A26892:955
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. 4. Hence he proceedeth to infect the Will (upon the simple apprehension of the understanding,) to make it inordinately cleave to the temporal good, and to neglect its duty in commanding the understanding to meditate on preserving objects, and to call off the Thoughts from the forbidden thing: It neglecteth to rule the Thoughts and Passions according to its office and natural power.
§. 20. 5. And so he corrupteth the understanding it self first to omit its duty, and then to entertain deceit, and to approve of evil: And so the servant▪ is put into the Government, and the commanding powers do but serve it. Reason is blinded by sensuality and passion, and becomes their servant, and pleads their cause.
§. 21. By all this it appeareth, 1. That Satan's first bait is ordinarily some sensible or imaginary good, set up against true spiritual good. 2. That his first assault of the Reason and Will, is to tempt them into a sluggish neglect and neutrality, to omit that restraint of Sense, Thought and Passion, which was their duty. 3. And that lastly he tempteth them into actual compliance and committing of the sin: And herein 1. The bait which he useth with the understanding is still [some seeming ⟨p. 107⟩Truth]. And therefore his art and work is to colour falsehood, and make it seem Truth: For this is the deceiving of the mind: And therefore for a sinner to plead his mistake for his excuse, and say, I thought it had been so or so; I thought it had been no sin, or no duty: this is but to confess, and not to excuse: It is but as much as to say, my Understanding sinned with my Will, and was deceived by the Tempter, and overcome. 2. And the bait which he useth with the Will, is always some appearing good: And self-love and love of good is the principle which he abuseth, and maketh his ground to work upon; as God also useth it in drawing us to good.