A26892:935
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.
§. 3. 2. It is supposed that he is the deadly enemy of Christ and us: He was once an Angel, and1 sell from his first estate by sin, and a world of evil Spirits with him; and it is probable his envy against mankind might be the greater, as knowing that we were made to succeed him and his followers, in their state of glory: For Christ saith, that we shall be equal with the Angels, Luke 20. 36. He showed his enmity to man in our innocency, and by his temptation caused our fall and misery. But a•ter the fall, God put an enmity into the nature of man against Devils, as a merciful preservative against temptation: so that as the whole nature of man abhorreth the nature of Serpents, so doth the soul abhor and dread the diabolical nature. And therefore so far as the Devil is seen in a temptation now, so far it is frustrated; till the enmity in nature be overcome by his deceits: And this help nature hath against temptation, which it seems our nature had not before the fall, as not knowing the malice of the Devil against us.
§. 3. 2. It is supposed that he is the deadly enemy of Christ and us: He was once an Angel, and1 sell from his first estate by sin, and a world of evil Spirits with him; and it is probable his envy against mankind might be the greater, as knowing that we were made to succeed him and his followers, in their state of glory: For Christ saith, that we shall be equal with the Angels, Luke 20. 36. He shewed his enmity to man in our innocency, and by his temptation caused our fall and misery. But a•ter the fall, God put an enmity into the nature of man against Devils, as a merciful preservative against temptation: so that as the whole nature of man abhorreth the nature of Serpents, so doth the soul abhor and dread the diabolical nature. And therefore so far as the Devil is seen in a temptation now, so far it is frustrated; till the enmity in nature be overcome by his deceits: And this help nature hath against temptation, which it seems our nature had not before the fall, as not knowing the malice of the Devil against us.