A26892:8626
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.
§. 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.
§. 3. Mot. 3. It is the most profitable subject to the hearers: A discourse of Riches at the most can but direct them how to grow rich: A discourse of Honours usually puffeth up the minds of the ambitious: And if it could advance the auditors to Honour, the fruit would be a vanity little to be desired. But a discourse of God, and Heaven, and Holiness, doth tend to change the hearers minds, into the nature of the things discoursed of: It hath been the means of converting and sanctifying many a thousand souls. As learned discourses tend to make men learned in the things discoursed off; so holy discourses tend to make men holy: For as natural Generation begetteth not Gold or Kingdoms, but a Man; so speech is not made to communicate to others (directly) the wealth, or health, or honours, or any extrinsical things which the speaker hath; but to communicate those Mental Excellencies which he is possest of. Prov. 16. 21, 22. The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning: Understanding is a well-spring of life to him that hath it.