A26917:393
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. And the weakest Christian believeth with a Divine faith of his own, and dependeth more on God than man: But yet if he should be put to so great a trial, as to see all the Pastors and Christians that he knoweth change their minds, I know not what he would do: For though God will uphold all his own whom he will save, yet he doth it by means and outward helps, together with his internal grace; and keepeth them from temptations, when he will deliver them from the evil: And therefore it is a doubt whether there be not degrees of grace so weak, as would fail in case the strongest temptations were permitted to assault them. A strong man can stand and go of himself; but an infant must be carried; and the same and sick must have others to support them. The weak Christian falleth if his Teacher or most esteemed company fall: If they run into ⟨p. 80⟩an error, sect, or schism, he keeps them company. He groweth cold, if he have not warming company: He forgeteth himself, and letteth loose his sense and passion, if he have not some to watch over him, and warn him: No man should refuse the help of others, that can have it; and the best have need of all Gods means: But the weak Christian needeth them much more than the strong, and is much less able to stand without them. Luk. 22.32. Gal. 2.11, 12, 13, 14.
2. And the weakest Christian believeth with a Divine faith of his own, and dependeth more on God than man: But yet if he should be put to so great a tryal, as to see all the Pastors and Christians that he knoweth change their minds, I know not what he would do: For though God will uphold all his own whom he will save, yet he doth it by means and outward helps, together with his internal grace; and keepeth them from temptations, when he will deliver them from the evil: And therefore it is a doubt whether there be not degrees of grace so weak, as would fail in case the strongest temptations were permitted to assault them. A strong man can stand and go of himself; but an infant must be carried; and the same and sick must have others to support them. The weak Christian falleth if his Teacher or most esteemed company fall: If they run into ⟨p. 80⟩