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.

Title

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.

Author

Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.

Publication

London :: Printed for Nevil Simmons ...,

1669.

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Subject terms

Christian life -- Early works to 1800.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A26917.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"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." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A26917.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 8, 2025. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• To my Dearly Beloved, the Church of Christ at Kederminster in Worcestershire.
• THE PREFACE.
• THE CONTENTS.
• DIRECTIONS TO THE CONVERTED, For their establishment, growth, and perseverance.
• XX. DIRECTIONS FOR CONFIRMATION In a state of Grace.
  • DIRECT. I. Be sure that the Foundation be well laid, both in your Heads and Hearts; or else you can ne∣ver attain to Confirmation, nor be savingly built up.
  • DIRECT. II. Think not that all is done when once you are Converted; but remember that the work of your Christianity then comes in, and must be as long as the time of your lives.
  • DIRECT. III. Be sure that you understand wherein your esta∣blishment and growth consisteth, that you may not miscarry by seeking somewhat else instead of it: nor think you have it when you have it not, or that you want it, when you have it, and so be needlessly disquieted about it.
  • DIRECT. IV.
  • DIRECT. V. Exercise your selves daily in a life of Faith upon Jesus Christ; as your Saviour, your Teacher, your Mediator, and your King; as your Example, your Wisdom, your Righ∣teousness, and your Hope.
  • DIRECT. VI. Let the Knowledg and Love of God, and your obedience to him be the Works of your Reli∣gion; and the everlasting fruition of him in Heaven, be the continual end and ruling Motive of your Hearts and Lives: that your very Conversation may be with God in Hea∣ven.
  • DIRECT. VII. In the work of Mortification, let SELF-DE∣NYAL be the First and Last of all your study, care and diligence.
  • DIRECT. VIII. Take your corrupted fleshly Desires, for the great∣est enemy of your Souls; and let it be every day your constant work, to mortify the Flesh, and to keep a watch upon your lusts and appe∣tite and every sense.
  • DIRECT. IX. Take heed lest you fall in love with the World or any thing therein, and lest your thoughts of any place or condition which you either pos∣sess or hope for, do grow too sweet and plea∣sing to you.
  • DIRECT. X. Cast not your selves wilfully upon temptations, but avoid them as far as lawfully you can: And if you are cast upon them unwillingly, resist them resolutely, as knowing that they come to entice you into Sin and Hell, from God and your everlasting happiness; And therefore be well acquainted with the particu∣lar Temptations of every company, calling, relation, business, time, place, and condition of life; and go alwayes furnished with particu∣lar Antidotes against them all.
  • DIRECT. XI. If it be possible, make choice of such a Pastor for the help and guidance of your Souls, as is ju∣dicious, experienced, humble, holy, heaven∣ly, faithful, diligent, lively, and peaceable; that liveth not in separation from the gene∣rality of the sober Godly Ministers and Chri∣stians where he liveth.
  • DIRECT. XII. Make choice of such Christians for your fami∣liar friends and the companions of your lives, as are holy, humble, heavenly, serious, mor∣tified, charitable, peaceable, judicious, expe∣rienced and fixed in the wayes of God; and not of ungodly persons, or proud self-conceit∣ed, censorious, dividing, injudicious, unex∣perienced, sensual, worldly, opinionative, su∣perficial, luke-warm or unsetled Professors.
  • DIRECT. XIII. Subdue your passions, and abhor all uncharita∣ble principles and practises, and live in love; maintaining peace in your families, and with your neighbours, but especially in the Church of God.
  • DIRECT. XIV. Keep up a constant Government over your Thoughts and Tongues; especially against those particular sins which you are stronglyest tempted to, and which you see other Christi∣ans most overtaken with.
  • DIRECT. XV. Let every state of life and Relation that you are in, be sanctifyed unto God, and conscio∣nably used: And to that end understand the advantages and duties of every condition and Relation, and the sins and hinderances and dangers which you are most lyable to.
  • DIRECT. XVI. Live as those that have all their powers, re∣ceivings and opportunities to do Good with in the World; and must be answerable how they have improved all: And as those that believe that the more Good they do, the more they do receive, and the greater is the ho∣nour, the profit, and the pleasure of their lives.
  • DIRECT. XVII. Redeem your Time, and highly value every mi∣nute; and spare for no labour in the work of your salvation: Dream not of an easie, idle, sluggish life, as sufficient to your high and glorious ends: Nor rest not in a customary and outside way of duty, without regard to the Life and the success.
  • DIRECT. XVIII. Sit down and count what it may cost you to be Christians indeed, and to be saved: Reckon not on prosperity, or a cheap Religion, but re∣solve to take up the Cross and follow Christ in suffering, and to be Crucified to the World, and by many tribulations, to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Luke 14.26, 27, 28, 30, 33. Gal. 6.14. Acts 14.22. 1 Thes. 3.4. and 2 Thess. 1.6, 7, 8. Mal. 5.10, 11, 12. 2 Tim. 3.12.
  • DIRECT. XIX. If you fall into any sin, rise speedily by a through Repentance; and take heed both of delay, and of a palliate Cure, Luke 13.3, 5. and 22.32.
  • DIRECT. XX. Live as with Death continually in your eye, and spend every day in serious preparation for it, that when it cometh, you may find your work dispatcht; and may not then cry out in vain to God to try you once again.
  • conclusion
• title page
• THE PREFACE TO THE SECOND PART; Directed to my worthy Friend, Henry Ashurst, Esquire, Citizen of London.
• ERRATA.
• TO THE READER.
• The Contents.
• THE CHARACTER OF 1 A Sound Confirmed Christian,2 And of the Weak Christian,3 And of the Seeming Christian.
  • The Characters.