THE

PRACTICAL WORKS

VOL. XV.

OF THE

REV. RICHARD BAXTER.

VOLUME XV.

CONTAINING

KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE COMPARED; COMPASSIONATE COUNSEL
TO ALL YOUNG MEN; A MORAL PROGNOSTICATION; THE
REFORMED LITURGY; MR. BAXTER'S SENSE OF THE
ARTICLES OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND; REASONS
FOR MINISTERS USING THE GREATEST PLAINNESS
IN THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THEIR PEOPLE;
DIRECTIONS TO JUSTICES OF PEACE.

CONTENTS

OF

THE FIFTEENTH VOLUME.

KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE COMPARED.

EPISTLE DEDICATORY

To the Reader

PART I.

FALSELY PRETENDED KNOWLEDGE.

CHAP. I. The Text opened: What philosophy Paul depres-

seth, and why....

II. What wisdom and esteem of it are not here con-

demned

...... III. What pretended knowledge is condemned, and

what learning or philosophy it is which Paul

disliked, further opened; with thirty reasons

IV. What are the certainties which must be known

and held fast, and why, where certainty is dis-

tinctly described.

....

......

......

......

.....

.....

....

V. Of the various degrees of certainty...

VI. What are the unknown things or uncertainties,

which we must not pretend a certain know-

ledge of, even Scripture truths

VII. The first inference: The true reason and use-

fulness of the Christian simplicity, in differ-

encing the covenant and the principles of

religion from the rest of the Holy Scriptures..

VIII. Inference 2. Of the use of catechising

IX. Inference 3. The true preservative of puzzled

Christians, from the errors of false teachers,

who draw them to their several parties......

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CHAP. X. Inference 4. What is the great plague and di-

vider of the Christian world

.....

....

.....

XI. The common discoveries of men's proud, self-

conceited understanding, and of pretended

knowledge ....

XII. Of the mischievous effects of this proud pre-

tence of more knowledge than men have..........

XIII. The commodities of a suspended judgment

and humble understanding, which pretendeth

to no more knowledge or certainty than it

hath

XIV. The aggravations of the sin of prefidence....

..XV. Special aggravations of it in students and pastors

. XVI. Twenty clear proofs of the little knowledge

that is in the world, to move us to a due dis-

trust of our understandings

.....XVII. Inference 5. It is not the dishonour, but the

praise of Christ and his Apostles, and the Gospel,

that they speak in a plain style and manner,

of the certain necessary things, without the

vanity of school-uncertainty, and unprofitable

notions

....

....

XX. Objections answered..

XXI. Directions for the cure

XVIII. Inference 6. The true and false ways of re-

storing the churches, and healing our divisions,

hence opened and made plain

XIX. Of the causes of prefidence or proud pretended

knowledge, in order to the cure.

PART II.

TRUE SAVING KNOWLEDGE.

CHAP. I. Knowledge is a means to a higher end, according

to which it is to be estimated

II. The end of knowledge is to make us lovers of

God, and so to be known of him ......

III. Therefore knowledge is to be sought, valued and

used as it tendeth to our love to God ... . .

IV. Therefore they are the wisest and best knowing

men that love God best; and not they that

have much unholy knowledge

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