A Christian Directory

Name: A Christian Directory
Author: Richard Baxter

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 1 › Chapter 2 › Direction 16: Direct. 16. Make careful choice of the Books which you read. Let the Holy Scriptures ev…Part 1 › Chapter 2 › Direction 16: Direct. 16. MAke careful choice of the Books which you read. Let the Holy Scriptures ev…

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.

[ Earlier:577–592 of 9,947

:577p. 60

§. 2. The Writings of Divines are nothing else but a preaching the Gospel to the eye, as the voice preacheth it to the ear. Vocal preaching hath the preeminence in moving the affections, and being diversified according to the state of the Congregations which attend it: This way the Milk cometh warmest from the breast. But Books have the advantage in many other respects: you may read an able Preacher when you have but a mean one to hear. Every Congregation cannot hear the most judicious or powerful Preachers: but every single person may read the Books of the most powerful and judicious; Preachers may be silenced or banished, when Books may be at hand: Books may be kept at a smaller charge than Preachers: We may choose Books which treat of that very subject which we desire to hear of; but we cannot choose what subject the Preacher shall treat of. Books we may have at hand every day and hour: when we can have Sermons but seldom, and at set times. If Sermons be forgotten, they are gone. But a Book we may read over and over till we remember it: and if we forget it, may again peruse it at our pleasure, or at our leisure. So that good Books are a very great mercy to the world: The Holy Ghost chose the way of writing, to preserve his Doctrine and Laws to the Church, as knowing how easy and sure a way it is of keeping it safe to all generations, in comparison of mere Verbal Tradition, which might have made as many Controversies about the very terms, as there be memories or persons to be the preservers and reporters.

§. 2. The Writings of Divines are nothing else but a preaching the Gospel to the eye, as the voice preacheth it to the ear. Vocal preaching hath the preheminence in moving the affections, and being diversified according to the state of the Congregations which attend it: This way the Milk cometh warmest from the breast. But Books have the advantage in many other respects: you may read an able Preacher when you have but a mean one to hear. Every Congregation cannot hear the most judicious or powerful Preachers: but every single person may read the Books of the most powerful and judicious; Preachers may be silenced or banished, when Books may be at hand: Books may be kept at a smaller charge than Preachers: We may choose Books which treat of that very subject which we desire to hear of; but we cannot choose what subject the Preacher shall treat of. Books we may have at hand every day and hour: when we can have Sermons but seldom, and at set times. If Sermons be forgotten, they are gone. But a Book we may read over and over till we remember it: and if we forget it, may again peruse it at our pleasure, or at our leisure. So that good Books are a very great mercy to the world: The Holy Ghost chose the way of writing, to preserve his Doctrine and Laws to the Church, as knowing how easie and sure a way it is of keeping it safe to all generations, in comparison of meer Verbal Tradition, which might have made as many Controversies about the very terms, as there be memories or persons to be the preservers and reporters.

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

A Christian Directory

Direct. 18. Watch diligently hath against the more discernible decays of grace, and against¹ the degenerating of it into some carnal affections: or something counterfeit, and of another kind: And so also of Religious duties.

Direct. 18. WAtch diligently hath against the more discernable decayes of grace, and against¹ the degenerating of it into some carnal affections: or something counterfeit, and of another kind: And so also of Religious duties.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

Direct. 18. Watch diligently hath against the more discernible decays of grace, and against1 the degenerating of it into some carnal affections: or something counterfeit, and of another kind: And so also of Religious duties.

Direct. 18. WAtch diligently hath against the more discernable decayes of grace, and against1 the degenerating of it into some carnal affections: or something counterfeit, and of another kind: And so also of Religious duties.

Transcription key

Direct. 18. Watch diligently hath against the more discernible decays of grace, and against¹ the degenerating of it into some carnal affections: or something counterfeit, and of another kind: And so also of Religious duties.

Direct. 18. WAtch diligently hath against the more discernable decayes of grace, and against¹ the degenerating of it into some carnal affections: or something counterfeit, and of another kind: And so also of Religious duties.