A26892:6814
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. And by this means Christian Religion may decay and grow into contempt: For though it be desirable that its own worth▪ should keep up its reputation and success, yet it never hitherto was so kept up without the assistance of Gods eminent gifts and graces in his Ministers: But where ever there hath been a learned, able, holy, zealous, diligent Ministry, Religion usually hath flourished: And where ever there hath been an ignorant, vicious, cold, idle, negligent▪ and reproached Ministry, Religion usually hath dyed and been reproached. And we have now no reason to look for that which never was, and that God should take a new course in the world.
8. And the opinion of imposing forms of prayer, may draw on the opinion of imposing forms of preaching as much, and of restraining free preaching as much as free praying, as we see in Muscovy. And then when nothing but bare Reading is required, nothing more will be ordinarily sought: And so the Ministry will be the scorn of the people.
8. And the opinion of imposing forms of prayer, may draw on the opinion of imposing forms of preaching as much, and of restraining free preaching as much as free praying, as we see in Moscovy. And then when nothing but bare Reading is required, nothing more will be ordinarily sought: And so the Ministry will be the scorn of the people.
9. And it will be a shameful and uncomfortable failing, when a Minister is not able on variety of occasions, to vary his prayers accordingly; and when he cannot go any further than his Book or Lesson; It being as impossible to make prayers just fitted to all occasions which will fall out, as to make Sermons fit for all, or as they say, to make a Coat for the Moon: And the people will contemn the Ministers when they perceive this great deficiency.