A26917:430
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.
And another covert for the hypocrite in this case is, the different judgements of learned and religious men, who make a controversy of the matter: And what duty or sin is there that is not become a controversy? Yea and among men otherwise well esteemed of (except in the essentials of religion.) And if once it be a controversy, whether it be a sin or not, the hypocrite can say, I am of the judgement of such and such good learned men: they are very judicious excellent persons; and we must not judge one another in controverted cases: though we differ in judgement, we must not differ in affection: And thus because he hath a shelter for his reputation from the censures of men, by the countenance of such as accompany him in his sin, he is as quiet as if he were secured from the censures of the Almighty.
And another covert for the hypocrite in this case is, the different judgements of learned and religious men, who make a controversie of the matter: And what duty or sin is there that is not become a controversie? Yea and among men otherwise well esteemed of (except in the essentials of religion.) And if once it be a controversie, whether it be a sin or not, the hypocrite can say, I am of the judgement of such and such good learned men: they are very judicious excellent persons; and we must not judge one another in controverted cases: though we differ in judgement, we must not differ in affection: And thus because he hath a shelter for his reputation from the censures of men, by the countenance of such as accompany him in his sin, he is as quiet as if he were secured from the censures of the Almighty.
XL. 1. A Christian indeed is one that highly valueth time: He abhorreth Idleness, and all diversions which would rob him of his Time, and hinder him from his work: He knoweth how much work he hath to do, and of what unspeakable consequence to his soul (if not also to others:) He knoweth that he hath a soul to save or lose, a heaven to win; a hell to scape; a death and judgement to prepare for; many a sin to mortify, and many graces to get and exercise and increase; and many enemies and temptations to overcome; and ⟨p. 99⟩