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 17: Direct. 17. Take heed that you receive not a Doctrine of Libertinism as from the Gospel…Part 1 › Chapter 2 › Direction 17: Direct. 17. TAke heed that you receive not a Doctrine of Libertinism as from the Gospel…

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:584–599 of 9,947

:584p. 61

§. 2. The Libertines, Antinomians, and Autonomians of this age, have gathered you too many instances. The Libertine saith, [The Heart is the man; therefore you may deny the truth with your tongue, you may be present at false Worship, (as at the Mass,) you need not suffer to avoid the speaking of a word, or subscribing to an untruth or error, or doing some little thing; but as long as you keep your hearts to God, and mean well, or have an honest mental reservation, and are forced to it by ther•, rather than suffer, you may say, or subscribe, or swear any thing which you can your selves put a lawful sense upon in your own minds, or comply with any outward actions or customs to avoid •ffence and save your selves.]

:585p. 61–62

The Antinomians tell you, that [The Moral Law is abrogated, and that the Gospel is no Law; (and if there be no Law, there is no Governor nor Government, no duty, no sin, no judgement, n• punishment, no ⟨p. 62⟩before they are born, or repent, or believe; that their sin is pardoned ¹[…], that God t••k them as suffering and fulfilling all the Law in Christ, as if it had been they that di• i• in •i•: that we are justified by faith only in our consciences: that justifying faith i• but t[…] we are justified: that every man must believe that he is pardoned, that he may […]ed in •is conscience; and this he is to do by a Divine faith, and that this is the sense of the Article, [I beli•••• the forgiveness of sins] that is, that my sns are forgiven; and that all are forgi[…] it: that it is legal and sinful to work or do any thing for salvation: that sin once pa[…]ssed and lamented, or at least, we need not ask pardon of sin daily, or of one […]t: that […] are no punishments; and yet no other punishment is threatened to believers for their sins, and consequently that Christ hath not procured them a pardon of any sin after believing, but prevented all necessity of pardon: and therefore they must not ask the pardon of them, nor do any thing to obtain it: that fear of Hell must have no hand in our obedience, or restraint from sin: And some add, that he that cannot repent or believe, must comfort himself that Christ repented and believed for him: […] a contradiction):] Many such Doctrines of Licentiousness the abusers of Grace have brought forth.

[ 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.

Direct. 19. Promise not your selves long life, or prosperity and great matters in the world, lest it entangle¹ your hearts with transitory things, and engage you in ambitious or covetous designs, and steal away your hearts from God, and destroy all your serious apprehensions of Eternity.

Direct. 19. PRomise not your selves long life, or prosperity and great matters in the world, lest it entangle¹ your hearts with transitory things, and engage you in ambitious or covetous designs, and steal away your hearts from God, and destroy all your serious apprehensions of Eternity.

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.

Direct. 19. Promise not your selves long life, or prosperity and great matters in the world, lest it entangle1 your hearts with transitory things, and engage you in ambitious or covetous designs, and steal away your hearts from God, and destroy all your serious apprehensions of Eternity.

Direct. 19. PRomise not your selves long life, or prosperity and great matters in the world, lest it entangle1 your hearts with transitory things, and engage you in ambitious or covetous designs, and steal away your hearts from God, and destroy all your serious apprehensions of Eternity.

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.

Direct. 19. Promise not your selves long life, or prosperity and great matters in the world, lest it entangle¹ your hearts with transitory things, and engage you in ambitious or covetous designs, and steal away your hearts from God, and destroy all your serious apprehensions of Eternity.

Direct. 19. PRomise not your selves long life, or prosperity and great matters in the world, lest it entangle¹ your hearts with transitory things, and engage you in ambitious or covetous designs, and steal away your hearts from God, and destroy all your serious apprehensions of Eternity.