A26917:49
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.
Directions 1: DIRECTIONS TO THE CONVERTED, For their establishment, growth, and perseverance.
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.
And now I shall proceed to persuade such to value and seek this confirmation, lest with dull unprepared minds my following Directions should be lost; and then I shall give you the Directions themselves, which are the part that is principally intended. And first for the Motives.
And now I shall proceed to perswade such to value and seek this confirmation, lest with dull unprepared minds my following Directions should be lost; and then I shall give you the Directions themselves, which are the part that is principally intended. And first for the Motives.
1. Consider that your first entrance into Christianity ⟨p. 16⟩is an engagement to proceed: your Receiving Christ obligeth you to walk and grow up in him. A fourfold obligation you very Christianity layeth upon you, to grow stronger, and to persevere. 1. The first is, from the very nature of it; even from the Office of Christ, and the use and ends to which we do receive him. You receive Christ as a Physician of your diseased Souls; and doth not this engage you to go on to use his Medicines till you are cured? What do men choose a Physician for, but to heal them? It were but a foolish patient that would say, [Though my disease be deadly, yet now I have chosen the best Physician, I have no more to do; I doubt not of recovery]. You took Christ for a Saviour, which engageth you to use his saving means, and submit to his saving works. You took him for your Teacher and Master; and gave up your selves to be his Disciples: and what sense was in all this if you did not mean to proceed in learning of him. Its a silly conceit for any man to think that he is a good Scholar, merely because he hath chosen a good Master or Tutor, without any further learning of him. When Christ sent out his Apostles, it was for these two works: first to Disciple Nations, and Baptise them; and then to go on in Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever he commandeth them. Matth. 28, 19, 20. Christ is the way to the Father: but to what purpose did you come into this way, if you meant not to travel on in it?