A26892:573
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.
§. 4. And your familiar companions have great advantage to help or hinder your salvation, as well1 as your Teachers. The matter is not so great whom you meet by the way, or travel with, or trade and buy and sell with, as whom you make your intimate, or familiar friends. For such have both the advantage of their interest in your affections, and also the advantage of their nearness and familiarity; and if they have but also the advantage of higher abilities than you, they may be powerful instruments of your good or hurt. If you have a familiar friend that will defend you from error, and help you against temptations, and lovingly reprove your sin, and feelingly speak of God, and the life to come, inditing his discourse from the inward power of faith, and love, and holy experience, the benefit of such a friend may be more to you, than of the learnedst or greatest in the world. How sweetly will their speeches relish of the Spirit, from which they come? How deeply may they pierce a careless heart? How powerfully may they kindle in you, a love and zeal to God and his Commandments? How seasonably may they discover a temptation, prevent your fall, reprove an error, and recover your souls? How faithfully will they watch over you? How profitably will they provoke and put you on? and pray with you fervently when you are cold, and mind you of the Truth and duty, and mercy, which you forget? It is a very great mercy to have a judicious, solid, faithful companion in the way to Heaven.
§. 4. And your familiar companions have great advantage to help or hinder your salvation, as well1 as your Teachers. The matter is not so great whom you meet by the way, or travell with, or trade and buy and sell with, as whom you make your intimate, or familiar friends. For such have both the advantage of their interest in your affections, and also the advantage of their nearness and familiarity; and if they have but also the advantage of higher abilities than you, they may be powerful instruments of your good or hurt. If you have a familiar friend that will defend you from error, and help you against temptations, and lovingly reprove your sin, and feelingly speak of God, and the life to come, inditing his discourse from the inward power of faith, and love, and holy experience, the benefit of such a friend may be more to you, than of the learnedst or greatest in the world. How sweetly will their speeches relish of the Spirit, from which they come? How deeply may they pierce a careless heart? How powerfully may they kindle in you, a love and zeal to God and his Commandments? How seasonably may they discover a temptation, prevent your fall, reprove an error, and recover your souls? How faithfully will they watch over you? How profitably will they provoke and put you on? and pray with you fervently when you are cold, and mind you of the Truth and duty, and mercy, which you forget? It is a very great mercy to have a judicious, solid, faithful companion in the way to Heaven.