A26892:679
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.
§. 7. There is an admirable unsearchable concurrence of the Spirit, and his appointed means, and the will of man, in the procreation of the new creature, and in all the exercises of grace, as there is of Male and Female in natural generation; and of the Earth, the Sun, the Rain, the industry of the Gardiner; and the seminal virtue of Life and specification, in the production of Plants with their flowers and fruits. And as wise as it would be, to say, It is not the Male, but the Female, or the Female but the Male that generateth; or to say, It is not the Earth, but the Sun, or not the Sun, but the Rain, or not the Rain, but the seminal Virtue, that causeth Plants with Flowers and Fruits: So wise is it to say, It is not the Spirit, but the Word and Means, or it is not the Word and Means, but the Spirit, or it is not the Reason, and Will and industry of man, but the Spirit: Or if we have not wisdom enough to assign to each cause, its proper interest in the effect, that therefore we should separate what God hath conjoined, or deny the truth of the causation, because we comprehend not the manner and influence, this is but to choose to be befooled by Pride, rather than confess that God is wiser than we.
§. 7. There is an admirable unsearchable concurrence of the Spirit, and his appointed means, and the will of man, in the procreation of the new creature, and in all the exercises of grace, as there is of Male and Female in natural generation; and of the Earth, the Sun, the Rain, the industry of the Gardiner; and the seminal vertue of Life and specification, in the production of Plants with their flowers and fruits. And as wise as it would be, to say, It is not the Male, but the Female, or the Female but the Male that generateth; or to say, It is not the Earth, but the Sun, or not the Sun, but the Rain, or not the Rain, but the seminal Vertue, that causeth Plants with Flowers and Fruits: So wise is it to say, It is not the Spirit, but the Word and Means, or it is not the Word and Means, but the Spirit, or it is not the Reason, and Will and industry of man, but the Spirit: Or if we have not wisdom enough to assign to each cause, its proper interest in the effect, that therefore we should separate what God hath conjoyned, or deny the truth of the causation, because we comprehend not the manner and influence, this is but to choose to be befooled by Pride, rather than confess that God is wiser than we.