A26917:439
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 Love that is in weaker Christians, though it be sincere, is weak as they are; and mixed with too much selfishness; and with too much sourness and wrath: Little matters cause differences and fallings out: When it cometh to MINE, and THINE, and their neighbours cross their interest or commodity, or stand in their way, when they are seeking any preferment or profit to themselves; you shall see too easily by their sourness and contention, how weak their love is. Mat. 24.12. 1 Tim. 6.10. Luke 22.24.
2. But the Love that is in weaker Christians, though it be sincere, is weak as they are; and mixed with too much selfishness; and with too much sowerness and wrath: Little matters cause differences and fallings out: When it cometh to MINE, and THINE, and their neighbours cross their interest or commodity, or stand in their way, when they are seeking any preferment or profit to themselves; you shall see too easily by their sowreness and contention, how weak their love is. Mat. 24.12. 1 Tim. 6.10. Luke 22.24.
3. But in the seeming Christian selfishness is so predominant, that he loveth none but for himself, with any considerable love: All his kindness is from self-love; because men love him, or highly value him, or praise him, or have done him some good turn, or may do him good hereafter, or the like. If he hath any love to any for his own worth, yet self-love can turn all that to hatred, •f they seem against him, or cross him in his way: For no man that is a Lover of the world, and flesh,