A26892:697
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.
§. 1. Because I have written of this point more fully in another Treatise, (Of the Knowledge of God, and Converse with him), I shall but briefly touch upon it here, as not willing to repeat1 that which there is delivered: Only let me briefly mind you of these few things: 1. That the true knowledge of God is the sum of Godliness, and the end of all our other knowledge, and of all that we have or do as Christians. As Christ is a Teacher that came from God, so he came to call and lead us unto God: Or else he had not come as a Saviour: It is from God that we fell by sin, and to God that we must be restored by grace: To save us, is to restore us to our perfection, and our happiness: and that is to restore us unto God.
§. 1. BEcause I have written of this point more fully in another Treatise, (Of the Knowledge of God, and Converse with him), I shall but briefly touch upon it here, as not willing to repeat1 that which there is delivered: Only let me briefly mind you of these few things: 1. That the true knowledge of God is the summ of Godliness, and the end of all our other knowledge, and of all that we have or do as Christians. As Christ is a Teacher that came from God, so he came to call and lead us unto God: Or else he had not come as a Saviour: It is from God that we fell by sin, and to God that we must be restored by grace: To save us, is to restore us to our perfection, and our happiness: and that is to restore us unto God.
- 1Laert. in Zeno. saith, Dicunt Stoici Deum esse animal immortale, rationale, perfectum, ac beatum, à malo omni remotissimum, providentia sua mundum & quae sunt in mundo administrans omnia: Non tamen inesse illi humanae •ormae lineamenta. Caeterum esse opificem immensi hujus operis, sicut & patrem omnium.—Eumque multis appellari nominibus juxta proprietates suas—Quosdam item esse daemones dicunt quibus insit hominum miseratio, inspectors rerum humararum; Heroas quoque so utas corporibus, sapientum animas—▪ Bonos aiunt esse Divino•, quod in seipsis quasi habeant Deum. Malum vero impium & sine Deo esse, quod duplici ratione accipitur, sive quod Deo contrarius dicatur, sive quod aspernetur Deum: Id tamen malis omnibus non convenire. Pios autem & Religiosos esse sapientes, peritos divini juris omnes. Ptatem esse seiiam divini cultus. Diis item eos sacr ficia sacturos, castosque futuros. Quippe ea quae in Deos admittuntur peccata detesari, Diisque charos ac gratos fore quo sancti justique in rebus divinis sint.