A26892:744
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.
§. 21. Direct. 8. If you are unavoidably cast upon strong Temptation, take the Alarm, and put on all 1t•e […] of God, and call up your souls to watchfulness, and resolution, remembering that you are now a••ng your enemies, and must resist as for your lives. Take every temptation in its naked proper sense, •s coming from the Devil, and tending to your damnation by enticing your hearts from your subjection unto God: suppose you saw the Devil himself in his instruments offering you the bait of preferment, o• honour, or riches, or fleshly lusts, or sports, or of delightful meats, or drinks, to tempt you to excess; and suppose you heard him say to you plainly, [Take this for thy salvation: Sell me for this thy God, and thy soul, and thy everlasting hopes: Commit this sin, that thou mayest fall under the judgement of God, and be tormented in Hell with me for ever. Do this to please thy flesh, that thou mayest displease thy God, and grieve thy Saviour: I cannot draw thee to Hell, but by drawing thee to sin: And I cannot make thee sin against thy will; nor undo thee, but by thy own consent and doing: Therefore I pray the• consent and do it thy self, and let me have thy company in torments.] This is the naked meaning of every temptation: Suppose therefore you saw and heard all this, with what detestation then would you reject it? With what horror would you fly from the most enticing bait? If a Robber would entice you out of your way and company, with flattering words, that you might fall into the hands of his companions, if you knew all his meaning and design before hand, would you be enticed after him? Watch therefore, and Resolve when you know before hand the Design of the Devil, and what he intendeth in every temptation.
§. 21. Direct. 8. If you are unavoidably cast upon strong Temptation, take the Allarm, and put on all 1t•e 〈…〉 of God, and call up your souls to watchfulness, and resolution, remembring that you are now a••ng your enemies, and must resist as for your lives. Take every temptation in its naked proper sense, s coming from the Devil, and tending to your damnation by enticing your hearts from your subjection unto God: suppose you saw the Devil himself in his instruments offering you the bait of preferment, o honour, or riches, or fleshly lusts, or sports, or of delightful meats, or drinks, to tempt you to excess; and suppose you heard him say to you plainly, [Take this for thy salvation: Sell me for this thy God, and thy soul, and thy everlasting hopes: Commit this sin, that thou maist fall under the judgement of God, and be tormented in Hell with me for ever. Do this to please thy flesh, that thou maist displease thy God, and grieve thy Saviour: I cannot draw thee to Hell, but by drawing thee to sin: And I cannot make thee sin against thy will; nor undo thee, but by thy own consent and doing: Therefore I pray the consent and do it thy self, and let me have thy company in torments.] This is the naked meaning of every temptation: Suppose therefore you saw and heard all this, with what detestation then would you reject it? With what horror would you fly from the most enticing bait? If a Robber would entice you out of your way and company, with flattering words, that you might fall into the hands of his companions, if you knew all his meaning and design before hand, would you be enticed after him? Watch therefore, and Resolve when you know before hand the Design of the Devil, and what he intendeth in every temptation.