A26917:410
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. As for the seeming Christian, I have told you already that selfishness is his nature and predominant constitution: And according to self-interest he judgeth of almost all things: of the faults, and duties of others and himself: And therefore no man seemeth honest or innocent to him, who displeaseth him, and is against his worldly interest: Cross him about Mine and Thine, and he will beknave the honestest man alive, and call his ancient friend his enemy. But of his dealings with them, he is not so scrupulous, nor so censorious of himself.
3. As for the seeming Christian, I have told you already that selfishness is his nature and predominant constitution: And according to self-interest he judgeth of almost all things: of the faults, and duties of others and himself: And therefore no man seemeth honest or innocent to him, who displeaseth him, and is against his wordly interest: Cross him about Mine and Thine, and he will beknave the honestest man alive, and call his ancient friend his enemy. But of his dealings with them, he is not so scrupulous, nor so censorious of himself.
XXXV. 1. A Christian indeed is much taken up in the Government of his Thoughts; and hath them so much ordinarily in obedience, that God and his service, and the matters of his salvation have that precedency in them; and his eye is fixed on his end and duty: And his thoughts refuse not to serve him for any work of God to which he calleth them. He suffereth them not to be the in-lets or agents for Pride, or Lust, or Envy, or Voluptuousness, or to contrive iniquity: But if any such sparks from Hell are cast into his thoughts, he presently laboureth to extinguish them: If they intrude, he letteth them not lodge or dwell there. And though he cannot keep out all disorder or vanity, or inordinate delights; yet ⟨p. 88⟩is it his endeavour, and he leaveth not his heart in any thing to it self.