A26892:8625
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 16 › Section 1: Tit. 1. Motives to Christian Conference and Exhortation.
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.
§. 1. Mot. 1. Consider that it is the exercise of our Humanity: Reason and Speech do difference us from Brutes. If by being Reasonable we are men, then by using Reason we live as men: And the first communicative use of Reason is by speech: By thinking, we exercise Reason for our selves: By speaking, we exercise it (first) for others. Therefore if our Reason be given us for the highest uses to our selves, (to know God and eternal life, and the Means thereto), then certainly our Speech is also given us, for the same highest uses, by way of Communication unto others. Use therefore your tongues to those nobles Ends, for which they were given you. Use them as the tongues of men, to the Ends which humane nature is created for.
§. 1. Mot. 1. Consider that it is the exercise of our Humanity: Reason and Speech do difference us from Bruites. If by being Reasonable we are men, then by using Reason we live as men: And the first communicative use of Reason is by speech: By thinking, we exercise Reason for our selves: By speaking, we exercise it (first) for others. Therefore if our Reason be given us for the highest uses to our selves, (to know God and eternal life, and the Means thereto), then certainly our Speech is also given us, for the same highest uses, by way of Communication unto others. Use therefore your tongues to those nobles Ends, for which they were given you. Use them as the tongues of men, to the Ends which humane nature is created for.
§. 2. Mot. 2. There is no subject so sublime and honourable, for the Tongue of man to be employed about, as the matters of God and life eternal. Children will talk of childish toys; and Countrymen talk of their Corn and Cattle, and Princes and Statesmen look down on these with contemptuous smiles, as much below them: But Crowns and Kingdoms are incomparably more below the business of a holy soul! The higher subjects Philosophers treat of, the more honourable (if well done,) are their discourses. But none is so high as God and glory.
§. 2. Mot. 2. There is no subject so sublime and honourable, for the Tongue of man to be imployed about, as the matters of God and life eternal. Children will talk of childish toyes; and Countreymen talk of their Corn and Cattel, and Princes and Statesmen look down on these with contemptuous smiles, as much below them: But Crowns and Kingdoms are incomparably more below the business of a holy soul! The higher subjects Philosophers treat of, the more honourable (if well done,) are their discourses. But none is so high as God and glory.