A26892:8190
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 4: Directions to Lawyers about their Duty to God.
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.
3. Because Gods Laws are the measure and bounds of Humane Laws; against which no man can have power.1
- 1Male see rectum putat, qui regulam summae rectitudinis ignorat. Ambros. de Offic.Male se rectum putat, qui regulam summae rectitudinis ignorat. Ambros. de Offic.
4. Because Gods Rewards and Punishments are incomparably more regardable than mans: Eternal joy or misery being so much more considerable than temporal peace or suffering: Therefore though it be a dishonour to Lawyers to be ignorant of Languages, History and other needful parts of Learning, yet it is much more their dishonour to be ignorant of the Universal Government and Laws of God.
§. 4. Direct. 2. Be sure that you make not the getting of money to be your principal end, in the 1exercise of your function▪ but the promoting of Justice, for the righting of the just, and the public ⟨p. 40⟩2g•od; and therein the pleasing of the most righteous God. For your work can be to you no better than your End. A ba•e end doth debase your work. I deny not, but your competent gain and maintenance may be your lower end, but the promoting of justice must be your higher end, and sought before it. The question is not, Whether you seek to live by your Calling; for so may the best: nor yet Whether you intend the promoting of Justice, for so may the worst (in some degree). But the question is, Which of these you prefer? and which you first and principally intend? He that looketh chiefly at his worldly gain, must take that gain instead of Gods reward, and look for no more than he chiefly intended: For that is formally no Good work, which is not intended chiefly to please God: And God doth not Reward the servants of the world: Nor can any man rationally imagine, that he should reward a man with happiness hereafter, for seeking after Riches here. And if you say, that you look for no Reward but Riches, you must look for a Punishment worse than Poverty: For the neglecting of God and your Ultimate End, is a sin that deserveth the privation of all which you neglect; and leaveth not your actions in a state of innocent indifferency.