A26917:398
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.
XXXI. 1. A Christian indeed is one that can exercise all Gods graces in conjunction, and in their proper places and proportion, without setting one against another, or neglecting one while he is exercising another. He can be humbled without hindering his thankfulness and joy; and he can be thankful and joyful without hindering his due humility. His knowledge doth not destroy but quicken his zeal: His wisdom hindereth not, but furthereth his innocency. His faith is a help to his repentance, and his repentance to his faith. His love to himself doth not hinder but help his love to others: and his Love to God is the end of both. He can mourn for the sins of the times, and the calamities of the Church, yea for his own sins and imperfections, and yet rejoice for the mercies which he hath in possession or in hope. He findeth that piety and charity are ⟨p. 82⟩necessarily conjunct; and every grace and duty is a help to all the rest. Yea he can exercise his Graces methodically, which is the comeliness and beauty of his heart and life. 1 Thess. 5.12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. 1 Pet. 2.17.
XXXI. 1. A Christian indeed is one that can exercise all Gods graces in conjunction, and in their proper places and proportion, without setting one against another, or neglecting one while he is exercising another. He can be humbled without hindering his thankefulness and joy; and he can be thankefull and joyfull without hindering his due humility. His knowledge doth not destroy but quicken his zeal: His wisdom hindereth not, but furthereth his innocency. His faith is a help to his repentance, and his repentance to his faith. His love to himself doth not hinder but help his love to others: and his Love to God is the end of both. He can mourn for the sins of the times, and the calamities of the Church, yea for his own sins and imperfections, and yet rejoyce for the mercies which he hath in possession or in hope. He findeth that piety and charity are ⟨p. 82⟩necessarily conjunct; and every grace and duty is a help to all the rest. Yea he can exercise his Graces methodically, which is the comeliness and beauty of his heart and life.