A26917:456
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. And the Hypocrite ordinarily showeth his hypocrisies, by being false in his relations to man, while he pretendeth to be pious and obedient unto God. He is a bad master, and a bad servant, when his filthy interest requireth it, and yet thinketh himself a good Christian for all that. For all men being faulty, it is easy to find a pretence from all men that he doth abuse, to cover the injury of his abuse. Cain, Ham, Eli, Absalom, Judas, &c. are sad examples of this.
3. And the Hypocrite ordinarily sheweth his hypocrisies, by being false in his relations to man, while he pretendeth to be pious and obedient unto God. He is a bad master, and a bad servant, when his filthy interest requireth it, and yet thinketh himself a good Christian for all that. For all men being faulty, it is easie to find a pretence from all men that he doth abuse, to cover the injury of his abuse. Cain, Cham, Eli, Absalom, Judas, &c. are sad examples of this.
XLVIII. 1. A Christian indeed is the best subject, whether his Prince be good or bad: Though by infidel and ungodly Rulers he be oft mistaken for the worst. He obeyeth not his Rulers only for his own ends; but in obedience to God; and not only for fear of punishment, but for conscience sake: He looketh on them in their relations as the Officers of God, and armed with his authority, and therefore obeyeth God in them. He permitteth not dishonourable thoughts of them in his heart; much less dare he speak dishonourably of them, Exod. 12. Prov. 24.21. 1 Pet. 2.13, 17. Prov. 8.15. Act. 23.4, 5.