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 12: DIRECT. XII. Make choice of such Christians for your familiar friends and the companion…

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:224–236 of 533

:224p. 136

DIRECT. XII. Make choice of such Christians for your familiar friends and the companions of your lives, as are holy, humble, heavenly, serious, mortified, charitable, peaceable, judicious, experienced and fixed in the ways of God; and not of ungodly persons, or proud self-conceited, censorious, dividing, injudicious, unexperienced, sensual, worldly, opinionative, superficial, luke-warm or unsettled Professors.

DIRECT. XII. Make choice of such Christians for your familiar friends and the companions of your lives, as are holy, humble, heavenly, serious, mortified, charitable, peaceable, judicious, experienced and fixed in the wayes of God; and not of ungodly persons, or proud self-conceited, censorious, dividing, injudicious, unexperienced, sensual, worldly, opinionative, superficial, luke-warm or unsetled Professors.

:225p. 136–137

The Reasons of this Direction you may perceive in what I said under the last. Your company is a matter of exceeding great concernment to you, as one of the greatest helps or hinderances, comforts or discomforts of all your lives, especially those that you dwell with, and those that you choose for your familiars and bosom friends. And therefore (so far as Gods Providence doth not forbid you, and make it impossible) choose such as are here described; or at least one such for your bosom friend, if you ⟨p. 137⟩can have acquaintance with no more. It is of unspeakable importance to your Salvation, with whom you are associated for most familiar converse. A good companion will teach you what you know not, or remember you of that which you forget, or stir you up when you are dull, or warm you when you are cold, and watch over you and warn you of your danger, and save you from the poison of ill companions. O what a help and delight it is, to have a holy, judicious, faithful friend to open your heart to, and to walk with in the ways of life! And how exceeding hard is it to scape sin and hell, and get well to Heaven, in company and familiarity of the servants of the Devil, who are posting unto Hell? Let not your companions be worse than your selves, lest they make you worse; but as much wiser and better as you can procure. See

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

DIRECT. XIII. Subdue your passions, and abhor all uncharitable principles and practises, and live in love; maintaining peace in your families, and with your neighbours, but especially in the Church of God.

DIRECT. XIV. Keep up a constant Government over your Thoughts and Tongues; especially against those particular sins which you are stronglyest tempted to, and which you see other Christians most overtaken with.

DIRECT. XV. Let every state of life and Relation that you are in, be sanctified unto God, and conscionably used: And to that end understand the advantages and duties of every condition and Relation, and the sins and hinderances and dangers which you are most liable to.

DIRECT. XV. Let every state of life and Relation that you are in, be sanctifyed unto God, and conscionably used: And to that end understand the advantages and duties of every condition and Relation, and the sins and hinderances and dangers which you are most lyable to.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

DIRECT. XIII. Subdue your passions, and abhor all uncharitable principles and practises, and live in love; maintaining peace in your families, and with your neighbours, but especially in the Church of God.

DIRECT. XIV. Keep up a constant Government over your Thoughts and Tongues; especially against those particular sins which you are stronglyest tempted to, and which you see other Christians most overtaken with.

DIRECT. XV. Let every state of life and Relation that you are in, be sanctified unto God, and conscionably used: And to that end understand the advantages and duties of every condition and Relation, and the sins and hinderances and dangers which you are most liable to.

DIRECT. XV. Let every state of life and Relation that you are in, be sanctifyed unto God, and conscionably used: And to that end understand the advantages and duties of every condition and Relation, and the sins and hinderances and dangers which you are most lyable to.