A26892:8404
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.
Though this be a subject which the guilty cannot endure to hear of, yet the misery of persecutors, the blood and groans and ruins of the Church, and the lamentable divisions of professed Christians, do all command me not to pass it by in silence; but to tell them the truth, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear; though they were such as Ezek. 3. 7, 8, 9, 11.
THough this be a subject which the guilty cannot endure to hear of, yet the misery of persecutors, the blood and grones and ruines of the Church, and the lamentable divisions of prof•ssed Christians, do all command me not to pass it by in silence; but to tell them the truth, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear; though they were such as Ezek. 3. 7, 8, 9, 11.
§. 1. Direct. 1. If you would escape this dreadful guilt, Understand well what Persecution is. Else1 you may either run into it ignorantly, or oppose a duty as if it were persecution.
- 1Direct. 1.
§. 2. The Verb [Persequor] is often taken in a good sense, for no more than continuato motu, vel ad extremum sequor; and sometime for the blameless prosecution of a delinquent: But we take it here, as the English word [Persecute] is most commonly taken, for [inimico affectu insequor]; for a malicious or injurious hurting or prosecuting another, and that for the sake of Religion or Righteousness. For it is not common injuries which we here intend to speak of. Three things then go to make up Persecution. 1. That it be the Hurting of another, in his Body, liberty, relations, estate, or reputation. 2. That it be done injuriously, to one who deserveth it not, in the particular which is the cause. 3. That it be for the cause of Religion or of Righteousness, that is, for the Truth of God which we hold or utter; or for the worship of God which we perform; or for obedience to the will of God revealed in his Laws. This is the cause on the sufferers part what ever is intended by the Persecutor.