A26892:5658
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.
If you say that it is no one of these that maketh it unlawful, but all together, you must give us a distinct argument to prove that the concurrence of these three will prove that unlawful, which cannot be proved so by any of them alone, for your affirmation must not serve the turn: and when we know your argument I doubt not but it may be answered. One thing I still confess may make any defective Worship to be unlawful to you; and that is, When you prefer it before better, and may (without a greater inconvenience) enjoy an abler Ministry, and purer Administration, but will not.
§. 95. Obj. But he that sitteth by in silence in the posture as the rest of the Congregation, seemeth to1 consent to all that is said and done: and we must avoid all appearance of evil.
- 1Object.
Answ. The appearance of evil which is evil indeed, m•st be alway avoided: But that appearance of1 evil which is indeed good must not be avoided. We must not forsake our duty lest we seem to sin: that were but to prefer hypocrisy before sincerity, and to avoid appearances more than realities: The omission of a duty is a real sin: and that must not be done to avoid a seeming sin. And whom doth it appear so to? If it appear evil to the blind or prejudiced, it is their eyes that must be cured: But if it appear so to the wise, then it's like it is evil indeed: For a wise man should not judge that to be evil that is not. But I confess that in a case that is altogether indifferent, even the mistakes of the ignorant may oblige us to forbear: But the Worship of God must not be so orb . It is an irrational fancy to think that you must be Uncivil, by contradicting, or covering your heads, or doing something ffive to the Congregation, when any thing is said or done which you disallow. Your presn signifieth your Consent to all that you profess, even to Worship God according to his Word, and not to all the humane imperfections that are there expssd.