A26917:285
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.
or as if felicity it self grew burdensome, or were not desirable in this life; or a small degree of it were as good as a greater.
or as if felicity it self grew burdensome, or were not desireable in this life; or a small degree of it were as good as a greater.
And too many mistake the will of God, and the nature of Sanctification, and place their Religion in the hot prosecution of those mistakes: They make a composition of error and passion, and an unyielding stiffness in them, and siding with the Church or party which maintaineth them, and an uncharitable censuring those that are against them, and an unpeaceable contending for them; And this composition they mistake for Godliness, especially if there be but a few drams of Godliness and Truth in the composition, though corrupted and over-powered by the rest.
For these miscarriages of many well-meaning zealous persons, the Land mourneth, the Churches groan; Kingdoms are disturbed by them; Families are disquieted by them; Godliness is hindered, and much dishonoured by them; the Wicked are hardened by them, and encouraged to hate and blaspheme and oppose Religion; the glory of the Christian Faith is obscured by them; and the Infidel, Mahometan and Heathen World, are kept from Faith in Jesus Christ, and many millions of Souls destroyed by them. I mean, by the miscarriages of the weaker sort of Christians, and by the wicked lives of those carnal Hypocrites, who for custom or worldly interest do profess that Christianity which was never received by their hearts.
For these miscarriages of many well-meaning zealous persons, the Land mourneth, the Churches groan; Kingdoms are disturbed by them; Families are disquieted by them; Godliness is hindered, and much dishonoured by them; the Wicked are hardened by them, and encouraged to hate and blaspheme and oppose Religion; the glory of the Christian Faith is obscured by them; and the Infidel, Mahometan and Heathen World, are kept from Faith in Jesus Christ, and many millions of Souls destroyed by them. I mean, by the miscarriages of the weaker sort of Christians, and by the wicked lives of those carnal Hypocrites, who for custome or worldly interest do profess that Christianity which was never received by their hearts.