A26915:328
Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…
Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation of souls, and of those scandals, heresies, and desperate apostasies that are the consequents of a counterfeit, or superficial change / by Richard Baxter.Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation of souls, and of those scandals, heresies, and desperate apostasies that are the consequents of a counterfeit, or superficial change / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by A.M. for Nevil Simmons, 1658
Directions to Sinners that are purposed to Turn, and are under the… › Direction 5
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.
4. Understand, and note that Christ will look to his Fathers Interest, and Honour, and his own, as well as to your Salvation; yea and before it. And therefore you must not hope for any Mercy from him, in any way that is dishonourable to him, or that is inconsistent with his own blessed Ends, and Interest. And therefore do not look for any such Grace from him, as shall discharge you from your duty, or give you liberty to dishonour, or disobey him: Nor do not think that you shall have him Related to you only for your own ends, but on terms of highest honour to God, and you Redeemer. And do not think that your Grace is ever the less free, because Gods Honour is thus preferred: For if you are Christians indeed, you will take Gods Interest, as your own highest Interest, and will confess, that you could not have ⟨p. 289⟩your own Ends, and welfare any other way.
5. Understand and Note also, that as all your Mercies are in the hand of Christ, so Christ hath appointed in his Gospel, a certain way and course of means, in which he will bestow it: And you cannot expect it from him, in any other way, but his own. As God hath made Christ the way, and no man cometh to the Father but by him, so Christ hath ordained a standing course of means, which are his way for the making over of his Benefits: and here you must have them, or go without them.
6. Understand and Note, that there are some of Christ's Ends, and Benefits, that the very Natural man desires, and some that Corrupted Nature is against. Now it is therefore the established way of Christ, to Promise us those which we can desire, on Condition that we will also accept of, and submit to those that we are against. Not but that his Grace doth dispose men to the performance of such Conditions: But his Grace worketh by means: and a Conditional Promise is his stablished means, to draw mans heart to the Performance of the Condition: (which