A26892:6980
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.
2. No particular man must be so observant of a public commanded anniversary fast, as for it to neglect any duty commanded him by God which is inconsistent with it. (As to rejoice or keep a day of Thanksgiving in Lent, upon an extraordinary obliging cause; To keep the Lords day in Lent, as a day of Thanksgiving and Rejoicing; To preserve our own health; &c.) It is not lawful in obedience to man, to fast so much, or use such diet as is like to destroy our lives or health: These being not so far put into the power of man: Nor can man dispense with us as to the duty of self-preservation. If God himself require us not to offer him our lives and health needlessly, as an acceptable Sacrifice, nor ever maketh self-destruction our duty, no nor any thing that is not for mans own good; then we are not to believe without very clear proof that either Prince or Prelates have more power than ever God doth use himself.
2. No particular man must be so observant of a publick commanded anniversary fast, as for it to neglect any duty commanded him by God which is inconsistent with it. (As to rejoyce or keep a day of Thanksgiving in Lent, upon an extraordinary obliging cause; To keep the Lords day in Lent, as a day of Thanksgiving and Rejoycing; To preserve our own health; &c.) It is not lawful in obedience to man, to fast so much, or use such dyet as is like to destroy our lives or health: These being not so far put into the power of man: Nor can man dispence with us as to the duty of selfpreservation. If God himself require us not to offer him our lives and health needlesly, as an acceptable Sacrifice, nor ever maketh self-destruction our duty, no nor any thing that is not for mans own good; then we are not to believe without very clear proof that either Prince or Prelates have more power than ever God doth use himself.
3. Such an Anniversary fast as is meet for the remembrance of some sin or judgement, if commanded, is to be kept, both for the Reason of it, and for the Authority of the Commander. For 1. It is not unlawful as Anniversary (For 1. It is not forbidden, and 2. There may be just occasion: Some arbitrarily keep an anniversary fast on the day of their Nativity (as I have long done); and some on the day that they fell into some great sin; and some on the day of the death of a friend, or of some personal, domestic, or National Calamity: and none of this is forbidden.) 2. And that which is not unlawful in it self, is not therefore unlawful to be done because it is commanded; seeing obedience to superiors is our duty and not our sin, unless in sinful things.