A26892:8544
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.
§ 7. Direct. 4. Consider what horrible blindness it is to impute mens faults to God who is the greatest adversary to sin in all the world, and who will most severely punish it, and to Godliness which is perfectly its contrary. There is no Angel in Heaven so little to be suspected to be the friend of sin as God. Creatures are mutable in themselves: Angels have the innocent imperfection of creatures: Saints on earth have a culpable imperfection through the remainder of sin: If you had only suspected these, you might have had some pretence for it: But to quarrel with God or Godliness, is madder than to think that Light is the cause of darkness.
§. 8. Direct. 5. And think what extremity of injury and injustice this is to God, to blame him or his 1Laws for those sins of men which are committed against him and his Laws. Who is it that sin is committed against but God? Is it not he that made the Laws which it is the transgression of? Are not those Laws, think you, strict enough against it? Is it not their strictness which such as you dislike? Were they Laws that would give you leave to be worldly, sensual and proud, you would never quarrel with them: And yet you charge mens sins on these Laws, because they are so strict against them. Do you impute sin to God, because he will judge men for it to Hell fire, and cast them for ever out of his glorious presence into misery? O cursed impudence! How righteous is God in condemning such malicious souls? Tell us if you can: Would you have had God to have forbidden sin more strictly? Or condemned it more severely? Or punished it more terribly? If you would, you pray for greater vengeance than Hell upon your selves? Woe to you, when he executeth but so much as he hath already threatened? Shall the crime of Rebels be imputed to the King, against whom they rebel? If a Thief shall rob you, or a servant deceive you, or a Son despise you, is he just that will so much increase your injury, as to lay the blame of all upon your selves? You'll say, It is not God that we are offended with. But if it be at a Holy life, it is at God: For what is Godliness but the loving, and serving, and obeying God? If you say, that it is not Godliness neither; Why then do you distaste or speak against a godly life, on this occasion? If you say, It is these Hypocrites only that we dislike; What do you dislike them for? Is it for their Virtue or their Vices? If it be for their sins, Why then do you not speak and do more against sin, in your selves and others? We will concur with you to the utmost in opposing sin where ever it be found? If it be their Hypocrisy that you blame, persuade your selves and other men to be sincerely godly. How would you have Hypocrisy avoided? By an open profession to serve the Devil? Or by sincerity in serving God? If the latter, Why then do you think evil of the most serious obedience to God? Alas, all Christian Countries are too full of Hypocrites: Every one that is Baptized, and professeth Christianity, is a Saint or an Hypocrie?