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 18: Direct. 18. Watch diligently hath against the more discernible decays of grace, and ag…Part 1 › Chapter 2 › Direction 18: Direct. 18. WAtch diligently hath against the more discernable decayes of grace, and ag…

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:593–608 of 9,947

:593p. 63–64

§. 3. How apt men are to corrupt and debase all duties of Religion is too visible in the face of the far greatest part of the Christian world: Throughout both the Eastern and the Western Churches, the Papists, the Greeks, the Armenians, the Abassines, and too many others, (though the Essentials of Religion through Gods mercy are retained, yet) how much is the face of Religion altered from what it was in the days of the Apostles? The ancient simplicity of Doctrine, is turned into abundance of new or private opinions introduced as necessary Articles of Religion (and alas, how many of them false?) So that Christians being too proud to accept of the ancient test of Christianity, cannot now agree among themselves what a Christian is, and who is to be esteemed a Christian? and so they deny one another to be Christians, and destroy their Charity to each other, and divide the Church, and make ⟨p. 64⟩themselves a scom by their divisions to the Infidel world: And thus the Primitive Unity, Charity and Peace, is partly destroyed, and partly degenerate into the Unity, Charity and Peace of several Sects among themselves. The primitive simplicity in Government and Discipline, is with most turned into a •or••ble Secular Government, exercised to advance one man above others, and to satisfy his will and lusts, and make him the Rule of other mens lives, and to suppress the power and spirituality of Religion in the world. The primitive simplicity of Worship is turned into such a Masque of Ceremony, and such a task of formalities and bodily exercise, that if one of the Apostolical Christians should come among them, he would scarce think that this is the same employment which formerly the Church was exercised in, or scarce know Religion in this antic dress. So that the amiable glorious face of Christianity, is so spotted and defiled, that it is hidden from the Unbelieving world, and they laugh at it as irrational, or think it to be but like their own: And the principal hinderance of the conversion of Heathens, Mahometans, and other Unbelievers, is the corruption and deformity of the Churches that are near them, or should be the instruments of their conversion: And the probablest way to the conversion of those Nations, is the true Reformation of the Churches both in East and West:

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A Christian Directory

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. 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. 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.