A26917:51
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.
2. Moreover when you became Christians, you entered a solemn Covenant with Christ; and bound your selves by a vow, to be faithful to him to the death: And this Vow is upon you: ⟨p. 17⟩It is better not to Vow, than to Vow and not perform. Eccles. 5.5. In taking him to be the Captain of your Salvation, and listing your selves under him, and taking this Oath of fidelity to him, you did engage your selves to fight as faithful Soldiers, under his conduct and command to your lives end. And as its a foolish Soldier that thinks that he hath no more to do, but list himself and take Colours, and need not fight; so it is a foolish and ungodly Covenanter that thinks he hath nothing to do but to Promise; and may be excused from performance because that Promising was enough; when the Promise was purposely to bind him to perform.
2. Moreover when you became Christians, you entered a solemn Covenant with Christ; and bound your selves by a vow, to be faithful to him to the death: And this Vow is upon you: ⟨p. 17⟩It is better not to Vow, than to Vow and not perform. Eccles. 5.5. In taking him to be the Captain of your Salvation, and listing your selves under him, and taking this Oath of fidelity to him, you did engage your selves to fight as faithful Souldiers, under his conduct and command to your lives end. And as its a foolish Souldier that thinks that he hath no more to do, but list himself and take Colours, and need not fight; so it is a foolish and ungodly Covenanter that thinks he hath nothing to do but to Promise; and may be excused from performance because that Promising was enough; when the Promise was purposely to bind him to perform.
3. Moreover, when you became Christians, you put your selves under the Laws of Christ: and these Laws require you to go further till you are confirmed; so that you must go on, or renounce your obedience to Christ.