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 14: DIRECT. XIV. Keep up a constant Government over your Thoughts and Tongues; especially a…

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:229–243 of 533

:229p. 140

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.

:230p. 140

Keep your Thoughts employed upon something that is good and profitable; either about some useful Truths, or about some duty to God or man, of your general or particular Calling; yea about all these in their several seasons: Learn how to watch your thoughts, and stop them at their first excursions; and how to quicken them and make them serviceable to every grace, and every duty. You can never improve your solitary hours, if you have not the Government of your Thoughts.

KEep your Thoughts imployed upon somthing that is good and profitable; either about some useful Truths, or about some duty to God or man, of your general or particular Calling; yea about all these in their several seasons: Learn how to watch your thoughts, and stop them at their first excursions; and how to quicken them and make them serviceable to every grace, and every duty. You can never improve your solitary hours, if you have not the Government of your Thoughts.

:231p. 140–142

And as the Thoughts must be governed because they are the first and intimate actings of good or evil; so the Tongue must be Governed as the first expresser of the mind, and the first instrument of good or hurt to others. Especially take heed of these sins which the faultiness of most Professors of Religion doth warn you to avoid. 1. An ordinary course of vain jesting, and unprofitable talk. 2. Provoking, passionate, inconsiderate words, that tend to kindle wrath in others.

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

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. 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.