A26917:448
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.
If he have wronged any by incautious words, he readily confesseth his fault to him, and asketh him forgiveness, and is ready to make any just ⟨p. 110⟩satisfaction for any wrong that he hath done. He borroweth not when he seeth not a great probability that he is like to pay it: Nor will remain in debt by retaining that which is another mans against his will, without an absolute necessity. Rom. 13.8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For to borrow when he cannot pay is but to steal. Begging is better than borrowing for such, Psal. 37.21. The wicked borroweth and payeth not.
If he have wronged any by incautelous words, he readily confesseth his fault to him, and asketh him forgiveness, and is ready to make any just ⟨p. 110⟩satisfaction for any wrong that he hath done. He borroweth not when he seeth not a great probability that he is like to pay it: Nor will remain in debt by retaining that which is another mans against his will, without an absolute necessity. Rom. 13.8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For to borrow when he cannot pay is but to steal. Begging is better than borrowing for such, Psal. 37.21. The wicked borroweth and payeth not.
2. And the weak Christian maketh conscience of Justice as well as acts of piety, as knowing that God hath no need of our Sacrifices, but loveth to see us do that which is good for humane society, and which we have need of from each other. But yet he hath more selfishness and partiality than the confirmed Christian hath, and therefore is often overcome by temptations to unrighteous things: As to stretch his Conscience for his commodity, in buying or selling, and concealing the faults of what he selleth, and sometimes overreaching others: Especially he is ordinarily too censorious of others, and apt to be credulous of evil reports, and to be overbold and forward in speaking ill of men behind their backs, and without a call: especially against persons that differ from him in matters of Religion, where he is usually most unjust and apt to go beyond his bounds,