A26917:421
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. But the weak Christian hath a more unfruitful wandering tongue: And his religious discourse is most about his opinions or party, or some external thing: As which is the best preacher, or person, or book: or if he talk of any text of scripture, or doctrine of Religion, it is much of the outside of it; and his discourse is less feeling, lively and experimental: yea many a time he hindereth the more edifying savoury discourse of others, by such religious discourse as is imprudent, impertinent, or turneth them away from the heart and life of the matter in hand. But especially his opinions, and distinct manner of worship, are the chief of his discourse,
2. But the weak Christian hath a more unfruitful wandring tongue: And his religious discourse is most about his opinions or party, or some external thing: As which is the best preacher, or person, or book: or if he talk of any text of scripture, or doctrine of Religion, it is much of the outside of it; and his discourse is less feeling, lively and experimental: yea many a time he hindereth the more edifying savoury discourse of others, by such religious discourse as is imprudent, impertinent, or turneth them away from the heart and life of the matter in hand. But especially his opinions, and distinct manner of worship, are the chief of his discourse,
3. And for the seeming Christian, though he can affectedly force his tongue to talk of any subject in religion, especially that which he thinks will most honour him in the esteem of the hearers; yet when he speaketh according to the inclination of his heart, his discourse is first about his fleshly interest and concernments, and next to that of the mere externals of religion, as controversies, parties, and the several modes of worship.
3. And for the seeming Christian, though he can affectedly force his tongue to talk of any subject in religion, especially that which he thinks will most honour him in the esteem of the hearers; yet when he speaketh according to the inclination of his heart, his discourse is first about his fleshly interest and concernments, and next to that of the meer externals of religion, as controversies, parties, and the severall modes of worship.