A26917:401
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.
XXXII. 1. A Christian indeed is more in getting and using his Graces, than in enquiring whether he have them. He is very desirous to be assured that he is sincere; but he is more desirous to be so: And he knoweth that even assurance is got more by the exercise and increase of Grace than by bare enquiry whether we have it already; Not that he is a neglecter of self-examination: But he oftener asketh, What shall I do to be saved? than, How shall I know that I shall be saved?
XXXII. 1. A Christian indeed is more in getting and using his Graces, than in enquiring whether he have them. He is very desirous to be assured that he is sincere; but he is more desirous to be so: And he knoweth that even assurance is got more by the exercise and increase of Grace than by bare enquity whether we have it already; Not that he is a neglecter of self-examination: But he oftener asketh, What shall I do to be saved? than, How shall I know that I shall be saved?
2. But the weak Christian hath more of self, and less of God in his solicitousness: And though he ⟨p. 83⟩be willing to obey the whole Law of Christ, yet he is much more solicitous to know that he is out of danger, and shall be saved, than to be fully pleasing unto God. And therefore proportionably, he is more in enquiring by what marks he may know that he shall be saved, than by what means he may attain more holiness, and what diligence is necessary to his salvation.
2. But the weak Christian hath more of self, and less of God in his solicitousness: And though he ⟨p. 83⟩be willing to obey the whole Law of Christ, yet he is much more solicitous to know that he is out of danger, and shall be saved, than to be fully pleasing unto God. And therefore proportionably, he is more in enquiring by what marks he may know that he shall be saved, than by what means he may attain more holyness, and what diligence is necessary to his salvation.