A26892:8543
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.
§. 6 Direct. 3. Consider that to think ill of God, is to think him to be a Devil; and to think ill of 1godliness is to take it to be wickedness: And can man be guilty of a more devilish crime? N•y, is it not worse than the Devil that tempteth you to it can commit. To be God, is to be Good, even the Infinite, ⟨p. 89⟩Eternal, perfect Good, in whom is no evil, nor none can be: To be a Devil, is to be Evil, even the chief that Do-evil, and would draw others so to do. It is not an ugly shape in which a Painter doth represent the Devil, which showeth us his ugliness indeed: An enemy of Godliness is liker to him than that picture: It is his sinfulness against God, which is his true deformity. Therefore to suspect God to be Evil, is to suspect him to be the Devil; so horrid a blasphemy doth this sin partake of. And if Godliness be bad, then He that is the Author and End of it cannot be Good.2
§. 6 Direct. 3. Consider that to think ill of God, is to think him to be a Devil; and to think ill of 1godliness is to take it to be wickedness: And can man be guilty of a more devilish crime? N•y, is it not worse than the Devil that tempteth you to it can commit. To be God, is to be Good, even the Infinite, ⟨p. 89⟩Eternal, perfect Good, in whom is no evil, nor none can be: To be a Devil, is to be Evil, even the chief that Do-evil, and would draw others so to do. It is not an ugly shape in which a Painter doth represent the Devil, which sheweth us his ugliness indeed: An enemy of Godliness is liker to him than that picture: It is his sinfulness against God, which is his true deformity. Therefore to suspect God to be Evil, is to suspect him to be the Devil; so horrid a blasphemy doth this sin partake of. And if Godliness be bad, then He that is the Author and End of it cannot be Good.2