Directions to Natural Man

Richard Baxter's "A Christian Directory" contains different types of spiritual directions. The first type is addressed to the natural man. We already mentioned in the previous article our presuppositions about this natural man. And also in the first article, we mentioned that in Chapter 1 of Christian Ethics, after enumerating the presuppositions, the next topic is about 20 directions to the natural man (pp. 13-61), which seven of them is the subject of the present article. Let us start with the 1st direction:

Direction # 1 - If you really want to become a child of God and be sanctified, "remain not in a state of ignorance; but do your best to come into light, and understand the Word of God in the matters of salvation" (p. 13).

The greatest knowledge you can attain in this life is to learn how "to obey your Maker, and to save your soul" (ibid.). If it is really true that the knowledge of the law, of trade, and of business is as important as knowing "how to be reconciled to God, to be pardoned and justified, to please your Creator, to prepare in time for death and judgment, and an endless life", then let natural knowledge be given the priority (ibid.). "But if all earthly things be dreams and shadows, and valuable only as they serve us in the way to heaven, then surely the heavenly wisdom is the best" (ibid.). It is unfortunate to see a man who is an expert in the law, in many "languages, sciences, and arts, and yet" does not know how to live for God, "to mortify the flesh, to conquer sin, to deny himself . . ." (p. 14).

Direction # 2 - Do your best to understand the meaning of what it is to be under the state of sin, and what it is to be under the state of grace. 

It is either you are under the state of sin or under the state of grace. You must be certain about it. And for you to know which state describes your condition, you must understand first the meaning of both.

A man under the state of sin has "habitually and predominantly a greater love to some pleasures, or profits, or honors of this world, than he has to God and to the glory which he has promised; he prefers and seeks and holds his fleshly prosperity in this world before the favor of God and the happiness of the world to come" (p. 19). Furthermore, "His heart is turned from God unto the creature, and is principally set on things on earth" (ibid.). His sin is blindnes of the heart and the "idolatry of his soul" (ibid.). 

On the other hand, the state of grace is also "a state of holiness" and "the habitual and predominant devotion and dedication of soul, and body, and life, and all that we have to God: an esteeming, and loving, and serving, and seeking him, before all the pleasures and prosperity of the flesh: making his favor, and everlasting happiness in heaven our end, and Jesus Christ our way, and referring all things in the world unto that end, and making this the scope, design, and business of our lives" (ibid.). Moreover, "It is a turning from a deceitful world to God; and preferring the Creator before the creature, and heaven before earth, and eternity before an inch of time, and our souls before our corruptible bodies, and the authority and laws of God, the universal Governor of the world, before the word or will of any man, how great soever. . ." (ibid.).

Direction # 3 - For you to know the kind of life under the state of grace, "believe the Word of God, and those that have tried it", and don't listen to the word of those who do not know the things that they despise (p. 20).

There is no one wiser than God. His mind about life under the state of grace is revealed in the Bible. Therefore, instead of listening to the despisers of holy living, better consult what the Bible says about it. Besides the Bible, the other source that you must listen to is the testimony of godly men. They themselves experience the kind of life under grace. Never listen to the voice of those who know nothing about this life. The natural thing for ungodly men to do is to slander the ways of God and of his followers. "No wisdom, no measure of holiness or righteousness will exempt the godly from their malice; otherwise, Christ himself at least would have exempted . . . " (ibid.). 

Read John 15: 18-20.

Direction # 4 - For your mind to "be enlightened and your heart renewed, be much and serious in reading the word of God, and those books that" are suitable to your condition, and listen to the preaching of God's word (p. 22). 

Under this direction, you will observe that Richard Baxter has a high view of the Holy Scriptures and preaching for the conversion of the soul. He describes that the Word of God has power to root out corruption and to enter grace into the human soul for it has a "heavenly light" and "majesty" channeled through reading and listening (ibid.). We find several Bible passages to prove the power of God's Word (Psalm 19:7,8,11; Acts 8; 2:37; 16:14; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Corinthians 10:4,5). Selected examples include the conversion of the eunuch, the 3,000 on the day of Pentecost, and Lydia through the ministry of the Word. 

As for books that apply the Word of God into your situation, try Baxter's "Directions for a Sound Conversion", which you can find in Volume 8 of his Practical Works. 

Direction # 5 - Use your reason in matters of salvation.

"Sinners are exceeding blind and erroneous about the things of God, yet all God's precepts are so reasonable", says Baxter (p. 23). However, the evil one has been successful in "silencing", "laying asleep", and "drowning" the voice of reason "with the noise and crowd of worldly business" (pp. 23-24). As our author further explains this direction, we see here how his view of reason is radically different from popular view. Consistent to his concept of man under two states, his idea of reason is also influenced by sin and grace. For him, "Sin, as it is in the understanding, is nothing but unreasonableness; a blindness and error; a loss and a corruption of reason in the matters of God and our salvation" (p. 24). On the other hand, "grace, as in the understanding, does cure this folly and distraction, and make us reasonable again; it is but the opening of our eyes, and make us wise in the greatest matters" (ibid.). 

And then our author challenges you, his readers, to use your reason in looking for answer to the "great, important questions" in life: "Where must I abide forever? What must I do to be saved? What was I created and redeemed for?" (ibid.). And then he asks you to set aside time to contemplate about these matters, to think "that time is hasting to an end, that judgment is at hand, where you must give account of all your hours, of your lusts, and passions, and desires; of all your thoughts, and words, and deeds. . ." (ibid.). And then Baxter concludes his exposition by asking another series of questions: 

"Would it not be strange that a man should be penitent and godly, that never once thought of the matter with any seriousness in his life? Can so many and great diseases of soul be cured, before you have once soberly considered that you have them, and how great and dangerous they are, and by what remedies they must be cured? Can grace be obtained and exercised, while you never so much as think of it? Can the main business of our lives be done without any serious thoughts; when we think it fit to bestow so many upon the trivial matters of this world? Do the world and the flesh deserve to be remembered all the day, and week, and year? and do not God and your salvation deserve to be thought on one hour in a day, or one day in a week? Judge of these things, but as a man of reason" (p. 25).

Direction # 6 - Do not allow "company, pleasure, or worldly business, to divert or hinder you from . . . serious considerations" (ibid. ).

The evil one uses diversion as his common tool to keep you from thinking about "spiritual and eternal things" (p. 26). He does this by "putting some other thoughts into your mind, and some other work into your hand; so that you can never have leisure for any sober thoughts of God. . ." (ibid.). That is why "whenever the Spirit of God knocks at your door, you are so taken up with other company, or other business, that you cannot hear, or will not open to him" (ibid.). There are numerous occasions that God "has been ready to teach you but you were not at a leisure to hear and learn", that God has spoken to "your conscience, and checked you in your sin, and called you aside to consider soberly about your spiritual everlasting state" but "the noise of foolish . . . pleasures, or the bustles of encumbering cares and business have caused you to stop your ears, and put him off. . ." (ibid.). 

Perhaps you're thinking that "you set some limits to your folly," and thinks to do just "a litte while: but when one pleasure withers, the devil will provide a fresh one for you; and when one business is over, which causes you to pretend necessity, another, and another, and another will succeed, and you will think you have such necessity still, until time is gone, and you see too late . . ." (p. 27). "Resolve, therefore, that whatever company, or pleasure, or business would divert you, that you will not be be . . . taken off from minding the one thing necessary" (ibid.). 

Read Matthew 16:26.

Direction # 7 - Be not angry with those who "tell you of your sin or duty, as if they thy did you wrong or hurt" (ibid.).

Maybe you are thinking that the preacher is too direct and sharp in exposing your sin. However, God knows best "what medicine and diet is fitted for your disease. . . . and that your disease is so obstinate that gentler means have been too long frustrate, and therefore sharper must be tried: else why were you not converted by gentler dealing until now?" (ibid.). 

All in all, there are 20 total directions given to the natural man. I want to stop at the 7th direction, and will resume the 8th to the 20th in the next articles. So far we have seen that the first three directions dealt with the importance of knowledge particularly knowledge of the two states of man and the reliable source of such knowledge; the 4th direction about the power of the Word and importance of biblical and practical books; 5th direction about reason; 6th direction about diversion, and; the 7th direction about right attitude towards messengers of God.

Source: 

Baxter, R. (1830). The Practical Works of the Rev. Richard Baxter: with A Life of the Author, A Critical Examination of His Writings by the Rev. William Orme. Volume 2: A Christian Directory or, a Sum of Practical Theology Part 1 Christian Ethics (or Private Duties). London: Paternoster Row. 616 pages.