A26892:464
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.
§ 4. And if God should give a great measure of Holiness at first, to any now (as possibly he may) yet their measure of gifts is never great at first, unless they had acquired or received them before conversion. If Grace find a man of great parts and understanding, which by study and other helps, he had attained before, no wonder if that man, when his parts are sanctified, be able in knowledge the first day. For he had it before, though he had not a heart to use it. But if Grace find a man ignorant, unlearned, and of mean abilities, he must not expect to be suddenly lifted up to great understanding, and high degrees of knowledge by Grace. For this knowledge is not given (now) by sudden infusion, as Gifts were extraordinarily in the Primitive Church. You need no other proof of this but experience, to stop the mouth of any gain-sayer. Look about you, and observe whether those that are men of knowledge, did obtain it by infusion in a moment? Or whether they did not obtain it by diligent study by slow degrees? (Though I know God blesseth some mens studies more than others.) Name one man that ever was brought to great understanding, but by Means, and Labour, and slow degrees▪ Or that knoweth any Truth in Nature or Divinity, but what he read or heard, or studied for, […]e result of what he read or heard. The person that is proudest of his knowledge, must confess that […]me to it in this way himself.
§ 4. And if God should give a great measure of Holiness at first, to any now (as possibly he may) yet their measure of gifts is never great at first, unless they had acquired or received them before conversion. If Grace find a man of great parts and understanding, which by study and other helps, he had attained before, no wonder if that man, when his parts are sanctified, be able in knowledge the first day. For he had it before, though he had not a heart to use it. But if Grace find a man ignorant, unlearned, and of mean abilities, he must not expect to be suddenly lifted up to great understanding, and high degrees of knowledge by Grace. For this knowledge is not given (now) by sudden infusion, as Gifts were extraordinarily in the Primitive Church. You need no other proof of this but experience, to stop the mouth of any gain-sayer. Look about you, and observe whether those that are men of knowledge, did obtain it by infusion in a moment? Or whether they did not obtain it by diligent study by slow degrees? (Though I know God blesseth some mens studies more than others.) Name one man that ever was brought to great understanding, but by Means, and Labour, and slow d•grees Or that knoweth any Truth in Nature or Divinity, but what he read or heard, or studied for, e result of what he read or heard. The person that is proudest of his knowledge, must confess that me to it in this way himself.