A26879:347
The catechizing of families a teacher of householders how to teach their householdsThe catechizing of families a teacher of housholders how to teach their housholds
The catechizing of families a teacher of householders how to teach their households : useful also to school-masters and tutors of youth : for those that are past the common small catechisms [sic], and would grow to a more rooted faith, and to the fuller understanding of all that is commonly needful to a safe, holy comfortable and profitable life / written by Richard Baxter ...The catechizing of families a teacher of housholders how to teach their housholds : useful also to school-masters and tutors of youth : for those that are past the common small chatechisms [sic], and would grow to a more rooted faith, and to the fuller understanding of all that is commonly needful to a safe, holy comfortable and profitable life / written by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for T. Parkhurst, 1683
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Q. 29. But when we see so much Ignorance, Wickedness, Confusion and Cruelty, Pride, Lust and Worldliness among Christians, and how they live in malicious tearing one another, how can we know that their Goodness is any proof of the truth of Christianity?
A. I told you, Hypocrites have but the Name and Picture and Art of Christianity. If Custom, Prosperity, Laws or Carnal Interest bring the World into the visible Church, and make Men say, kThey believe, when they do not, is Christianity to be judged of by Dissemblers and Enemies? Mark any that are serious Believers, and you will find them all seriously Sober, Just and Godly: And though weak Believers have but weak Grace, and many Failings, they are sincerely, though imperfectly such as I have described. And though the Blind malignant Enemies can see no Excellency in a Saint, he that hath either known Faith and Holiness in himself, or hath but impartially observed Mankind, will see that Christians indeed are quite another sort of Men, than the Unbelievers, and that Christ maketh Men such as he teacheth them to be, and the Sanctifying Spirit is the sure Witness of Christ, ⟨p. 66⟩dwelling in all true Christians, (Rom. 8. 9.) as Christ's Agent and Advocate, witnessing that he is True, and that we are his; Interceding from Christ to us by communicating his Grace, and in us toward Christ, by Holy Love and Desires: And is God's Name and Mark on us, and our Pledge, Earnest, and First-Fruits of Life eternal: and though we were in doubt of old Historical Proofs: Yet I. The Old Testament fulfilled in the New. II. The Divine Impress discernible on the Gospel. III. And the most excellent Effect of Sanctification on all true Believers, are Evidences of the truth of Christianity and the Scriptures, which all true Christians have still at hand.l
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