A Christian Directory, Part 1: Christian EthicsBaxter, Richard
Religion
A Christian Directory, Part 1: Christian Ethics
Baxter, Richard
Casuistry; Christian sociology
4. This is the sum of the covenant of God with man, "I will be thy God,
and thou shalt be my people." And the other parts of the covenant, "that
Christ be our Saviour, and the Holy Ghost our Sanctifier," are both
subservient unto this; there being now no coming unto God, but as
reconciled in Christ our Mediator, and by the teaching and drawing of
the Holy Ghost. To be our God, is to be to us an absolute Owner, a most
righteous Governor, and a most bountiful Benefactor or Father; as having
created us, redeemed and regenerated us; and this according to his most
blessed nature, properties, and perfections.
5. It is not only a loose and inconstant effect of your particular
thoughts of God, that is the necessary impress of his attributes (as to
fear him, when you remember his greatness and justice): but it must be a
habit or holy nature in you, every attribute having made its stated
image upon you; and that habit or image being in you, a constant
principle of holy, spiritual operations. A habit of reverence, belief,
trust, love, &c. should be, as it were, your nature.
6. Not that the knowledge of God in his perfections, should provoke us
to desire his properties and perfections: for to have such an aspiring
desire to be gods, were the greatest pride and wickedness. But only we
must desire, (1.) To be as like God, in all his communicable
excellencies, as is agreeable to our created state and capacity. (2.)
And to have as near and full communion with him, as we can attain to
and enjoy.
7. The will of God, and his goodness, and holiness, are more nearly
propounded to us, to be the rule of our conformity, than his power,
and his knowledge. Therefore his law is most immediately the
expression of his will; and our duty and goodness lie in our
conformity to his law; being holy as he is holy.
Because I may not stand on the particulars, I shall give you a brief,
imperfect scheme of that of God, which you must thus know.
God is to be known by us
I. As in Himself.
{1. One; and
I. In his {indivisible: {[a]1. The
BEING: {in Three { FATHER, {[b]1. Necessary,}
_Quod {Persons.[a] {2. The SON, {2. Independent, }
sit._ {2. Immense: and {3. The HOLY {3. Immutable. }
{incomprehensible. { GHOST.
{3. Eternal.[b]
{1. Simple: uncompounded.
{A SPIRIT {2. Impassionate, incorruptible,
II. In his { { immortal.
NATURE: { {3. Invisible, intactible, &c.
_Quid {
sit._ { {1. POWER,
{and LIFE {2. UNDERSTANDING,
{itself. {3. WILL.
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