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The Christian Directory

Richard Baxter 1673
Baxter's comprehensive practical theology addressing Christian duties, temptations, and moral cases of conscience across all dimensions of believer's life.

EEBO-TCP A26892 (TEI), original spelling, printed page numbers. EEBO 12618774; STC/Wing Wing B1219; ESTC R21847

From the text

The opening of the work as printed, from p. 1, in the spelling of this edition.

p. 1A Christian Directory. TOM. I. Christian Ethicks.

The Introduction.

§. 1. THE Eternal God, having made Man an Intellectual and Free-agent, able to understand and choose the good, and refuse the evil; to know, [Nov • rint universi quod pr • sens opus • ulum non aggredio • , ut fidelium a • ribus prophanas aliquas vocum i • geram • ovitates, sed ut innoc • nt • r & sobrie de alt • ssimo, &c. Ockam de Sacram. Alt. prolog. In z •• o domus domini, nunc persolvo d • bitum, vile quidem, sed fid • le • t puto, & ami • um quibus que • gregiis Christi tyro • ibus ▪ grave vero & importabile apostatis insipientibus: quorum priores, n • fallor, cum lachrymis forte quae ex Dei charitate pro •• uunt, alii cum t • istitia, sed quae ex indignatione & pusillanimitate deprehensae co • scientiae extorquetur, illud excipient. Gildas Prolog. Excid. Habet, inquies, Britanni • Rectores, habet speculatores: Quid tu n • gando m • tire disponis? Habet, inquam habet, si non ultr • , non citra numerun: sed quia inclinati tanto pondere sunt pressi id • irco spatium respirandi non habent. Praeoccupabant igitur se mutuo talibus objectionibus, &c. Gildas ibid.] and love, and serve his Maker, and by adhering to Him in this life of tryal, to attain to the blessed sight and Enjoyment of his Glory in the life to come, hath not been wanting to furnish him with such Necessaries, without which these ends could not succesfully be sought: When we had lost our Moral capacity of pleasing him, that we might enjoy him, he restoreth us to it by the wonderful work of our Redemption: In Christ he hath reconciled the world unto himself; and hath given them a general Act of Oblivion, contained in the Covenant of Grace, which nothing but mens obstinate and final unwillingness can deprive them of: To procure their Consent to this gracious Covenant, he hath committed to his Ministers the Word of Reconciliation, commanding us to beseech men, as in the stead of Christ, and as though God himself did beseech them by us, to be reconciled unto God, 2 Cor. 5. 18, 19, 20. and to shew them first their sin and misery, and proclaim and offer the true Remedy, and to let them know, that All things are now ready, and by pleading their duty, their necessity and their commodity; to compell them to come in, Matth. 22. 4. Luke 11. 17, 23.

p. 1But so great is the Blindness and Obstinacy of men, that the greatest part refuse Consent, being deceived by the pleasures, and profits and honours of this present world, and make their pretended necessities or business the matter of their excuses, and the unreasonable reasons of their refusal, negligence and delayes; till death surprize them, and the door is shut; and they knock and cry for Mercy and Admittance when it is too late, Matth. 25. 10, 11, 12.

§. 2. Against this Wilful Negligence and Presumption, which is the principal Cause of the damnation of the ungodly world, I have written many Books already: But because there are many that profess themselves unfeignedly willing, not only to be saved, but also to be Christs Disciples, to learn of him, to p. 2imitate him, and be conformed to him, and to do the will of God, if they could but know it; I have determined, by God's assistance, to write this Book for the Use of such, and to give them from Gods Word those plain Directions, which are suited to the several Duties of their lives, and may Guide them safely in their Walk with God, to Life Eternal. Expect not here copious and earnest Exhortations; for that work I have done already, and have now to do with such, as say they are made willing, and desire help against their Ignorance, that Skill and Will may concurr to their salvation. I shall labour to speak as Plainly as I can, because I specially intend it for the ignorant; and yet to be competently exact in the Directions, lest such Readers lose the benefit by mistakes; and I must speak to many Cases, because I speak to Families where all are not in the same condition, and the same persons are not still the same: And therefore if I should not be brief in the particulars, I should be too long in the whole, and tediousness might deprive some Readers of the benefit.

In Families some are (too ordinarily) Ungodly, in a carnal, unrenewed state; and some are Godly [〈…〉 Socra • es in Cicer. 1. Tuscul. Qui rectè & • onest • cu • iculum vivendi à natura datum confecerit, ad astra facilè revertetur: Non qui aut immoderatè, aut i • tempera • ter vix •••• ▪ Cicero de Univers. Improbo b •••• • sse • ot p •• est. Id. Par. Quod si •••• st in 〈…〉 , m •••• , fides, virtus, concordia, unde haec in terras nisi à superis diffluere potuerunt? Cum que sit in novis Consis •••• , •••• o, pr • dentia, 〈…〉 est Deus haec ipsa habere majora: Nec habere solum, sed etiam his uti, in optimus, & maximus rebus. Cicero de Nat. Deor. li. 2. pag. 76. Quod si poena, si 〈◊〉 suppl • cii, •••• ipsa 〈◊〉 , d • terret ab in •••• iosa facinorosa que vita, •••• o • st injustus: At inca • ti potius hab •• di sunt i • p • o • i. 〈◊〉 , non bo • i s • nt, q • i 〈◊〉 ta • tu • , non ipso honesto, ut boni vi • i sint, woventur. Cic. de Leg. l. 1. p. 289. Ut nihil interest, ut • um nemo •• l • at, a • nemo possit 〈◊〉 ; si • no • intelligo quid intersit, u •• u • nemo sit sapiens, a • nemo esse possit. Cic. de N • t. D •• r. l. 3. p. 138. 〈…〉 was afraid to speak what he knew of the Unity of the Eternal God the Maker of all: Illum quasi pa • ent • m hujus universitatis in • euire di •• icile: & c • m 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 in vulgus n • fas. Lib. de Univers. p. 2. And the • am • : he saith Lib. 2. de Nat. Deor.] in a state of Grace: These are considerable as Christians simply, with respect to God; or in their Relations to others: These Relations are either Ecclesiastical, Civil or Domestical, (Family-relations.)

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Contents

  1. Advertisements.
  2. A Christian Directory. TOM. I. Christian Ethicks.p. 1
  3. CHAP. I. Leg. Danielis Episcop. Epist. ad Bonif. Mogunt. inter Epist. Bonif. 67. de…p. 3
  4. PART I.p. 3
  5. Direction 1. IF thou be truly willing to be sanctified and a child of…p. 6
  6. Direction 2. ESpecially labour first to understand the true nature of…p. 8
  7. Direction 3. TO know what a life of Holiness is, believe the Word of…p. 9
  8. Direction 4. THat thy understanding may be enlightned, and thy heart…p. 10
  9. Direction 5. F thou wouldst not be destitute of saving Grace, let thy…p. 10
  10. Direction 6. SUffer not the Devil by company, pleasure or worldly…p. 11
  11. Direction 7. IF thou wouldst be converted and saved, be not a…p. 12
  12. Direction 8. IF thou art willing indeed to be converted, do thy best…p. 13
  13. Direction 9. WHen you have found your selves in a state of sin and…p. 15
  14. Direction 10. WHen you have found out how sad a condition you are in…p. 17
  15. Direction 11. ANd when you are casting up your account, as you put…p. 17
  16. Direction 12. WHen you have thus considered of the condition you are…p. 18
  17. Direction 13. WHen thou art Resolved, past thy waverings and delayes…p. 18
  18. Direction 14. IN present performance of thy Covenant with God, away…p. 18
  19. Direction 15. IF thou have sincerely given up thy self to God, and…p. 19
  20. Direction 16. ENgage thy self in the chearful constant use, of the…p. 20
  21. Direction 17. THat in all this you may be sincere, and not deceived…p. 22
  22. Direction 18. IF you would prove true Converts, come over to God as…p. 23
  23. Direction 19. REmember still that Conversion, is the turning from…p. 23
  24. Direction 20. LAstly, Be sure that you renounce all conceit of…p. 24
  25. PART. II. The Temptations whereby the Devil hindereth mens…p. 26
  26. CHAP. II. I have si • ce written a Book on this subject, to which I refer the Reader for…p. 36
  27. Direct. 1. TAke heed lest it be the Novelty or reputation of Truth…p. 36
  28. Direct. 2. TAke heed of being Religious only in Opinion, without Zeal…p. 38
  29. Direct. 3. LAbour to understand the true Method of Divinity, and see…p. 39
  30. Direct. 4. BEgin not too early with Controversies in Religion: and…p. 40
  31. Direct. 5. BE very thankful for the great mercy of your Conversion…p. 41
  32. Direct. 6. BE not discouraged at the difficulties and oppositions…p. 43
  33. Direct. 7. IF it be in your power, live under a judicious, faithful…p. 45
  34. Direct. 8. KEep right apprehensions of the excellency of Charity and…p. 47
  35. Direct. 9. TAke heed lest any persecution or wrong from others…p. 49
  36. Direct. 10. WHen you are repenting of, or avoiding any extream, do it…p. 50
  37. Direct. 11. I Et not your first Opinions about the controverted…p. 51
  38. Direct. 12. IF Controversies • ccasion any Divisions where you live…p. 52
  39. Direct. 13. KNow that true Godliness is the Best Life upon Earth, and…p. 54
  40. Direct. 14. BE very diligent in mortifying the desires and pleasures…p. 57
  41. Direct. 15. BE exceeding wary not only what Teachers you commit the…p. 58
  42. Direct. 16. MAke careful choice of the Books which you read. Let the…p. 60
  43. Direct. 17. TAke heed that you receive not a Doctrine of Libertinism…p. 61
  44. Direct. 18. WAtch diligently hath against the more discernable…p. 63
  45. Direct. 19. PRomise not your selves long life, or prosperity and…p. 65
  46. Direct. 20. SEe that your Religion be purely Divine, and animated all…p. 66
  47. CHAP. III. The General Grand Directions for Walking with God, in a Life of Faith and…p. 69
  48. DIRECT. I. Labour to understand well the Nature, Grounds, Reason and…p. 69
  49. DIRECT. II. Diligently labour in that part of the life of faith…p. 72
  50. DIRECT. III. Gr. Dir. 3. Understand well what it is to believe in the…p. 77
  51. DIRECT. IV. Gr. Dir. 4. Let it be your chiefest study to attain to a…p. 81
  52. DIRECT. V. Remember that God is your Lord or Owner: and see that you…p. 83
  53. DIRECT. VI. Gr. Dir. 6. Remember that God is your Soveraign King, to…p. 85
  54. DIRECT. VII. Continue as the Covenanted Scholars of Christ, the…p. 90
  55. S • ct. 2. Directions for Learning of Christ as our Teacher.Direct. 1.p. 90
  56. DIRECT. VIII. Gr. Dir. 6. To obev Christ as our Physicion in his…p. 95
  57. DIRECT. IX. Spend all your dayes in a skilful, vigilant, resolute and…p. 104
  58. The Methods of Christ against the Tempter.p. 110
  59. Tit. 2. Temptations to particular sins; with Directions for…p. 113
  60. Tit. 3. Temptations to draw us off from duty.p. 124
  61. Tit. 4. Temptations to frustrate holy duties, and make them…p. 126
  62. DIRECT. X. Your lives must be laid out in doing God service, and…p. 128
  63. Directions for faithful serving Christ, and doing Good.p. 130
  64. DIRECT. XI. Let it be most deeply engraven on thy heart, that God is…p. 141
  65. Directions for Loving God as our Father and Felicity.p. 141
  66. DIRECT. XII. Trust God with that soul and body which thou hast…p. 157
  67. §. 7. Directions for a quieting and comforting Trust in God.p. 158
  68. DIRECT. XIII. Diligently labour that God and Holiness may be thy…p. 162
  69. DIRECT. XIV. Let Thankfulness to God thy Creator, Redeemer and…p. 167
  70. DIRECT. XV. Let thy very heart be set to GLORIFIE GOD, thy Creator…p. 172
  71. Directions for Glorifying God with the Heart.p. 172
  72. Directions for Glorifying God with our tongues, in his Praises.p. 173
  73. Directions for the glorifying God in our Lives.p. 177
  74. DIRECT. XVI. Let your life on Earth be a conversation in Heaven; by…p. 180
  75. DIRECT. XVII. As the soul must be carried up to God, and devoted to…p. 181
  76. APPENDIX.p. 182
  77. CHAP. IV. Subordinate Directions against those Grand heart-sins, which are directly…p. 196
  78. PART I. Directions against UNBELIEF.p. 196
  79. PART II. Directions against Hardness of Heart.p. 204
  80. PART III. Directions against Hypocrisie.p. 210
  81. PART IV. Directions against inordinate Man-pleasing: or that…p. 218
  82. PART V. Directions against Pride, and for Humility.p. 229
  83. Signs of the worst part of PRIDE against GOD.p. 232
  84. Signs of the next Degrees of Pride as against God.p. 235
  85. The Signs of Pride in and about Religious duties.p. 237
  86. Signs of Pride in common converse.p. 239
  87. PART VI. See an excellen • • ract. a • 〈◊〉 〈…〉 3. 〈…〉 Pat. (though…p. 254
  88. PART VII. Directions against the Master sin; SENSUALITY…p. 264
  89. CHAP. V. Further Subordinate Directions, for the next great duties of Religion…p. 274
  90. Directions for REDEEMING or well improving TIME.p. 274
  91. The Directions contemplative for Redeeming Time.p. 276
  92. Tit. 2. Directions Contemplative for Redeeming Opportunity.p. 283
  93. Tit. 3. Directions Practical for Redeeming Time.p. 285
  94. Tit. 4. The Thieves or Time-wasters to be watchfully avoided.p. 288
  95. Tit. 5. On whom this duty of Redeeming Time, is principally incumbent.p. 292
  96. CHAP. VI. Directions for the Government of the Thoughts.p. 294
  97. Tit. 1. Directions against evil and idle Thoughts.p. 294
  98. Tit. 2. Directions to furnish the Mind with good Thoughts.p. 298
  99. Tit. 3. Directions how to make good Thoughts effectual: or, General…p. 304
  100. Directions about the work it self.p. 306
  101. Tit. 4. The Difference between a Contemplative life, and an obedient…p. 309
  102. Tit. 5. Directions to the Melancholy about their Thoughts.p. 312
  103. Tit. 6. Directions for young Students, for the most profitable…p. 319
  104. CHAP. VII. Directions for the Government of the Passions.p. 327
  105. Tit. 1. Directions against all sinful Passions in general.p. 327
  106. Tit. 2. Directions against sinful Love of Creatures.p. 329
  107. Helps for discovering of sinful Love.p. 329
  108. Helps to mortifie sinful Love.p. 330
  109. Tit. 3. Directions against sinful Desires and Discontent.p. 332
  110. Tit. 4. Directions against sinful Mirth and Pleasure.p. 335
  111. Tit. 5. Directions against sinful Hopes.p. 338
  112. Tit. 6. Directions against sinful Hatred, Aversation or Backwardness…p. 339
  113. Tit. 7. Directions against sinful Wrath or Anger.p. 341
  114. Directions Meditative against sinful Anger.p. 341
  115. Directions Practicall against sinful Anger.p. 342
  116. Tit. 8. Directions against sinful Fear.p. 344
  117. Directions against sinful fear of God.p. 344
  118. Directions against sinful fear of the Devil.p. 345
  119. Directions against the sinful fear of men, and sufferings by them.p. 346
  120. Tit. 9. Directions against sinful Grief and Trouble.p. 351
  121. Tit. 10. Directions against sinful Despair (and Doubting.)p. 355
  122. PART I. General Directions for the Government of the Senses (by a…p. 361
  123. PART. II. Particular Directions for the Government of the Eyes.p. 366
  124. PART. III. Directions for the Government of the Ear.p. 368
  125. Tit. 1. Directions against Gluttony.p. 370
  126. III. The Greatness of the sin of Gluttony.p. 373
  127. IV. The Directions or Helps against it.p. 376
  128. Tit. 2. Directions against Drunkenness and all excess of Drink.p. 381
  129. Practical Directions against Tipling and Drunkenness.p. 392
  130. Tit. 1. Directions against Fornication and all Uncleanness.p. 394
  131. II. The Directions against fornication.p. 398
  132. Tit. 2. Directions against inward filthy Lusts.p. 400
  133. PART. VI. Directions against sinful Excess of Sleep.p. 404
  134. PART VII. Directions against sinful Dreams.p. 407
  135. CHAP. IX. See the Directions for holy Conference, T • ▪ 2. •• . 1 • . Directions for the…p. 408
  136. Tit. 1. The General Directions.p. 408
  137. Tit. 2. Special Directions against prophane swearing, and using Gods…p. 414
  138. Tit. 3. Special Directions against Lying and Dissembling.p. 421
  139. Tit. 4. Special Directions against Idle talk, and Babling.p. 431
  140. Tit. 5. Special Directions against filthy, ribbald, scurrilous Talk.p. 437
  141. Tit. 6. Directions against Prophane deriding, scorning, or opposing…p. 438
  142. Tit. 1. Directions for the Right choice of our Calling and ordinary…p. 447
  143. Tit. 2. Directions against Idleness and Sloth.p. 451
  144. Tit. 3. Directions against Sloth and Laziness in things spiritual…p. 456
  145. PART II. Directions about Sports and Recreations, and against excess…p. 460
  146. PART III. Directions about Apparel, and against the Sin therein…p. 465
  147. To all that fear God in the Burrough and Parish of Kederminster in Worcestershire.p. 473
  148. A Christian Directory. TOM. II. Christian Oeconomicks.p. 475
  149. Tit. 2. Cases of Marriage.p. 486
  150. PART I. Directions for the right choice of Servants.p. 490

and 319 more sections

Other works by Richard Baxter

Additional Notes on the Life and Death of Sir Matthew Hale
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Paraphrase on the New Testament
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The Saints' Everlasting Rest
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The Reformed Pastor
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A Call to the Unconverted
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Five Disputations of Church-Government and Worship
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Catholic Unity
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The Christian Religion Expressed
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Short Instructions for the Sick
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Catholick Theology
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The Christian's Infant
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Apology for the Nonconformists Ministry
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How to Do Good to Many
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Of the Immortality of Man's Soul
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The English Nonconformity Under King Charles II and King James II
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Monthly Preparations for the Holy Communion
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A Holy Commonwealth
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Reliquiae Baxterianae
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The Life of Faith
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The Mischiefs of Self-Ignorance and the Benefits of Self-Acquaintance
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Against the Revolt to a Foreign Jurisdiction
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Universal Redemption of Mankind
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The Cure of Church-Divisions
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The Catechizing of Families
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The Successive Visibility of the Church
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Directions for Weak Distempered Christians
→
The Vain Religion of the Formal Hypocrite
→
An End of Doctrinal Controversies
→
A Treatise of Knowledge and Love Compared in Two Parts
→
Aphorisms of Justification
→
A Treatise of Death
→
Of the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness to Believers
→
A Third Defence of the Cause of Peace
→
The True History of Councils
→
The Certainty of the Worlds of Spirits
→
The Scripture Gospel Defended
→
Naked Popery
→
An Answer to Mr. Dodwell and Dr. Sherlock
→
Baxter's Apology
→
The Christian's Converse with God
→
An Account of All the Proceedings of the Commissioners of Both Persuasions
→
Which Is the True Church?
→
Gospel-Churches a Standing Ordinance of Jesus Christ
→
The Certainty of Christianity Without Popery
→
A Petition for Peace with the Reformation of the Liturgy
→
The Last Work of a Believer
→
The Glorious Kingdom of Christ
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Church Concord
→
The Nonconformist's Advocate
→
Schism Detected in Both Extremes
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Of National Churches
→
The Life and Death of Henry Ashhurst
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A True Believer's Choice and Pleasure
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A Moral Prognostication
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The Quakers Catechism
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A Sermon of Repentance
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A Search for the English Schismatic
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Baxter's Vindication of the Church of England
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