A26892:824
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.
§. 14. 7. The sin of the exterior parts, tongue, hand, eyes, feet, &c. is only in Act and not in Habit, or at least, the Habits are weak and subject to the will. And it is in the execution of the sinful desires of the flesh, and commands of the will that the fame consisteth. These parts also are not the primary subject of the guilt, but the will that either Positively puts them upon evil, or doth not restrain them when it ought: And so they are guilty but participatively and secondarily as the other imperate faculties are: It is not Good or Evil merely as it is the act of tongue, or hand, but as it is the act of the tongue, or hand of a Rational free agent (agreeable, or disagreeable to the Law). If a mad-man should speak blasphemy, or should kill, or steal, it were no further sin, than as he had Voluntarily contracted the ill disposition which caused it, while he had the use of Reason. If a mans hand were held and forced by another to do mischief utterly against his will, it is the sin of the chief agent, and not of the involuntary instrument. But no force totally excuseth us from Guilt, which leaveth the act to our Rational Choice. He that saith, Take this Oath or I will kill thee or torment thee, doth use force as a Temptation which may be resisted, but doth not constrain a man to swear: For he leaveth it to his Choice whether he will swear, or die, or be tormented: And he may and ought to choose death rather than the smallest sin. The will may be tempted but not constrained.
§. 14. 7. The sin of the exteriour parts, tongue, hand, eys, feet, &c. is only in Act and not in Habit, or at least, the Habits are weak and subject to the will. And it is in the execution of the sinful desires of the flesh, and commands of the will that the fame consisteth. These parts also are not the primary subject of the guilt, but the will that either Positively puts them upon evil, or doth not restrain them when it ought: And so they are guilty but participatively and secondarily as the other imperate faculties are: It is not Good or Evil meerly as it is the act of tongue, or hand, but as it is the act of the tongue, or hand of a Rational free agent (agreeable, or disagreeable to the Law). If a mad-man should speak blasphemy, or should kill, or steal, it were no further sin, than as he had Voluntarily contracted the ill disposition which caused it, while he had the use of Reason. If a mans hand were held and forced by another to do mischief utterly against his will, it is the sin of the chief agent, and not of the involuntary instrument. But no force totally excuseth us from Guilt, which leaveth the act to our Rational Choice. He that saith, Take this Oath or I will kill thee or torment thee, doth use force as a Temptation which may be resisted, but doth not constrain a man to swear: For he leaveth it to his Choice whether he will swear, or die, or be tormented: And he may and ought to choose death rather than the smallest sin. The will may be tempted but not constrained.