A26892:8676
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.
§. 16. Direct. 16. When you cannot speak, or where your speaking prevaileth not, mourn for them, 1and earnestly pray for their recovery. A sad countenance of Nehemiah remembered Artaxerxes of his2 duty. A sigh or a tear for a miserable sinner, may move his heart, when exhortation will not. He hath a heart of stone, who will have no sense of his condition, when he seeth another weeping for him.
- 1Direct. 16.
- 2Ezek. 9. 4. 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8.
Answ. It is no duty in any of these cases following. 1. In general, When you have sufficient reason to judge, that it will do more harm than good, and will not attain its proper end: For God hath not appointed us to do hurt under pretence of duty: It is no Means, which doth cross the end which it should attain. As prayer and preaching may be a sin, when they are like to cross their proper end, so also may reproof be.