A26917:219
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.
See therefore that the Guide whom you choose for your Souls be 1. Judicious; for an injudicious man may pervert the Scripture, and lead you into Error and Heresy and sin before you are aware: As an unskilful Coachman may soon overturn you, or an unskilful Waterman may drown you: yea though he be a zealous fervent Preacher, yet if he be injudicious, he may ignorantly give you Poison in your food, as the experience of this age hath lamentably proved.
See therefore that the Guide whom you choose for your Souls be 1. Judicious; for an injudicious man may pervert the Scripture, and lead you into Error and Heresie and sin before you are aware: As an unskilful Coachman may soon overturn you, or an unskilful Waterman may drown you: yea though he be a zealous fervent Preacher, yet if he be injudicious, he may ignorantly give you Poison in your food, as the experience of this age hath lamentably proved.
2. See if possible that he be an experienced man, that knoweth by experience on himself not only what it is to be regenerate, and sanctified, and made a new Creature, but also how all the combat between the Spirit and the Flesh is to be managed, and what are the methods and stratagems of the tempter, and what are the chief helps and defensatives of the Soul, and how they are all to be used: For it is not harder to be a Judicious Physician, or Lawyer, or Soldier, without ⟨p. 133⟩experience, than a judicious Pastor. And therefore the Holy Ghost commandeth that he be not a novice, or raw unexperienced Christian, 1 Tim. 3.6.
2. See if possible that he be an experienced man, that knoweth by experience on himself not only what it is to be regenerate, and sanctified, and made a new Creature, but also how all the combate between the Spirit and the Flesh is to be managed, and what are the methods and stratagems of the tempter, and what are the chief helps and defensatives of the Soul, and how they are all to be used: For it is not harder to be a Judicious Physician, or Lawyer, or Souldier, without