A26892:5616
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.
§. 67. 5. Divisions lay open the Churches of Christ, not only to the scorn, but to the malice, will and fury of their enemies. A Kingdom or house divided cannot stand, Matth. 12. 25. where hath the Church been destroyed, or Religion rooted out, in any Nation of the Earth, but divisions had a1 principal hand in the effect? O what desolations have they made among the flocks of Christ! As Seneca and others opened their own veins and bled to death, when Nero or such other Tyrants, did send them their commands to Die; even so have many Churches done by their divisions, to the gratifying of Satan, the enemy of souls.
§. 62. 6. Divisions among Christians do greatly hinder the edification of the members of the Church: while they are possessed with envyings and distaste of one another, they lose all the benefit of each others gifts, and of that holy communion which they should have with one another. And they are possessed with that zeal and wisdom, which James calleth earthly, sensual and devilish, which corrupteth1 all their affections, and turneth their food to the nourishment of their disease, and maketh their very worshipping of God to become the increase of their sin. Where divisions and contentions are, the members that should grow up in humility, meekness, self-denial, holiness and love, do grow in pride, and perverse disputings, and passionate strivings, and envious wranglings: The Spirit of God departeth from them, and an evil Spirit of malice and vexation taketh place; though in their passion, they know not what Spirit they are of: Whereas if they be of one mind, and live in peace, the God of love and peace will be with them. What lamentable instances of this calamity have we in many of the Sectaries of this present time: Especially in the people called Quakers, that while they pretend to the greatest austerities, do grow up to such a measure of sour pride, and uncharitable contempt of others, and especially of all superiors, and hellish railing against the holiest Ministers and people, as we have scarce known, or ever read of?