God; and Christ to be the Saviour, and the soul to be immortal, long before you will be fit to manage, or study Controversies hereupon. For nothing is so false or bad, which a wanton or wicked Wit may not put a plausible gloss upon: And your raw unfurnished understandings will scarce be able to see through the pretence, or escape the cheat. When you cannot answer the Arguments of Seducers, you will find them leave a doubting in your minds; For you know not how plain the answer of them is, to wiser men. And though you must prove all things you must do it in due order, and as you are able: and stay till your furnished minds, are capable of the trial. If you will need; read before you know your Letters, or pretend to judge of Greek and Hebrew Authors, before you can read English, you will but become ridiculous in your undertaking.