A26892:8652
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.
§. 6. Direct. 6. Speak most of the greatest things, (the folly of sin, the vanity of the World, the1 certainty and nearness of death and judgement, the overwhelming weight of Eternity, the necessity of Holiness, the work of Redemption, &c.); and choose not the smaller matters of Religion to spend your time upon, (unless upon some special reason.) Among good men that will not lose their time on vanity, the Devil too oft prevaileth, to make them lose it by such religious conference, as is little to edification, that greater matters may be thereby thrust out: such as Paul calleth vain janglings, and doting about questions which engender strife, and not Godly edifying: As about their several opinions, or parties, or comparing one Preacher or person with another, or such things as tend but little to make the hearers more wise or holy or Heavenly.
§. 6. Direct. 6. Speak most of the greatest things, (the folly of sin, the vanity of the World, the1 certainty and neerness of death and judgement, the overwhelming weight of Eternity, the necessity of Holiness, the work of Redemption, &c.); and choose not the smaller matters of Religion to spend your time upon, (unless upon some special reason.) Among good men that will not lose their time on vanity, the Devil too oft prevaileth, to make them lose it by such religious conference, as is little to edification, that greater matters may be thereby thrust out: such as Paul calleth vain janglings, and doting about questions which engender strife, and not Godly edifying: As about their several opinions, or parties, or comparing one Preacher or person with another, or such things as tend but little to make the hearers more wise or holy or Heavenly.
- 1Direct. 6.
§. 7. Direct. 7. Suit all your discourse to the quality of your Auditors: That which is best in it self,