A26917:306
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.
THE CHARACTER OF 1 A Sound Confirmed Christian, 2 And of the Weak C… › The Characters.
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.
3. The seeming Christian hath only the uneffectual motions of the Spirit to a Holy Life, and effectual motions, and inward dispositions to some common duties of Religion: And from these with the natural principles of self-love and common honesty, with the outward persuasions of company and advantages, his Religion is maintained, without the Regeneration of the Spirit, Joh. 3.6.
3. The seeming Christian hath only the uneffectual motions of the Spirit to a Holy Life, and effectual motions, and inward dispositions to some common duties of Religion: And from these with the natural principles of self-love and common honesty, with the outward perswasions of company and advantages, his Religion is maintained, without the Regeneration of the Spirit, Joh. 3.6.
V. From hence it followeth, 1. That a Christian indeed doth not serve God for fear only, but for love; even for love both of himself, and of his holy work and service: Yea, the strong Christians Love ⟨p. 15⟩to God and Holiness, is not only greater than his Love to Creatures, but greater than his fear of wrath and punishment. The Love of God constraineth him to duty, 2 Cor. 5.14. Love is the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 13.10. therefore the Gospel cannot be obeyed without it. He saith not, O that this were no duty, and O that this forbidden thing were lawful, (Though his Flesh say so, the Spirit which is the predominant part doth not) But he saith, O how I love thy Law! O that my ways were so directed that I might keep thy statutes! Psal. 119.5