A26917:528
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.
I wonder what men would have Christ do, to free himself and the Christian Religion from the imputation of the sins of the Hypocrites, and the weak distempered Christians. Would they have him yet make stricter Laws (when they hate these for being so strict already?) Or would they have him condemn sinners to more grievous punishment, when they are already offended at the severity of his threatenings? O what an unrighteous generation are his enemies, that blame the Law because men break it? and blame Religion because many are not Religious enough? As if the Sun must be hated, because that shadows and dungeons do want light; or Life and Health must be hated, because many are sick and pained by their diseases! But Christ will shortly stop all the mouths of these unreasonable men; and O how easily will he justify himself, his Laws, and all his holy ways; when all iniquity shall be for ever silent! And though it must needs be that offences come, yet woe to the world because of offences, and woe to the man by whom they come, Mat. 18.7. Luke 17.1.
I wonder what men would have Christ do, to free himself and the Christian Religion from the imputation of the sins of the Hypocrites, and the weak distempered Christians. Would they have him yet make stricter Laws (when they hate these for being so strict already?) Or would they have him condemn sinners to more grievous punishment, when they are already offended at the severity of his threatnings? O what an unrighteous generation are his enemies, that blame the Law because men break it? and blame Religion because many are not Religious enough? As if the Sun must be hated, because that shadows and dungeons do want light; or Life and Health must be hated, because many are sick and pained by their diseases! But Christ will shortly stop all the mouths of these unreasonable men; and O how easily will he justifie himself, his Laws, and all his holy waies; when all iniquity shall be for ever silent! And though it must needs be that offences come, yet wo to the world because of offences, and wo to the man by whom they come, Mat. 18.7. Luke 17.1.