A Christian Directory, Part 2: Christian Economics

Transcriber's Note:
The text of Part II of A Christian Directory (or, a sum of Practical Theology and Cases of Conscience) has been transcribed from pages 394 to 547 of Volume I of Baxter's Practical Works, as lithographed from the 1846 edition. Part II addresses family duties. A table of contents has been inserted to assist the reader.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation, and apparent typographical errors (both English and Greek) have been corrected. The anchor for footnote 34, in chapter XIII, has been inserted after consulting another edition of the text.
The table in Chapter XXIII, that presents the structure of the Lord's Prayer, contains numerous braces that extend over several lines and cannot be reproduced here. Instead horizontal lines have been inserted to clarify its structure. The table may not display clearly in a hand-held device.

OR, THE FAMILY DIRECTORY, CONTAINING DIRECTIONS FOR THE TRUE PRACTICE OF ALL DUTIES BELONGING TO FAMILY RELATIONS, WITH THE APPURTENANCES.
As the persons of christians in their privatest capacities are holy, as being dedicated and separated unto God, so also must their families be: HOLINESS TO THE LORD must be as it were written on their doors, and on their relations, their possessions, and affairs. To which it is requisite, 1. That there be a holy constitution of their families. 2. And a holy government of them, and discharge of the several duties of the members of the family. To the right constituting of a family, belongeth, (1.) The right contracting of marriage, and, (2.) The right choice and contract betwixt masters and their servants. For the first,
Direct. I. Take heed that neither lust nor rashness do thrust you into a married condition, before you see such reasons to invite you to it, as may assure you of the call and approbation of God. For, 1. It is God that you must serve in your married state, and therefore it is meet that you take his counsel before you rush upon it; for he knoweth best himself what belongeth to his service. 2. And it is God that you must still depend upon, for the blessing and comforts of your relation: and therefore there is very great reason that you take his advice and consent, as the chief things requisite to the match: if the consent of parents be necessary, much more is the consent of God.