A26917:110
Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…
Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace with motives opening the lamentable effects of their weaknesses and distempers / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1669
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Directions 1: DIRECTIONS TO THE CONVERTED, For their establishment, growth, and perseverance.
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.
And if any among them be either faulty or reported so to be, who is forwarder than many Professors of Godliness, to backbite them, and speak of their faults when they cannot hear, nor answer for themselves, nor receive any benefit by it; and if another that hates backbiting do but reprove them, they'll slander him also for a defender of mens sin! But when they should go in Christs way, and tell men of their faults, and draw them to Repentance, and if they hear not, take two or three, and speak to them again, how hardly can you draw them to the performance of this duty? What shifts and frivolous excuses have they then? Nay, they will reproach the Church or Minister for not casting such out, or not keeping them from Communion, before they have done, or will be persuaded to do these duties that must go before.
And if any among them be either faulty or reported so to be, who is forwarder than many Professors of Godliness, to backbite them, and speak of their faults when they cannot hear, nor answer for themselves, nor receive any benefit by it; and if another that hates backbiting do but reprove them, they'l slander him also for a defender of mens sin! But when they should go in Christs way, and tell men of their faults, and draw them to Repentance, and if they hear not, take two or three, and speak to them again, how hardly can you draw them to the performance of this duty? What shifts and frivolous excuses have they then? Nay, they will reproach the Church or Minister for not casting such out, or not keeping them from Communion, before they have done, or will be perswaded to do these duties that must go before.
Alas, how little hearty love is there to Christ in his Members, even in them that are confident they love the brethren? How few will do or suffer much for them, or relieve them in their want as suffering with them? How small a matter, a word, a seeming wrong or disrespect will turn their love into estrangedness or bitterness? ⟨p. 59⟩If they be tried by an ill word, or a wrong, how touchy and froward and impatient do they appear: and it's well if they prove not downright malicious, or return not reviling for reviling.