A26892:8501
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.
§. 17 8. Lastly, Even Silence and Omissions also may be scandalous, and draw another into error and sin. If by silence you seem to consent to false doctrine, or to wicked works, when you have opportunity to control them, hereby you draw others to consent also to the sin: Or if you omit those public or private duties, which others may be witnesses of, you tempt them to the like omission, and to think they are no duties, but indifferent things: For in evil they will easily rest in your judgement, and say that you are wiser than they: But they are not so ductile and flexible to good.
§. 17 8. Lastly, Even Silence and Omissions also may be scandalous, and draw another into error and sin. If by silence you seem to consent to false doctrine, or to wicked works, when you have opportunity to controll them, hereby you draw others to consent also to the sin: Or if you omit those publick or private duties, which others may be witnesses of, you tempt them to the like omission, and to think they are no duties, but indifferent things: For in evil they will easily rest in your judgement, and say that you are wiser than they: But they are not so ductile and flexible to good.
§. 18. 5. Scandals also are distinguishable by the effects: which are such as these:
1. Some Scandals do tempt men to actual infidelity, and to deny or doubt of the truth of the Gospel. 2. Some scandals would draw men but into some particular error, and from some particular Truth, while he holds the rest. 3. Some scandals draw men to dislike and distaste the way of Godliness; and some to dislike the servants of God. 4. Some scandals tend to confound men, and bring them to utter uncertainties in Religion. 5. Some tend to terrify men from the way of Godliness. 6. Some only stop them for a time, and discourage or hinder them in their way. 7. Some tend to draw them to some particular sin. 8. And some to draw them from some particular duty. 9. And some tend to break and weaken their spirits, by grief or perplexity of mind. 10. And as the word is taken in the Old Testament, the snares that malicious men lay to entrap others in their lives, or liberties, or estates, or names are called scandals. And all these ways a man may sinfully scandalize another.