A26892:801
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.
Note here, 1. That the will may be guilty of the understandings ignorance two ways: either by Positive averseness prohibiting or diverting it from beholding the evidence of truth: Or by a Privation and forbearance of that command, or excitation which is necessary to the exercise of the acts of the understanding. This last is the commonest way of the sin in the understanding; and that may be truly called Voluntary which is from the wills neglect of its office, or suspension of its act, though there be no actual Volition or Nolition.
Note here, 1. That the will may be guilty of the understandings ignorance two wayes: either by P•sitive averseness prohibiting or diverting it from beholding the evidence of truth: Or by a Privation and forbearance of that command, or excitation which is necessary to the exercise of the acts of the understanding. This last is the commonest way of the sin in the understanding; and that may be truly called Voluntary which is from the wills neglect of its office, or suspension of its act, though there be no actual Volition or Nolition.
2. That the will may do more in causing a disease in the understanding, than it can do in cur•••• it, I can put out a mans eyes, but I cannot restore them.
3. That yet for all that, God hath so ordered it in his gracious dispensation of the ••a•• of the Redeemer, that certain means are appointed by him, for man to use in order to the obtaining of his grace for his own recovery: And so though grace cure not the understanding of its primitive natural weakness, yet it cureth it of its contracted weakness, which was voluntary in its Original, but necessary being contracted. And as the will had a hand in the causing of it, so must it have (in the Voluntary use of the foresaid means) in the Cure of it. So much to show you how the Understanding is guilty of sin.