A26892:8640
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.
§. 16. Mot. 16. Nay in the time of your sin and ignorance, if you have not spoken against Religion, nor taught others to curse or swear or speak in ribald filthy language, yet at least you have spent many an hour in idle fruitless talk? And doth not this now oblige you, to show your Repentance by more fruitful conference? Will you since your Conversion, speak as unprofitably as you did before?
§. 16. Mot. 16. Nay in the time of your sin and ignorance, if you have not spoken against Religion, nor taught others to curse or swear or speak in ribbald filthy language, yet at least you have spent many an hour in idle fruitless talk? And doth not this now oblige you, to shew your Repentance by more fruitful conference? Will you since your Conversion, speak as unprofitably as you did before?
§. 17. Mot. 17. Holy conference will prevent the guilt of foolish idle talk. Men will not be long silent, but will talk of somewhat: And if they have not profitable things to talk of, they will prate of vanity. All the foolish chat, and frothy jests, and scurrilous ribaldry, and envious backbiting, which taketh up mens time, and poisoneth the hearers, is caused by their want of edifying discourse, which should keep it out. The rankest wits and tongues will have most weeds if they be not cultivated and taught to bear a better crop.
§. 17. Mot. 17. Holy conference will prevent the guilt of foolish idle talk. Men will not be long silent, but will talk of somewhat: And if they have not profitable things to talk of, they will prate of vanity. All the foolish chat, and frothy jeasts, and scurrilous ribbaldry, and envious backbiting, which taketh up mens time, and poisoneth the hearers, is caused by their want of edifying discourse, which should keep it out. The rankest wits and tongues will have most weeds if they be not cultivated and taught to bear a better crop.