A26892:979
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.
§. 42. 11. He is very desirous to make the Ambassadors of Christ his prisoners, and to hire them to speak against their masters cause: that in Christs name they may deceive the silly flock, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them, Acts 20. 30. Sometimes by pretence of his Authority and Commission; making poor people believe, that not to hear them, and obey them in their errors is to be disobedient rejecters of Christ: (and thus the Romish party carry it). Sometime by their parts and plausible persuasive speeches: And sometime by their fervency, frightening people into error: And by these two ways most Heretics prevail. None so successfully serveth Satan, as a false or bribed Minister of Christ.
§. 42. 11. He is very desirous to make the Embassadors of Christ his prisoners, and to hire them to speak against their masters cause: that in Christs name they may deceive the silly flock, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them, Acts 20. 30. Sometimes by pretence of his Authority and Commission; making poor people believe, that not to hear them, and obey them in their errors is to be disobedient rejecters of Christ: (and thus the Romish party carry it). Sometime by their parts and plausible perswasive speeches: And sometime by their fervency, frightning people into error: And by these two ways most Hereticks prevail. None so succesfully serveth Satan, as a false or bribed Minister of Christ.
§. 43. 12. He is exceeding desirous to make Parents themselves his Instruments for their children's sin and ruin: And alas how commonly doth he succeed! He knoweth that Parents have them under their hands, in the most ductile malleable age: and that they have a concurrence of almost all advantages: They have the purse, and the portion of their children in their power: They have the interest of Love, and Reverence, and estimation: They are still with them, and can be often in their solicitings: They have the rod and can compel them: Many thousands are in Hell, through the means of their own Parents; such cruel monsters will they be to the souls of any others, that are first so to their own. If the Devil can get the Parents to be cursers, swearers, gamesters, drunkards, worldlings, proud, deriders, or railers at a holy life, what a snare is here for the poor children!