A26892:482
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.
Direct. 6. BE not discouraged at the difficulties and oppositions which will rise up before you, when you begin resolvedly to walk with God.
§. 1. As discouragements keep off multitudes from Religion, so they are great temptations to many1 young beginners to turn back, and as the Israelites in the Wilderness, ready to wish themselves again in Egypt. Three sorts of discouragements arise before them. 1. Some from the nature of the work: 2. Some from Gods trials. 3. And some from the malice of the Devil and his instruments: or all these.
§. 1. As discouragements keep off multitudes from Religion, so they are great temptations to many1 young beginners to turn back, and as the Israelites in the Wilderness, ready to wish themselves again in Aegypt. Three sorts of discouragements arise before them. 1. Some from the nature of the work: 2. Some from Gods tryals. 3. And some from the malice of the Devil and his instruments: or all these.
- 1Against discouragements in trials.Against discouragements in tryalls.
§. 2. 1. It cannot be expected but that Infants and weaklings should think a little burden heavy, and an easy work or journey to be wearisome: young beginners are ordinarily puzzled and at a loss, in every Trade, or Art, or Science. Young Scholars have a far harder task, than when they are once well entered: Learning is wondrous hard and unpleasant to them at the first: But when they are once well entered, the knowledge of one thing helps another, and they go on with ease. So a young Convert that hath been bred up in ignorance, and never used to Prayer, or to Heavenly discourse, nor to hear or join with any that did, will think it strange and hard at first. And those that were used to take their pleasure, and fulfil the desires of the flesh, and perhaps to swear and talk filthily, or idly, or to lie, will find at first some difficulty to overcome their customs, and live a mortified holy life (yet grace will do it and prevail). Especially in point of knowledge and ability of expression, be not too hasty in your expectation, but wait with patience in a faithful diligent use of means, and that will be easy and delightful to you afterwards, which before discouraged you with its difficulties.