A26892:5779
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.
READER,
I Have something to say to thee of the number of these Cases, somewhat of the Order, and somewhat of the manner of handling and resolving them. I. That they are so Many is because there are really so many difficulties which all men are not able to resolve: That they are no more, is, partly because I could not remember then any more that were necessarily to be handled, and I was not willing to increase so great a Book with things unnecessary.
II. As to the Order I have some Reasons for the order of most of them, which would be too tedious to open to you: But some of them are placed out of order, because, 1. I could not remember them in due place. 2. And great haste allowed me not Time to transpose them. If you say that in such a work I should take time, I answer, You are no competent judges, unless you knew me and the rest of my work, and the likelihood that my time will be but short: They that had rather take my Writings with such defects which are the effects of haste, than have none of them, may use them, and the rest are free to despise them and neglect them. Two or three Questions about the Scripture, I would have put nearer the beginning if I could have time; But seeing I cannot, it's easy for you to transpose them in the reading.
II. As to the Order I have some Reasons for the order of most of them, which would be too tedious to open to you: But some of them are placed out of order, because, 1. I could not remember them in due place. 2. And great haste allowed me not Time to transpose them. If you say that in such a work I should take time, I answer, You are no competent judges, unless you knew me and the rest of my work, and the likelyhood that my time will be but short: They that had rather take my Writings with such defects which are the effects of haste, than have none of them, may use them, and the rest are free to despise them and neglect them. Two or three Questions about the Scripture, I would have put nearer the beginning if I could have time; But seeing I cannot, it's easie for you to transpose them in the reading.