A26892:7268
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.
Part 3 › Question 126: Quest. 126. Are our Church-Tunes Lawful, being of mans invention?
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.
Either you call it carnal, because it gratifieth the sinful corrupt inclinations of man: or only because it is sensitive, or a pleasure in the imagination and lower faculties. If the former, 1. There is nothing in it which is a necessary cause of any sinful pleasure, nor an impediment to spiritual pleasure. 2. But a lustful person will turn all sensitive pleasure into sin: Our Meat,1 and Drink, and Clothes, and Houses, and Friends, and Health: The Bread and Wine in the Sacrament may be thus abused.
- 1[…] 12. 17, […] 16. […] 2•.〈…〉 12. 17, 〈…〉 16. 〈…〉 2•.
2. But you must know, that as our Bodies are here united to our souls, so they act together, and while the sensitive part is subordinate to the rational, it is serviceable to it, and not a hinderance: When you come to have souls that are separated from the body, you shall use no bodily instruments: And yet even then it is uncertain to us, whether the sensitive powers of the soul do not accompany it, and be not used by it. But certainly in the mean time, he that will not use sense, shall not use reason. And he that acteth not sensibly, acteth not as a man: It is not a sin to be a man: And therefore not to see, to hear, to taste, to smell, &c. Nor is it a sin to taste sweetness in our meat or drink, nor is it a sinful pleasure for the eyes to behold the Light, or the variety of the beauteous works of God, or to take pleasure in them. His works are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein, Psal. 111. 2.
2. But you must know, that as our Bodies are here united to our souls, so they act together, and while the sensitive part is subordinate to the rational, it is serviceable to it, and not a hiderance: When you come to have souls that are separated from the body, you shall use no bodly instruments: And yet even then it is uncertain to us, whether the sensitive powers of the soul do not accompany it, and be not used by it. But certainly in the mean time, he that will not use sense, shall not use reason. And he that acteth not sensibly, acteth not as a man: It is not a sin to be a man: And therefore not to see, to hear, to taste, to smell, &c. Nor is it a sin to taste sweetness in our meat or drink, nor is it a sinful pleasure for the eyes to behold the Light, or the variety of the beauteous works of God, or to take pleasure in them. His works are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein,