Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

Name: Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…
Author: Richard Baxter

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1669

2 v. in 1. · 110k words · Wing B1249 · ESTC R15683

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Directions 2 › Direction 2: DIRECT. II. Think not that all is done when once you are Converted; but remember that t…

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:158–173 of 533

:158p. 89

DIRECT. II. Think not that all is done when once you are Converted; but remember that the work of your Christianity then comes in, and must be as long as the time of your lives.

:159p. 89–90

OF this also I shall say but little, because it is the drift of all the moving Considerations before-going. I doubt it is the undoing of many to imagine, that if once they are sanctified, they are so sure in the hands of Christ, that they have no more care to take, nor no more danger to be afraid of, and at last think that they have no more to do, as of necessity to Salvation: and ⟨p. 90⟩thus prove that indeed they were never sanctified. I confess when a man is truly Converted, the principal part of his danger is over: he is safe in the love and care of Christ, and none can take him out of his hands. But this is but part of the truth: the other part must be taken with it, or we deceive our selves. There is still a great deal of work before us; and Holiness is still the way to happiness: and much care and diligence is required at our hands: And it is no more certain that we shall be saved by Christ, than it is that we shall be kept in Faith, and love, and holy obedience by him. It is as true that none can separate us from the Love of God, and from a care to please him, and from a holy diligence in the work of our Salvation, as that none can take us out of his hands, and bring us into a state of condemnation. He that is resolved to bring us to Glory, is as much resolved to bring us to it by perseverance in Holiness and diligent obedience; for he never decreeth one without the other; and he will never save us by any other way.

:160p. 90

Indeed when we are Converted we have escaped many and grievous dangers; but yet there are many more before us, which we must by care and diligence escape. We are translated from death to life, but not from earth to heaven. We have the life of Grace, but yet we are short of the life of Glory. And why have we the life of Grace but to use it, and to live by it? Why came we into the Vineyard, but to work? And why came we into the Army of Christ but to fight? Why came we into the race but to run for the prize? or why turned we into the right way, but to travel in it? We never did God faithful service,

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Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

DIRECT. II. Think not that all is done when once you are Converted; but remember that the work of your Christianity then comes in, and must be as long as the time of your lives.

DIRECT. III. Be sure that you understand wherein your establishment and growth consisteth, that you may not miscarry by seeking somewhat else instead of it: nor think you have it when you have it not, or that you want it, when you have it, and so be needlessly disquieted about it.