A Christian Directory

Name: A Christian Directory
Author: Richard Baxter

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 1 › Chapter 3 › Direction 7 › Section 2: Sect. 2. Directions for Learning of Christ as our Teacher.Part 1 › Chapter 3 › Direction 7 › Section 2: S•ct. 2. Directions for Learning of Christ as our Teacher.

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.

[ Earlier:783–798 of 9,947

:783p. 93

§. 8. Direct. 7. Hearken also to the secret Teachings of his Spirit, and your consciences; not as making ¹you any new Law or Duty, or being to you instead of Scriptures or Ministers; but as bringing that truth into your Hearts and practices which Scriptures and Ministers have first brought to your eyes and ears. If you understand not this, how the office of Scripture and Ministers differ from the office of the Spirit and your Consciences, you will be confounded as the Sectaries of these times have been, that separate what God hath joined together, and plead against Scripture or Ministers under pretence of extolling the Spirit, or the Light within them. As your meat must be taken into the stomach, and pass the first concoction, before the second can be performed, and chilification must be before sanguification; so the Scripture and Ministers must bring truth to your eyes and ears, before the Spirit or Conscience bring them to your Hearts and Practice. But they lye dead and uneffectual in your brain or imagination, if you hearken not to the secret teachings of the Spirit and Conscience, which would bring them further. As Christ is the principal Teacher without, and Ministers are but under him; so the Spirit is the principal Teacher within us, and Conscience is but under the Spirit, being excited and informed by it. Those that learn only of Scriptures and Ministers, (by hearing or reading) may become men of Learning and great ability, though they hearken not to the sanctifying teachings of the Spirit, or to their Consciences: But it is only those that hearken first to the Scriptures and Ministers, and next to the Spirit of God, and to their Consciences, that have an inward, sanctifying, saving knowledge, and are they that are said to be Taught of God. Therefore hearken first with your ears, what Christ hath to say to you from without; and then hearken daily and diligently with your hearts, what the Spirit and Conscience say within. For it is their office to preach over all that again to your Hearts, which you have received.

§. 8. Direct. 7. Hearken also to the secret Teachings of his Spirit, and your consciences; not as makeing ¹you any new Law or Duty, or being to you instead of Scriptures or Ministers; but as bringing that truth into your Hearts and practices which Scriptures and Ministers have first brought to your eyes and ears. If you understand not this, how the office of Scripture and Ministers differ from the office of the Spirit and your Consciences, you will be confounded as the Sectaries of these times have been, that separate what God hath joyned together, and plead against Scripture or Ministers under pretence of extolling the Spirit, or the Light within them. As your meat must be taken into the stomach, and pass the first concoction, before the second can be performed, and chilification must be before sanguification; so the Scripture and Ministers must bring truth to your eyes and ears, before the Spirit or Conscience bring them to your Hearts and Practice. But they lye dead and uneffectual in your brain or imagination, if you hearken not to the secret teachings of the Spirit and Conscience, which would bring them further. As Christ is the principal Teacher without, and Ministers are but under him; so the Spirit is the principal Teacher within us, and Conscience is but under the Spirit, being excited and informed by it. Those that learn only of Scriptures and Ministers, (by hearing or reading) may become men of Learning and great ability, though they hearken not to the sanctifying teachings of the Spirit, or to their Consciences: But it is only those that hearken first to the Scriptures and Ministers, and next to the Spirit of God, and to their Consciences, that have an inward, sanctifying, saving knowledge, and are they that are said to be Taught of God. Therefore hearken first with your ears, what Christ hath to say to you from without; and then hearken daily and diligently with your hearts, what the Spirit and Conscience say within. For it is their office to preach over all that again to your Hearts, which you have received.

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

A Christian Directory

DIRECT. VIII. ¹Remember that you are Related to Christ as the Physician of your souls, and to the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier: Make it therefore your serious study, to be cured by Christ, and cleansed by his Spirit, of all the sinful diseases and defilements of your hearts and lives.

DIRECT. VIII. ¹Remember that you are Related to Christ as the Physicion of your souls, and to the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier: Make it therefore your serious study, to be cured by Christ, and cleansed by his Spirit, of all the sinful diseases and defilements of your hearts and lives.

Transcription key

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

DIRECT. VIII. 1Remember that you are Related to Christ as the Physician of your souls, and to the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier: Make it therefore your serious study, to be cured by Christ, and cleansed by his Spirit, of all the sinful diseases and defilements of your hearts and lives.

DIRECT. VIII. 1Remember that you are Related to Christ as the Physicion of your souls, and to the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier: Make it therefore your serious study, to be cured by Christ, and cleansed by his Spirit, of all the sinful diseases and defilements of your hearts and lives.

Transcription key

DIRECT. VIII. ¹Remember that you are Related to Christ as the Physician of your souls, and to the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier: Make it therefore your serious study, to be cured by Christ, and cleansed by his Spirit, of all the sinful diseases and defilements of your hearts and lives.

DIRECT. VIII. ¹Remember that you are Related to Christ as the Physicion of your souls, and to the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier: Make it therefore your serious study, to be cured by Christ, and cleansed by his Spirit, of all the sinful diseases and defilements of your hearts and lives.