A26892:8410
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.
§. 5. 3. As to the cause, sometime persecution is for Christianity and Godliness in the gross, or for some great essential point: And sometimes it is only for some particular Truth or duty and that perhaps of a lower nature; so small or so dark that it is become a great Controversy whether it be Truth or error, duty or sin. In some respects it is more comfortable to the persecuted and more heinous in the persecutor, that the suffering be for the Greatest things: For this leaveth no doubt in the mind whether our cause be good or not; and this showeth that the persecutors mind is most alien from God and truth: But in some other respect it is an aggravation of the sin of the persecutor and of the comfort of the persecuted, when it is for smaller truths and duties: For it is a sign of great uncharitableness and cruelty, when men can find in their hearts to persecute others for little things: And it is a sign of a heart that is true to God, and very sincere, when we will rather suffer any thing from Man, than renounce the smallest truth of God, or commit the smallest sin against him, or omit the smallest duty when it is a duty.
§. 5. 3. As to the cause, sometime persecution is for Christianity and Godliness in the gross, or for some great essential point: And sometimes it is only for some particular Truth or duty and that perhaps of a lower nature; so small or so dark that it is become a great Controversie whether it be Truth or errour, duty or sin. In some respects it is more comfortable to the persecuted and more heynous in the persecutor, that the suffering be for the Greatest things: For this leaveth no doubt in the mind whether our cause be good or not; and this sheweth that the persecutors mind is most aliene from God and truth: But in some other respect it is an aggravation of the sin of the persecutor and of the comfort of the persecuted, when it is for smaller truths and duties: For it is a sign of great uncharitableness and cruelty, when men can find in their hearts to persecute others for little things: And it is a sign of a heart that is true to God, and very sincere, when we will rather suffer any thing from Man, than renounce the smallest truth of God, or commit the smallest sin against him, or omit the smallest duty when it is a duty.