A26917:432
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.
Eph. 5.16. Col. 4.5. He had rather labour in the house of correction, than live the swinish life of idle and voluptuous Gentleman, or Beggars: that live to no higher end than to live, or to please their flesh: or to live as worldlings, that lose all their lives in the service of a perishing world. He knoweth how precious time will be ere long, in the eyes of those that now make light of it, and trifle it away as a contemned thing, as if they had too much.
Eph. 5.16. Col. 4.5. He had rather labour in the house of correction, than live the swinish life of idle and voluptuous Gentleman, or Beggers: that live to no higher end than to live, or to please their flesh: or to live as worldlings, that lose all their lives in the service of a perishing world. He knoweth how precious time will be ere long, in the eyes of those that now make light of it, and trifle it away as a contemned thing, as if they had too much.
2. The weak Christian is of the same mind in the main: But when it cometh to particular practice, he is like a weak or weary traveller, that goeth but slowly, and maketh many a stop: Though his face is still Heaven-wards, he goeth but a little way in a day: He is too easily tempted to idle, or talk, or feast, or play away an hour unlawfully, so it be not his ordinary course, and he do it but seldom: He taketh not the loss of an hour for so great a loss as the confirmed Christian doth: He could sooner be persuaded to live (though not an idle and unprofitable; yet) an easier, less-profitable life. The world and the flesh have far more of his hours, than they ought to have. Though his weakness tell him, that he hath most need of diligence.
2. The weak Christian is of the same mind in the main: But when it cometh to particular practice, he is like a weak or weary traveller, that goeth but slowly, and maketh many a stop: Though his face is still Heaven-wards, he goeth but a little way in a day: He is too easily tempted to idle, or talk, or feast, or play away an hour unlawfully, so it be not his ordinary course, and he do it but seldome: He taketh not the loss of an hour for so great a loss as the confirmed Christian doth: He could sooner be perswaded to live (though not an idle and unprofitable; yet) an easier, less-profitable life. The world and the flesh have farr more of his hours, than they ought to have. Though his weakness tell him, that he hath most need of diligence.