A26892:8029
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 4 › Chapter 3: Directions for Subjects concerning their duty to their Rulers.
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.
§. 35. Direct. 12. Abhor the popular spirit of envy, which maketh the poor for the most part think odiously 1of the Rich and their superiors; because they have that which they had rather have themselves. I2 have long observed it, that the poor labouring people, are very apt to speak of the Rich, as sober men speak of drunkards; As if their very estates and dignity and greatness were a vice. And it is very much to flatter their own Conscience, and delude themselves with ungrounded hopes of Heaven. When they have not the spirit of Regeneration and holiness, to witness their title to eternal life, they think their Poverty will serve the turn: And they will ordinarily say, that they hope God will not punish them in another world, because they have had their part in this: But they will easily believe that almost all Rich and Great men go to Hell? And when they read Luke 16. of the Rich man and Lazarus, they think they are the Lazarus'es, and read it as if God would save men merely for being poor, and damn men for being Great and Rich: when yet they would themselves be as Rich and Great, if they knew how to attain it. They think that they are the maintainers of the Common-wealth, and the Rich are the Caterpillars of it, that live upon their labours, like drones in the hive, or mice and vermin that eat the honey, which the poor labouring Bees have long been gathering. For they are unacquainted with the Labours and cares of their Governors, and sensible only of their own. This envious spirit exceedingly disposeth the poor to discontents, and tumults and rebellions: but it is not of God, Jam. 3. 15, 16, 17.
§. 35. Direct. 12. Abhor the popular spirit of envy, which maketh the poor for the most part think odiously 1of the Rich and their superiours; because they have that which they had rather have themselves. I2 have long observed it, that the poor labouring people, are very apt to speak of the Rich, as sober men speak of drunkards; As if their very estates and dignity and greatness were a vice. And it is very much to flatter their own Conscience, and delude themselves with ungrounded hopes of Heaven. When they have not the spirit of Regeneration and holiness, to witness their title to eternal life, they think their Poverty will serve the turn: And they will ordinarily say, that they hope God will not punish them in another world, because they have had their part in this: But they will easily believe that almost all Rich and Great men go to Hell? And when they read