A26917:462
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 weak Christian having less patience, ⟨p. 119⟩and more selfishness and passion, is easilier tempted to break his bounds, and with Peter, to run to his unauthorized sword, when he should submit to suffering, Matth. 26.51, 52. And his interest and sufferings cause his passion to have too great a power on his Judgement; so that he is easilier tempted to believe that to be lawful, which he thinks to be necessary to his own preservation: and to think that the Gospel and the Church are falling, when the power of men is turned against them; and therefore he must with Uzzah, put forth his hand to save the Ark of God from falling. He is more troubled at mens injustice and cruelty, and maketh a wonder of it to find the enemies of Christ and Godliness, to be unreasonably impudent and bloody; as if he expected reason and righteousness in the malicious world. His sufferings fill him more with discontent, and desires of revenge from God, Luke 9.54. and his prosperity too much lifts him up, 2 Chron. 32.25. And in the litigious titles of pretenders to supremacy, he is oft too hasty to interess himself in their contentions; as if he understood not, that whoever is the conqueror, will count those rebels that were on the other side; and that the enemies of Christ will cast all the odium upon Christianity and piety, when the controversy is only among the Statesmen and Lawyers, and belongs not to Religion at all.
2. But the weak Christian having less patience, ⟨p. 119⟩and more selfishness and passion, is easilier tempted to break his bounds, and with Peter, to run to his unauthorized sword, when he should submit to suffering, Matth. 26.51, 52. And his interest and sufferings cause his passion to have too great a power on his Judgement; so that he is easilier tempted to believe that to be lawfull, which he thinks to be necessary to his own preservation: and to think that the Gospel and the Church are falling, when the power of men is turned against them; and therefore he must with Vzzah, put forth his hand to save the Ark of God from falling. He is more troubled at mens injustice and cruelty, and maketh a wonder of it to find the enemies of Christ and Godliness, to be unreasonably impudent and bloody; as if he expected reason and righteousness in the malicious world. His sufferings fill him more with discontent, and desires of revenge from God,