A26892:8288
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.
Direct. 4. To this end be sure to mortify your selfishness. For it is the inordinate respect1 that men have to themselves, which maketh them aggravate the faults of all that are against them, or offend them. Be humble and self-denying and you will think your selves so mean and inconsiderable, that no fault can be very great, nor deserve much displeasure, merely as it is against you. A proud self-esteeming man is easily provoked and hardly reconciled without great submission: because he thinketh so highly of himself, that he thinketh heinously of all that is said or done against him; and he is so over-dear to himself, that he is impatient with his adversary.
Direct. 4. To this end be sure to mortifie your selfishness. For it is the inordinate respect1 that men have to themselves, which maketh them aggravate the faults of all that are against them, or offend them. Be humble and self-denying and you will think your selves so mean and inconsiderable, that no fault can be very great, nor deserve much displeasure, meerly as it is against you. A proud self-esteeming man is easily provoked and hardly reconciled without great submission: because he thinketh so highly of himself, that he thinketh heinously of all that is said or done against him; and he is so over-dear to himself, that he is impatient with his adversary.
- 1Direct. 4.
§. 5. Direct. 5. Be not your own Judge in cases of settled malice or revenge; but let some impartial 1sober by stander be the Judge. For a selfish, passionate, distempered mind, is very unlikely to judge aright. And most men have so much of these diseases, that they are very unfit to be Judges in their own case. Ask first some wise impartial man, whether it be best for thee to be malicious and revengeful against such a one that thou thinkest hath greatly wronged thee, or rather to love him and forgive him.