A26892:8409
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.
§. 4. 2. Persecution is either done in Ignorance or Knowledge: The commonest persecution is that which is done in Ignorance, and error: when men think a Good cause to be bad, or a bad cause to be good, and so persecute Truth while they take it to be falsehood, or good while they take it to be evil or obtrude by violence their Errors for Truths, and their evils as good and necessary things. Thus Peter testifieth of the Jews who killed the Prince of life, Act. 3. 13, 14, 17. [I know that through Ignorance ⟨p. 68⟩you did it, as did also your Rulers]: And Paul 1 Cor. 2. 8. [which none of the Princes of this world kn•w: for had they known it, they would not have Crucified the Lord of glory.] And Christ himself saith, Joh. 16. 3. These things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father or me. And Paul saith of himself, Act. 26. 9. I thought verily with my self that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, which thing I also did, &c. And 1 Tim. 1. 13. that it was ignorantly in unbelief that he was a blasphemer, a persecutor and injurious. And on the other side, some Persecute Truth and Goodness while they know it to be so. Not because it is Truth or Goodness, but because it is against their carnal worldly interest and inclination. As the Conscience of a worldling, a drunkard a whoremonger beareth witness against his sin while he goeth on in it, so oft-times doth the Conscience of the Persecutor; and he hath secret convictions that those whom he persecuteth are better and happier than himself.
§. 4. 2. Persecution is either done in Ignorance or Knowledge: The commonest persecution is that which is done in Ignorance, and errour: when men think a Good cause to be bad, or a bad cause to be good, and so persecute Truth while they take it to be falshood, or good while they take it to be evil or obtrude by violence their Errours for Truths, and their evils as good and necessary things. Thus Peter testifieth of the Jews who killed the Prince of life,