A26892:467
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.
The not observing this Direction, will have direful effects; which I will name, that you may see the necessity of avoiding them.
§. 6. 1. If you imagine that you are presently men of great understanding, and abilities, and holiness,1 while you are young beginners, and but new born babes, you are entering into the s•are and condemnation of the Devil, even into the odious sin of Pride: yea, a Pride of those spiritual gifts which are most c•ntr•ry to Pride: yea, and a Pride of that which you have not, which is most foolish Pride. Mark the words of Paul when he forbids to choose a young beginner in Religion to the Ministry, 1▪ Tim. 3. 6. [Not a Novice (that is, a young raw Christian) lest being lifted up (or besotted) with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the Devil.] Why are young beginners more in danger of this, than2 other Christians? One would think their Infancy should be conscious of its own infirmity. But Paul knew what he said. It is 1. Partly because the suddenness of their change, coming out of darkness, into a light which they never saw before doth amaze them, and transport them, and make them think they are almost in Heaven, and that there is not much more to be attained. Like the Beggar that had an hundred pound given him (having never seen the hundredth part before) imagined that he had as much money as the King. 2. And it is partly because they have not knowledge enough to know how many things there are, that yet they are ignorant of: They never heard of the Scripture-difficulties, and the knots in School-divinity, nor the hard cases of Conscience: Whereas one seven years painful studies, will tell them of many hundred difficulties which they never saw: and forty or fifty years study more, will clothe them with shame and humility in the sense of their lamentable darkness. 3. And it is also because the Devil doth with greatest industry, lay this Net to entrap young Converts, it being the way in which he hath the greatest hope.