A26892:8647
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 2: Tit. 2. Directions for Christian Conference and Edifying speech.
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. Direct. 1. THE most necessary direction, for a fruitful tongue, is to get a well-furnished 1mind and a holy heart, and to walk with God in holiness your selves: For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak: That which you are fullest of, is readiest to come forth: 1. Spare for no study or labour to get understanding in the things of God: It is a weariness to hear men talk foolishly of any thing: but no where so much as about Divine and Heavenly things. A wise Christian instructed to the Kingdom of God, hath a treasury in his mind, out of which he can bring forth things new and old: Mat. 13. 52. Prov. 14. 7. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. 2. Get all that holiness, in your selves to which you would persuade another. There is a strange communicating power in the course of nature, for every thing to produce its like. Learning and good utterance is very helpful: But it is holiness that is aptest to beget holiness in others. Words which proceed from the Love of God, and a truly Heavenly mind do most powerfully tend to breed in others, that Love of God and Heavenly-mindedness. 3. Live in the practice of that which you would draw your Neighbour to practice. A man that cometh warm from holy meditation, or fervent prayer, doth bring upon his heart, a fullness of matter, and an earnest desire, and a fitness to communicate that good to others, which he himself hath felt.
§. 1. Direct. 1. THE most necessary direction, for a fruitful tongue, is to get a well-furnished 1mind and a holy heart, and to walk with God in holiness your selves: For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak: That which you are fullest of, is readiest to come forth: 1. Spare for no study or labour to get understanding in the things of God: It is a weariness to hear men talk foolishly of any thing: but no where so much as about Divine and Heavenly things. A wise Christian instructed to the Kingdom of God, hath a treasury in his mind, out of which he can bring forth things new and old: Mat. 13. 52.