The Practical Works of Richard Baxter: with a Life of the Author and a Critical Examination of His Writings by William Orme

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THE

PRACTICAL WORKS

OF THE

REV. RICHARD BAXTER.

VOLUME VIII.

CONTAINING

DIRECTIONS AND PERSUASIONS TO A SOUND CONVERSION; DIRECTIONS FOR WEAK, DISTEMPERED CHRISTIANS; THE CHARACTER OF A SOUND, CONFIRMED CHRISTIAN; GOD'S GOODNESS. WINDICATED.

RICHARD EDWARDS, CRANE COURT, FLEET STREET, LONDON,

CONTENTS

THE EIGHTH VOLUME.

DIRECTIONS AND PERSUASIONS

TO A SOUND CONVERSION.

PREFACE

Considerations to provoke men to take heed of sticking in a

half-conversion....

Direct. 1. Labour for a right understanding of the true nature
of Christianity, and meaning of the Gospel that must con-

vert

Direct 2. When you understand that which you are called to,

search the Scripture, and see whether it be so

Direct. 3. Be much in the serious consideration of the truths

which you understand and believe....

Seven things to be considered

The manner of this consideration

Twelve motives to consideration

Direct. 4. See that the work of humiliation be thoroughly done,

and break not away from the spirit of contrition before he

have done with you: and yet see that you mistake not the

nature and ends of the work, and that you drive it not on

further than God requireth

Preparatory humiliation, what

Sound humiliation, how known.

The ends and use of humiliation

Mistakes about humiliation to be avoided

Whether it be possible to be too much humbled

How to know when sorrow should be restrained

And when sorrow must be increased

Motives for submission to a thorough humiliation

Direct. 5. Close with the Lord Jesus understandingly, heartily,

and entirely, as he is revealed and offered in the Gospel..

PAGE

The ends of redemption to be understood

What must be understood of the person of Christ

The demonstrations of the glory of God in Christ, and to whom

108

What are the works of redemption that Christ hath done....

The benefits by Christ procured :

113

The general benefits..

117

The benefits proper to believers

120

The several terms on which the several benefits are conveyed

The certainty of all this...

128

131

132

How Christ must be received heartily and with the will

Christ must be entirely received, and how

....

137

144

Direct. 6. See that the flesh be thoroughly mortified, and your

hearts taken off the pleasures, profits, and honours of the

world, and think not of reconciling God and the world, as

if you might secure your interest in both..

Direct. 7. Be sure that you make an absolute resignation of

yourselves, and all that you have to God

Direct. 8. See that you mistake not a mere change of your

opinions, and profession, and behaviour for a saving change 155

The marks by which a sound conversion may be known from

a mere opinionative change..

Directions to get beyond an opinionative change.

Direct. 9. Acquaint yourselves by faith with the glory of the

everlasting kingdom, and see that you take it for your por-

tion and your end, and from thence let the rest of your ac-

tions be animated.....

Wherein this blessedness doth consist

Direct. 10. Rest not, and count not yourselves converted, till

God and holiness have your very love, desire, and delight:

and take it not for a saving change, when you had rather

live a worldly and ungodly life, if it were not for the fears of

punishment

......

Direct. 11. If you would not have the work miscarry, turn

then this present day and hour without any more delays :

where fifty considerations are given to shame men out of

their delays

...

Direct. 12. Stop not in weak and wavering purposes, and

faint attempts; but see that you be groundedly, unreser-

vedly, and firmly or habitually resolved

What resolution is, and by what deliberations it is caused.
The preparatory common acts, and the special acts: illu-
mination, and the will's determinations, how wrought

The unresolved are unconverted