A26917:473
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. But the seeming Christian is so proud and selfish, and wanteth Charity and tenderness to the weak, that he is impatient of their provocations; and would cure the diseases of the servants of Christ, by cutting their throats, or ridding the Country of them. If a Child do but wrangle with him, he crieth, Away with him, he is a troubler of the World: He taketh more notice of one of their infirmities, than of all their graces: yea he can see nothing but obstinacy and hypocrisy in them, if they do but cross him in his opinions, or reputation, or worldly ends. Selfishness can turn his Hypocrisy into Malignity and cruelty, if once he take them to be against his interest. Indeed his interest can make him patient: He can bear with them that he looketh to gain by: but not with them that seem to be against him. The radical enmity against sincerity that was not mortified but covered in his heart will easily be again uncovered, Mark. 6.18, 20, 21, 22. Phil. 1.15, 16. 3 Joh. 9.
3. But the seeming Christian is so proud and selfish, and wanteth Charity and tenderness to the weak, that he is impatient of their provocations; and would cure the diseases of the servants of Christ, by cutting their throats, or ridding the Countrey of them. If a Child do but wrangle with him, he cryeth, Away with him, he is a troubler of the World: He taketh more notice of one of their infirmities, than of all their graces: yea he can see nothing but obstinacy and hypocrisie in them, if they do but cross him in his opinions, or reputation, or worldly ends. Selfishness can turn his Hypocrisie into Malignity and cruelty, if once he take them to be against his interest. Indeed his interest can make him patient: He can bear with them that he looketh to gain by: but not with them that seem to be against him. The radical enmity against sincerity that was not mortified but covered in his heart will easily be again uncovered, Mark. 6.18, 20, 21, 22. Phil. 1.15, 16. 3 Joh. 9