A26892:8661
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.
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. Be sure first that your reproof have a right end; and then let the manner be suited to 1that end. If it be to convince and convert a soul, it must be done in a manner likely to prevail: If it be only to bear down the arguments of a deceiver, to preserve the standers by, to vindicate the honour of God and godliness, and to dishonour sin, and to disgrace an obstinate factor for the Devil, then another course is fit. Therefore resolve first, by the quality of the cause and person, what must be your end.
- 1Direct. 1.
§. 2. Direct. 2. Be sure that you reprove not that as a sin, which is no sin; either by mistaking the 1Law or the fact. To make duties and sins of our own opinions and inventions, and then to lay out our zeal on these, and censure or reprove all that think as hardly of such things as we; this is to make our selves the objects of the hearers pity, and not to exercise just pity towards others! Such reproofs deserve reproof! For they discover great ignorance, and pride, and self-conceitedness, and very much harden sinners in their way; and make them think that all reproof is but the vanity of fantastical hypocrites: In some cases with a child, or servant, or private friend, or for prevention, we may speak of faults upon hearsay or suspicion: But it must be as of things uncertain: and as a warning rather than a reproof. In ordinary Reproof, you must understand the case before you speak. It is a shame to say after, I thought it had been otherwise: Such an erroneous reproof is worse than none.
- 1Direct. 2.