A26892:470
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 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 those1 that are ever learning, and never come to any ripe knowledge: For you will think you are fit to be Teachers, when you have need to be taught that which you will not submit to learn. And then [When for the time ye ought to have been Teachers, you will have need to be catechized, or taught again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God, as having need of milk, and not of strong meat.] Mark here how the Holy Ghost maketh Time and exercise necessary to such growth as must enable you to be Teachers, Heb. 5. 24. 13, 14. Therefore he addeth [But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil] Mark here how wisdom and strength is to be expected.
- 1B•atus est •ui vel in •enectute contigei•, ut ••p•entiam ver••que opinions consequi possi•. […] […].