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.

THE PREFACE TO THE SECOND PART; Directed to my worthy Friend, Henry Ashurst, Esquire, Citizen of London.

Dear and faithful Friend.

WHen this Book was Printed and passing into the World, with∣out the ordinary or∣nament of a prefixed honoured Name, my thoughts reduced me into the com∣mon way, though not upon the com∣mon

reasons; assuring me that your name, would be more than an accident or ceremony to such a dis∣course as this; even a part more sub∣stantial than a Map is in a Treatise of Geography, or the well-cut Figures in Tractates of Anatomy. Dis∣courses of Navigation, Architecture, Musick, &c. may almost as hope∣fully instruct the Learners, without any visible operations or effects, as the Characters of well-tempered Christians, can duly inform the minds of ignorant ungodly men, of so Divine a thing as Christianity and Godliness, without acquaintance with some such Persons, in whom these Characters are manifestly ex∣emplified. Wise and holy precepts, are to make wise and holy persons: It is such Persons as well as such Precepts which bear the image of God: which indeed is most perfect in exact∣ness and integrity in the precepts; (for in

them is no imperfection or errour, as they are of God;) But it is of greater final Excellency; in activity and useful∣ness as it is in men. And therefore as God delighteth in his servants, and is Glorified in and by them in the world; so Satan usually chooseth such Persons, to reproach and make odious to the ignorant, rather than the holy Precepts immediately, by which they are directed; both be∣cause their Holiness is most exasperating by activity; and also most lyable to calumny and contempt, through im∣perfection, and mixture of that which indeed is worthy of dislike. Till Godliness and Christianity be visible in full perfection, and elevated above the contradiction of folly, and the contempt of pride, the blind distracted minds of hardened forsaken sinners, will not acknowledge its divine celestial nature, and worth: But then it will be too late to become partakers

of it: They must both know and pos∣sess it in its infancy and minority, who will ever enjoy it in its heavenly dig∣nity and glory. If seasonable illu∣mination and conversion, confute not the deceits and standers which pride and ignorance have entertained, the too-late confutation of them by death and their following experience, will make them wish, that they had been wise at cheaper rates, when it will be in vain to cry, Give us of your Oyle, for our Lamps are out, Mat. 25.8.

But while I offer your name to the malicious world, as an instance of the temper which I here describe, I in∣tend it not as a singular though an emi∣nent instance: For through the great mercy of God, there are thousands of examples of confirmed Christians, among us in this Land, even before those eyes which will not see them. But it is not Catalogues but single names, which Writers have used in

this way. And why may I not take the advantage of Custome, to leave to the World the testimony of my estimation and great respects, to so deserving a person of the primitive Christian Catholick temper: And to let them know, what sort of men were my most dear and faithful friends? And also thus to express my love, by telling you closely what you must be, as well as by telling the World for their example, what you are. Upon these accounts, without your knowledge or consent, I presume thus to prefix your name, to this Treatise written long ago, but now published by

Your faithful Friend, Rich. Baxter.

From my Lodging in New-Prison, June 14. 1669.