A26917:363
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.
2. But the weak Christian, though he have all this in desire, and be thus affected and resolved in the main, and liveth to God in the scope and course of his life; yet is too often looking aside, and valuing the creature carnally for it self; and oft-times useth it for the pleasing of the flesh, ⟨p. 58⟩and almost like a common man: his house, and land, and friends, and pleasures, are relished too carnally, as his own accommodations; and though he walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, yet he hath too much of the fleshly taste, and is greatly out in his accounts with God; and turneth many a thing from his masters use, to the service of the flesh; and though he be not as the slothful wicked servant, yet is it but little improvement that he maketh of his talent. Mat. 25.17, 26, 27, 28.
2. But the weak Christian, though he have all this in desire, and be thus affected and resolved in the main, and liveth to God in the scope and course of his life; yet is too often looking aside, and valuing the creature carnally for it self; and oft-times useth it for the pleasing of the flesh, ⟨p. 58⟩and almost like a common man: his house, and land, and friends, and pleasures, are relished too carnally, as his own accommodations; and though he walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, yet he hath too much of the fleshly taste, and is greatly out in his accounts with God; and turneth many a thing from his masters use, to the service of the flesh; and though he be not as the slothfull wicked servant, yet is it but little improvement that he maketh of his talent. Mat. 25.17, 26, 27, 28.
3. But the seeming Christian being carnal and selfish, while his notions and professions are spiritual and divine, and his selfish and fleshly interest being predominant; it must needs follow that he estimateth all things principally as they respect his fleshly interest; and useth them principally for his carnal self; even when in the manner he seemeth to use them most religiously (as I have said before) And so to the defiled nothing is pure,