Skip to content

Ask Library Bible Articles Connect

Toggle the side pane with ⌘ B

Library online
2,151 works
107 authors
135.7M words
1526–1797
812,035 Scripture references
Index built 2026-11-13

Filter authors and titles

Library
Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Part 1
Chapter 3
Direction 9
The Methods of Christ against the Tempter.
p. 110

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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Householder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not about WORDS, to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to show thy self approved UNTO GOD, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Babblings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICKS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICKS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICKS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Housholder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not aboutTitle page of A Christian Directory, London, 1673

A26892:996

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 1 › Chapter 3 › Direction 9 › The Methods of Christ against the Tempter.

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.

[ Earlier:993–1008 of 9,947

:993p. 110

The Methods of Christ against the Tempter.

:994p. 110

§. 59. Before I proceed to Satan's particular Temptations, I will show you the contrary Methods of Christ in the conduct of his Army and opposing Satan.

§. 59. Before I proceed to Satans perticular Temptations, I will shew you the contrary Methods of Christ in the conduct of his Army and opposing Satan.

:995p. 110

I. Christs Ends are ultimately, the Glory and Pleasing of his Father, and himself, and the saving of his Church; and the destroying the Kingdom of the Devil; and next the purifying his peculiar people, and calling home all that are ordained to eternal life.

:996p. 110

§. 60. But more particularly he looketh principally at the heart to plant there. 1. Holy Knowledge. 2. Faith. 3. Godliness or holy devotedness to God and Love to him above all. 4. Thankfulness. 5. Obedience. 6. Humility. 7. Heavenly-mindedness. 8. Love to others. 9. Self-denial and Mortification, and contentment. 10. Patience. And in all these, 1. sincerity, 2. tenderness of heart, 3. •eal, and holy strength and resolution. And withal to make us actually serviceable, and diligent in our masters work, for our own and others salvation.

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

Position

Cited: :996
On this page: :993–1008
Section: :993–1008
Whole work: 9,947 passages

Cite

Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (London, 1673), pt. 1, ch. 3, direction 9, p. 110. EEBO-TCP A26892.

Or select words in any passage to make an image of them.

The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Printer: Robert White
Bookseller: Nevill Simmons
Year: 1673
Size: [35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port.
Words: 1,175,050
Catalogue: Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847
Text: EEBO-TCP A26892

Passages: 9,947
Sections: 502

The author

Richard Baxter

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

Read

Browse the library
Authors
Search the texts
Check a quotation
The Bible (KJV)
Articles

Use

Ask a question
Add it to your AI assistant
Connector reference

About

About AskReformation
Contact
Sources and licensing
Fair use
Privacy
Terms

WORDS,

to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to shew thy self approved

UNTO GOD,

a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

RIGHTLY DIVIDING

the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Bablings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.

2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.

LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.

§. 60. But more particularly he looketh principally at the heart to plant there. 1. Holy Knowledge. 2. Faith. 3. Godlyness or holy devotedness to God and Love to him above all. 4. Thankfulness. 5. Obedience. 6. Humility. 7. Heavenly-mindedness. 8. Love to others. 9. Self-denial and Mortification, and contentment. 10. Patience. And in all these, 1. sincerity, 2. tenderness of heart, 3. •eal, and holy strength and resolution. And withal to make us actually serviceable, and diligent in our masters work, for our own and others salvation.

:997p. 110

§. 61. II. Christs order in working is direct, and not backward as the Devils is: He first revealeth saving truth to the understanding, and affecteth the will •• showing the Goodness of the things revealed: And these employ the Thoughts, and Passions, and Senses, and the whole body, reducing the inferior faculties to obedience, and casting out by degrees those images which had deceived and prepossessed them.

§. 61. II. Christs order in working is direct, and not backward as the Devils is: He first revealeth saving truth to the understanding, and affecteth the will •• shewing the Goodness of the things revealed: And these employ the Thoughts, and Passions, and Senses, and the whole body, reducing the inferiour faculties to obedience, and casting out by degrees those images which had deceived and prepossessed them.

:998p. 110

§. 62. The matter which Christ presenteth to the Soul, is 1. Certain Truth from the Father of Lights, set up against the Prince and Kingdom of darkness, ignorance, error, and deceit. 2. Spiritual and everlasting Good, even God himself to be seen, and Loved, and Enjoyed for ever, against the Tempters temporal, corporal and seeming good. Christs Kingdom and work are advanced by Light: He is for the promoting of all useful knowledge: and therefore for clear and convincing Preaching, for reading the Scriptures in a known tongue, and meditating in them day and night, and for exhorting one another daily; which Satan is against.

:999p. 110

§. 63. III. The Means by which he worketh against Satan, are such as these. 1. Sometime he maketh use of the very temper of the body as a preparative; and (being Lord of all) he giveth such a temperature as will be most serviceable to the soul: As a sober, deliberate, meek, quiet and patient disposition. But sometime he honoureth his Grace by the conquest of such sins; as even bodily disposition doth entertain and cherish.

:1000img 76

§. 64. 2. Sometimes by his providence he withdraweth the matter of temptations: that they shall not be too strong for feeble souls: But sometimes his Grace doth make advantage of them all, and leave them for the magnifying of its frequent victories.

:1001img 76

§. 65. 3. Sometimes he giveth his cause the major vote among the people, so that it shall be a matter of dishonourable singularity not to be a professed Christian: and sometime, but exceeding rarely, it is so with the life of Godliness and practice of Christianity also. But ordinarily in the most places of the world, Custom and the Multitude are against him, and his grace is honoured by prevailing against these bands of Satan.

§. 65. 3. Sometimes he giveth his cause the major vote among the people, so that it shall be a matter of dishonourable singularity not to be a professed Christian: and somtime, but exceeding rarely, it is so with the life of Godliness and practice of Christianity also. But ordinarily in the most places of the world, Custom and the Multitude are against him, and his grace is honoured by prevailing against these bands of Satan.

:1002img 76

§. 66. 4. He maketh his Ministers his principal Instruments, qualifying, disposing and calling them to his work, and helping them in it, and prospering it in their hands.

:1003img 76

§. 67. 5. He maketh it the duty of every Christian to do his part to carry on the work; and furnisheth them with Love, and Compassion, and Knowledge, and Zeal in their several measures.

:1004img 76

§. 68. 6. He giveth a very strict charge to Parents to devote their Children with themselves to God; encouraging them with the promise of his accepting and blessing them; and commandeth them to teach them the word of God with greatest diligence, and to bring them up in the nurture and fear of God.

:1005img 76

§. 69. 7. He giveth Princes and Magistrates their power, to promote his Kingdom, and protect his servants, and encourage the good, and suppress iniquity, and further the obedience of his Laws: Though in most of the world they turn his enemies, and he carrieth on his work without them, and against their cruel persecuting opposition.

:1006img 76

§. 70. 8. His Light detecteth the nakedness of the Devils cause, and among the Sons of Light, it is odious, and a common shame: And as wisdom is justified of her children, so the judgement of holy men condemning sin, doth much to keep it under in the world.

:1007img 76

§. 71. 9. His providence usually casteth the sinner that he will do good to, into the bosom and communion of his holy Church, and the familiar company and acquaintance of the Godly, who may help him by instruction, affection and example.

§. 71. 9. His providence usually casteth the sinner that he will do good to, into the bosome and communion of his holy Church, and the familiar company and acquaintance of the Godly, who may help him by instruction, affection and example.

:1008img 76

§. 72. 10. His providence fitteth all conditions to their good: but especially helpeth them by seasonable quickening afflictions. These are the means which ordinarily he useth. But the powerful inward operations of his Spirit, give efficacy to them all.

§. 72. 10. His providence fitteth all conditions to their good: but especially helpeth them by seasonable quickning afflictions. These are the means which ordinarily he useth. But the powerful inward operations of his Spirit, give efficacy to them all.

1615–1691

PuritansEngland

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

•: an illegible letter
〈…〉: illegible words
〈non-Latin alphabet〉: Greek or Hebrew the transcribers did not key
▪: illegible punctuation
⟨p. 12⟩: a page break in the printed book