A26892:8285
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.
§. 2. Direct. 1. See God in your neighbour, and Love him for that of God which is upon him. If he1 be Holy, he hath the Moral Image of God. If he be unholy, he hath his Natural Image as he is a man. He is not only Gods Creature, but his Reasonable Creature, and the Lord of his inferior works: And art thou a child of God, and yet canst not see him, and love him in his works? Without God he is nothing, whom thou art so much offended with: And though there be somewhat in him which is not of God, which may deserve thy hatred, yet that is not his substance or person: Hate not, or wrong not that which is of God. It would raise in you such a reverence, as would assuage your wrath, if you could but see God in him that you are displeased with.
§. 2. Direct. 1. See God in your neighbour, and Love him for that of God which is upon him. If he1 be Holy, he hath the Moral Image of God. If he be unholy, he hath his Natural Image as he is a man. He is not only Gods Creature, but his Reasonable Creature, and the Lord of his inferiour works: And art thou a child of God, and yet canst not see him, and love him in his works? Without God he is nothing, whom thou art so much offended with: And though there be somewhat in him which is not of God, which may deserve thy hatred, yet that is not his substance or person: Hate not, or wrong not that which is of God. It would raise in you such a reverence, as would asswage your wrath, if you could but see God in him that you are displeased with.
- 1Direct. 1.
§. 3. Direct. 2. To this end observe more the Good which is in your neighbour, than the evil. Malice1 overlooketh all that is good and amiable, and can see nothing but that which is bad and detestable: It hearkeneth more to them that dispraise and open the faults of others, than to those that praise them and declare their virtues: Not that Good and Evil must be confounded: But the Good as well as the Evil must be acknowledged. We have more use our selves for the observation of their virtues than of their faults: and it is more our duty: And were it never so little good that is in them, the right observing of it, at least would much diminish your dislike.