A26892:651
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.
§. 6. 3. It hindereth the souls approach to God, when the Infinite distance makes us think that God will not regard or take notice of such contemptible worms as we: we are ready to think that he is too high for our converse or delight. In this case the soul hath no such remedy, as to look to Christ, and see how the Father hath regarded us, and set his heart upon us, and sent his Son to seek and save us: O wonderful astonishing condescension of Eternal Love! Believe that God assumed flesh to make himself familiar with man; and you can never question whether he regard us, or will hold communion with us.
§. 7. 4. It hindereth our comfortable access to God, when we are deterred by the Glory of his Infiniteness and Majesty: As the eye is not able to gaze upon the Sun, unless it be overshadowed. So the soul is afraid of the Majesty of God, and overwhelmed by it when it should be delighted in it. Against this there is no such remedy, as to behold God appearing to us in his Son, where his Majesty is v•il•d, and where he approacheth us familiarly in our nature, to invite us to him with holy confidence and reverent boldness. Christ did not appear in a terrible form: Women durst discourse with him: beggars, and cripples, and diseased people durst ask his help: sinners durst eat with him: The proud contemned him, but the lowly were not frighted from him. He took upon him the form of a servant, and made himself of no reputation, that he might converse familiarly with the meanest and those of no reputation. Though we may not debase the Godhead, to imagine that it is humbled in Glory, as it was on earth, in the flesh of Christ, yet this condescension is unspeakable encouragement to the soul to come with boldness unto God, that was frighted from him.
§. 7. 4. It hindereth our comfortable access to God, when we are deterred by the Glory of his Infiniteness and Majesty: As the eye is not able to gaze upon the Sun, unless it be overshadowed. So the soul is afraid of the Majesty of God, and overwh•lmed by it when it should be delighted in it. Against this there is no such remedy, as to behold God appearing to us in his Son, where his Majesty is vild, and where he approacheth us familiarly in our nature, to invite us to him with holy confidence and reverent boldness. Christ did not appear in a terrible form: Women durst discourse with him: beggars, and criples, and diseased people durst ask his help: sinners durst eat with him: The proud contemned him, but the lowly were not frighted from him. He took upon him the form of a servant, and made himself of no reputation, that he might converse familiarly with the meanest and those of no reputation. Though we may not debase the Godhead, to imagine that it is humbled in Glory, as it was on earth, in the flesh of Christ, yet this condescension is unspeakable encouragement to the soul to come with boldness unto God, that was frighted from him.