A26892:8699
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 17: Directions for keeping Peace with all men.
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.
§. 5. Direct. 4. Compose your minds to Christian gentleness and meekness, and suffer not Passion to 1make you either turbulent and unquiet to others, or impatient and troublesome to your selves. A gentle and quiet mind hath a gentle quiet tongue. It can bear as much wrong, as another can do (according to its measure): It is not in the power of Satan: He cannot at his pleasure send his Emissary, and by injuries or foul words, procure it to sin: But a Passionate person is frequently provoking or provoked. A little thing maketh him injurious to others; and a little injury from others, disquieteth himself. He is daily troubling others or himself, or both. Coals of fire go from his lips: It is his very desire to provoke and vex those that he is angry with: His Neighbours Peace and his own are the fuel of his anger, which he consumeth in a moment. To converse with him and not provoke him, is a task for such as are eminently meek and self-denying: He is as the leaves of the Asp tree, that never rest, unless the day be very calm. The smallest breath of an angry tongue, can shake him out of his tranquillity, and turn him into an Ague of disquietness. The Sails of the Windmill are scarce more at the winds command, than his heart and tongue is at the command of Satan: He can move him almost when he please. Bid but a Neighbour speak some hard speeches of him, or one of his Family neglect or cross him, and he is presently like the raging Sea, whose waves cast up the mire and dirt. An impatient man hath no security of his own peace for an hour: Any enemy or angry person, can take it from him when they please. And being troubled, he is troublesome to all about him. If you do not in your patience possess your souls, they will be at the mercy of every one that hath a mind to vex you. Remember then that no peace can be expected without Patience; nor patience without a meek and gentle mind: Remember that the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, is of great price in the sight of God, 1 Pet. 3. 4. And that the wisdom from above is first pure and then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, Jam. 3. 17. And that the eternal wisdom from above, hath bid you learn of him to be meek and lowly in spirit as ever you would find rest to your souls, Matth. 11. 28, 29. And he that loseth his own peace, is likest to break the peace of others.