A26892:7927
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.
7. He that will walk uprightly must be the master of his passions; not stupid, but calm and sober. Though some passion is needful to excite the understanding to its duty, yet that which is1 inordinate doth powerfully deceive the mind. Men are very apt to be confident of what they passionately apprehend. And passionate judgements are frequently mistaken, and ever to be suspected: It being exceeding difficult to entertain any passion which shall not in some measure pervert our reason: which is one great reason why the most confident are ordinarily the most erroneous and blind. Be sure therefore when ever you are injured, or passion any way engaged, to set a double guard upon your judgements.
8. He that will walk uprightly, must not only difference between simple Good and Evil, but between a greater Good and a less: For most sin in the world consisteth in preferring a Lesser Good before1 a Greater. He must still keep the balance in his hand, and compare good with good: Otherwise he will make himself a Religion of sin, and prefer Sacrifice before mercy; and will hinder the Gospel and mens salvation for a ceremony, and violate the bonds of love and faithfulness for every opinion which he calleth Truth: and will tithe Mint and Cummin, while he neglecteth the great things of the Law. When a lesser good is preferred before a greater, it is a sin, and the common way of sinning. It is not then a duty when it is inconsistent with a greater good.2
8. He that will walk uprightly, must not only difference between simple Good and Evil, but between a greater Good and a less: For most sin in the world consisteth in preferring a Lesser Good before