A26892:469
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.
2. Your hasty conceits of your own goodness or ability, will make you presumptuous of your own strength, and so to venture upon dangerous temptations, which is the way to ruin. You will think you are not so ignorant, but you may venture into the company of Papists, or any Heretics or deceivers, or read their Books, or be present at their Worship. And I confess you may scape: but it may be otherwise, and God may leave you, to show you all that was in your hearts, as it is said of Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 32. 31, 25, 26.
2. Your hasty conceits of your own goodness or ability, will make you presumptuous of your own strength, and so to venture upon dangerous temptations, which is the way to ruine. You will think you are not so ignorant, but you may venture into the company of Papists, or any Hereticks or deceivers, or read their Books, or be present at their Worship. And I confess you may scape: but it may be otherwise, and God may leave you, to shew you all that was in your hearts, as it is said of Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 32. 31, 25, 26.
3. And your overvaluing your first grace, will make you too secure, when your souls have need of holy awfulness and care, to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil. 2. 12. and to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear, as knowing that he is a consuming fire, Heb. 12. 28, 29. And security is the fore-runner of a fall.
4. It will make you neglect the due labour and patience in the use of means for further knowledge and increase of grace, while you think you are so well already. And so you will be worse than those