A26892:6981
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.
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.
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, domestick, 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 superiours is our duty and not our sin, unless in sinful things.
4. Whether it be lawful or meet to commemorate Christs sufferings by anniversary fasts, is next to be considered.
II. As for Lent in particular: We must distinguish, 1. Between the ancient Lent, and the later Lent; 2. Between keeping it on a Civil account, and on a Religious. 3. Between true fasting, and change of diet. 4. Between the Imitation of Christs forty days fasting, and the mere Commemoration of it. Which premised I conclude,