A26892:895
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.
19. They harden the wicked more than such sins in other men would do: They cause them to Blaspheme, and reproach the godly for their sakes; and say [These are your Religious men! You see now what their strictness is.] And they hinder the conversion and salvation of others: They grieve the godly, and wrong the Church and Cause of God, much more than the sins of others do.
20. Lastly, They please the Devil more than the sins of other men: How busy is he to have drawn a Job to sin? and how would he have boasted against God, and his grace, and his servants, if he had prevailed? when he boasted so much before, in the false presumption of his success? As if he could make the godly forsake God, and be as bad as others, if he have leave to tempt them.
20. Lastly, They please the Devil more than the sins of other men: How busie is he to have drawn a Iob to sin? and how would he have boasted against God, and his grace, and his servants, if he had prevailed? when he boasted so much before, in the false presumption of his success? As if he could make the godly forsake God, and be as bad as others, if he have leave to tempt them.
§. 19. II. I shall next give you some particular Directions, besides those fore-going, to help you to think of sin as it is, that you may hate it: For your cleansing and cure consisteth in this: so far as you hate sin, it is mortified, and you are cured of it. And therefore as I have anatomized it, that you may see the hatefulness of it, I shall direct you to improve this for your cure.