A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.

Tit. 5. The Counterfeits of Christian Love.

Counterfeit 1. IT is but Counterfeit Love to Christians, when they are loved only for being of the* 1.1 common Religion of the Countrey, and the same that you say you are of your selves: As one Mahometan loveth another.

Count. 2. Or to love one only Sect or party of Christians, which you espouse as the only party or* 1.2 Church; and not to love a Christian as a Christian, and so to love all true Christians whom you can discern to be such.

Count. 3. To love only those Christians who are your kindred or relations, or those that have been* 1.3 some way benefactors to you.

Count. 4. To love Christians only for their familiarity, or kind and loving conversation, and civil* 1.4 obliging deportment among men.

Count. 5. To love them only because they are Learned, or have better wits and abilities of speech,* 1.5 in preaching, prayer or conference than others.

Count. 6. To love them only upon the praise which common commendations may sometimes give* 1.6 them, and for being magnified by fame, and well spoken of by all men. Thus many wicked men do love the Saints departed, when they hate those that are alive among them.

Count. 7. To love them only for being godly in themselves at a distance, so they will not trouble* 1.7 them with their godliness: while they love not those that reprove them, and would draw them to be as godly.

Count. 8. To love them only for suffering with them in the same cause. Thus a prophane person* 1.8 taken by the Turks may love his fellow Captives who refuse to renounce Christ. And thus a suf∣ferer for an ill cause, or in an erroneous Sect, may love those that suffer with him above others.

Count. 9. To love them only for holding strict and right opinions, while they will not endure to live* 1.9 accordingly: Thus many love the light, that cannot bear the heat and motion: Many love an Or∣thodox person, of a sound judgement, that is against loosness and prophaneness in his opinion, and do not like the folly of the licentious; who yet like licentious practice best.

Count. 10. To love them for some parts of Godliness only; while some other essential part will not* 1.10 be endured, (of which before).

Count. 11. To love them in a kind fit only, as Soul with tears professed to do his Son David; but* 1.11 to have no habitual constant Love.

Direct. 12. Lastly, To love godly men a little, and the world and fleshly interest more: To love* 1.12 them only so as will cost them nothing: To wish them fed, but not to feed them, and to wish them clothed, but not to clothe them, and to wish them out of Prison, but not to dare to visit them for fear of suffering themselves. He that hath this worlds goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shut∣up the bowels of his compassion from him, how dwelleth the Love of God in him, 1 Iohn. 3. 17. Surely if the love of his brother were in him, the love of God had been in him. But he hath no true love to his brother, that will only love him on terms that cost him little, and cannot give and suffer for his love. All these are deceiving Counterfeits of Love to the children of God.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Count. 1.
• * 1.2

  Count. 2.
• * 1.3

  Count. 3.
• * 1.4

  Count. 4.
• * 1.5

  Count. 5.
• * 1.6

  Count. 6.
• * 1.7

  Count. 7.
• * 1.8

  Count. 8.
• * 1.9

  Count. 9.
• * 1.10

  Count. 10.
• * 1.11

  Count. 11.
• * 1.12

  Count. 12.