A26917:450
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.
3. The seeming Christian may have a seeming Justice. But really he hath none but what must give place to his fleshly interest; and if his honour and commodity and safety require it, he will not stick to be unjust. And that Justice which wanteth ⟨p. 111⟩but a strong temptation to overturn it, is almost as bad as none. If he will not seize on Naboths Vineyard, nor make himself odious by oppression or deceit; yet if he can raise or enrich himself by secret cozenage, and get so fair a pretence for his injustice, as shall cloak the matter from the fight of men, he seldom sticketh at it. It is an easy matter to make an Achan think that he doth no harm, or a Gebazi think that he wrongeth no man, in taking that which was offered and due. Covetousness will not confess its name; but will find some Reasonings to make good all the injustice which it doth, 1 Tim. 6.5. 2 King. 5.19, 20.
3. The seeming Christian may have a seeming Justice. But really he hath none but what must give place to his fleshly interest; and if his honour and commodity and safety require it, he will not stick to be unjust. And that Justice which wanteth ⟨p. 111⟩but a strong temptation to overturn it, is almost as bad as none. If he will not seize on Naboths Vineyard, nor make himself odious by oppression or deceit; yet if he can raise or enrich himself by secret consenage, and get so fair a pretence for his injustice, as shall cloak the matter from the fight of men, he seldom sticketh at it. It is an easie matter to make an Achan think that he doth no harm, or a Gebazi think that he wrongeth no man, in taking that which was offered and due. Covetousness will not confess its name; but will find some Reasonings to make good all the injustice which it doth, 1 Tim. 6.5. 2 King. 5.19, 20.