A26892:8686
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.
9. When you foresee a more advantageous season if you delay.
10. When another may be procured to do it with much more advantage, which your doing it may rather hinder. In all these cases, that may be a sin, which at another time may be a duty.
§. 18. But still remember, 1. That pride, and passion, and slothfulness is wont to pretend such reasons falsely, upon some sleight conjectures, to put by a duty. 2. That no man must account another1 a Dog or Swine, to excuse him from this duty, without cogent evidence: And it is not every wrangling opposition, nor reproach and scorn, which will warrant us to give a man up as remediless,2 and speak to him no more: but only such, 1. As showeth a heart utterly obdurate after long means. 2. Or will procure more suffering to the reprover, than good to the offender. 3. That when the thing is ordinarily a duty, the reasons of our omission must be clear and sure, before they will excuse us.
§. 18. But still remember, 1. That pride, and passion, and slothfulness is wont to pretend such reasons falsly, upon some sleight conjectures, to put by a duty. 2. That no man must account another1 a Dog or Swine, to excuse him from this duty, without cogent evidence: And it is not every wrangling opposition, nor reproach and scorn, which will warrant us to give a man up as remediless,2 and speak to him no more: but only such, 1. As sheweth a heart utterly obdurate after long means. 2. Or will procure more suffering to the reprover, than good to the offender. 3. That when the thing is ordinarily a duty, the reasons of our omission must be clear and sure, before they will excuse us.