A26892:8572
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.
Part 4 › Chapter 14: Directions against soul-murder, and partaking of other mens sins.
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. 4. The disgrace of the persons of the Preachers of the Gospel, doth greatly further mens damnation. For when the people think their Teachers to be Hypocrites, Covetous, Proud, and secretly as bad as others, they are very like to think accordingly of their doctrine, and that all strict Religion is but hypocrisy, or at least to refuse their help and counsels. Even Plutarch noted, that [It so comes to pass, that we entertain not virtue, nor are •apt into a desire of imitating it, unless we highly honour and love the person in whom it is discerned.] And if they see or think the Preacher to be himself of a loose and careless and licentious life, they will think that the like is very excusable in themselves; and that his doctrine is but a form of speech, which his office bindeth him to say; but is no more to be regarded by them, than by himself.
§. 4. 4. The disgrace of the persons of the Preachers of the Gospel, doth greatly further mens damnation. For when the people think their Teachers to be Hypocrites, Covetous, Proud, and secretly as bad as others, they are very like to think accordingly of their doctrine, and that all strict Religion is but hypocrisie, or at least to refuse their help and counsels. Even Plutark noted, that [It so comes to pass, that we entertain not virtue, nor are •apt into a desire of imitating it, unless we highly honour and love the person in whom it is discerned.] And if they see or think the Preacher to be himself of a loose and careless and licentious life, they will think that the like is very excusable in themselves; and that his doctrine is but a form of speech, which his office bindeth him to say; but is no more to be regarded by them, than by himself.
Two ways is mens damnation thus promoted: 1. By the ill lives of hypocritical ungodly preachers, who actually bring their own persons into disgrace, and thereby also the persons of others, and consequently their sacred work and function: 2. By wicked Preachers and people, who, through a malignant hatred of those that are abler, and better than themselves, and an envy of their reputation, do labour to make the most zealous and faithful Preachers of the Gospel, to be thought to be the most hypocritical, or erroneous, or factious and schismatical.