A26917:187
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.
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 that is 1. When upon good understanding and deep consideration, you are more fixedly, habitually, absolutely and practically resolved for God and Glory than before. So that you are grown more beyond all shaking doubtfulness or wavering of mind, and beyond all unevenness, mutability and unconstancy. When a man is thus satisfied, that none but God hath title to him, or can make him happy, and that none but Christ can reconcile him to God, and that it were a madness to make any other choice, and thereupon is settled and firm as Mount Zion, and say [Whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee,] Psal. 73.25. When you are firmly resolved, that let God do with you what he will, and come of it what will, you will never choose another Master, or Saviour, or Rule, or Happiness, or Way, or Body than you are in; and will never forsake the path of holiness; this is the fixed stability of the Will, and the more of this, the more you grow.
And that is 1. When upon good understanding and deep consideration, you are more fixedly, habitually, absolutely and practically resolved for God and Glory than before. So that you are grown more beyond all shaking doubtfulness or wavering of mind, and beyond all unevenness, mutability and unconstancy. When a man is thus satisfied, that none but God hath title to him, or can make him happy, and that none but Christ can reconcile him to God, and that it were a madness to make any other choice, and thereupon is setled and firm as Mount Zion, and say [Whom have I in Heaven but thee, and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee,] Psal. 73.25. When you are firmly resolved, that let God do with you what he will, and come of it what will, you will never choose another Master, or Saviour, or Rule, or Happiness, or Way, or Body than you are in; and will never forsake the path of holiness; this is the fixed stability of the Will, and the more of this, the more you grow.
2. And when you have the lowest esteem of the Creatures, and greatest and most resolved averseness to all that would draw you from God, and can meet the greatest worldly or fleshly allurements with a holy contempt; this shows a settled confirmed Will.