A26917:406
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. And the seeming Christian really trusteth him not at all, for any thing that he can trust himself or the Creature for: He will have two strings to his bow if he can; but it is in man that he placeth his greatest trust for any thing that man can do. Indeed to save his Soul he knoweth none but God is to be trusted, and therefore his life is still preferred before his Soul, and consequently man whom he trusteth most with his life and prosperity, is really trusted before God, however God may have the Name. Jer. 17 5, 7. Psal. 34.8. & 20.7. & 34.22. & 37.3.
XXXIV. 1. A Christian indeed is much more studious of his own duty towards others, than of theirs to him: He is much more fearful of doing wrong, than of receiving wrong. He is more troubled if he say ill of others, than if others speak ill of him. He had far rather be slandered himself, than slander others; or be censured himself than▪ censure others; or be unjustly hurt himself, than unjustly hurt another; or to be put out of his own possessions or right, than to put another out of his. He is oftener and sharper in judging and reproving himself than others: he falleth out with himself more frequently than with others: and is more troubled with himself than with all the world besides: he taketh himself for his greatest enemy, and knoweth that his danger is most at home; and that if he can escape but from himself, no one in Earth or Hell can undo him. He is more careful of his duty to his Prince, his Parents, his ⟨p. 85⟩Pastor, or his Master, than of theirs to him: he is much more unwilling to be disobedient to them in any lawful thing, or to dishonour them, than to be oppressed or unjustly afflicted or abused by them. And all this is, because he knoweth that sin is worse than present suffering; and that he is not to answer for other mens sins but for his own: nor shall he be condemned for the sins of any but himself: And that many millions are condemned for wronging others, but no one for being wronged by others.