A26892:539
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.
§. 1. You may easily be sure that Division tendeth to the ruin of the Church, and the hinderance of the Gospel, and the injury of the common interest of Religion. You know it is greatly condemned1 in the Scriptures: You may know that it is usually the exercise and the increase of Pride, uncharitableness and passion; and that the Devil is best pleased with it, as being the greatest gainer by it. But on the other side, you are not easily certain which party is in the right: And if you were, you are not sure that the matter will be worth the cost of the contention: Or if it be, it is to be considered whether the Truth is not like to get more advantage, by managing it in a more peaceable way, that hath no contention, nor stirreth not up other men so much against it, as the way of controversy doth. And whatever it prove, you may and should know, that young Christians that want both parts, and helps, and time, and experience to be throughly seen in controversies, are very unfit to make themselves parties, And that they are yet more unfit to be the hottest leaders of those parties, and to spur on their Teachers that know more than they. If the work be fit for another to do, that knoweth on what ground he goeth, and can foresee the end, yet certainly it is not fit for you. And therefore forbear it till you are more fit.
§. 1. You may easily be sure that Division tendeth to the ruine of the Church, and the hinderance of the Gospel, and the injury of the common interest of Religion. You know it is greatly condemned1 in the Scriptures: You may know that it is usually the exercise and the increase of Pride, uncharitableness and passion; and that the Devil is best pleased with it, as being the greatest gainer by it. But on the other side, you are not easily certain which party is in the right: And if you were, you are not sure that the matter will be worth the cost of the contention: Or if it be, it is to be considered whether the Truth is not like to get more advantage, by managing it in a more peaceable way, that hath no contention, nor stirreth not up other men so much against it, as the way of controversie doth. And whatever it prove, you may and should know, that young Christians that want both parts, and helps, and time, and experience to be throughly seen in controversies, are very unfit to make themselves parties, And that they are yet more unfit to be the hottest leaders of those parties, and to spur on their Teachers that know more than they. If the work be fit for another to do, that knoweth on what ground he goeth, and can foresee the end, yet certainly it is not fit for you. And therefore forbear it till you are more fit.