A26879:773
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.
A. Then Sacraments would be no Sacraments, and the Church would be no Church: If any man or woman that would, might baptize whom and when they would, they might baptize Turks and Heathens, and that over and over, who come in Scorn; and they might baptize without a Profession of true Faith; or upon a false Profession. And if every man might give the Lords Supper to another, it might be brought into Alehouses and Taverns in merriment, or as a Charm, or every Infidel or Enemy might in scorn profane it: Do you think that if Baptism and the Lords Supper were thus administered, that they would be any Symbols or Badges of Christianity, or of a Church, or any means of mens Salvation? No Christians ever dreamt of such Profanation.
A. Then Sacraments would be no Sacraments, and the Church would be no Church: If any man or woman that would, might baptize whom and when they would, they might baptize Turks and Heathens, and that over and over, who come in Scorn; and they might baptize without a Profession of true Faith; or upon a false Profession. And if every man might give the Lords Supper to another, it might be brought into Alehouses and Taverns in merrymerit, or as a Charm, or every Infidel or Enemy might in scorn profane it: Do you think that if Baptism and the Lords Supper were thus administred, that they would be any Symbols or Badges of Christianity, or of a Church, or any means of mens Salvation? No Christians ever dreamt of such Profanation.
Q. 12. But why may not the Pastors themselves give them to all that will?
A. Either you would have themf forced to do so, or to do it freely. If forced, they are no Judges who is fit; And who then shall be Judge? If the Magistrate, you make him a Pastor; and oblige him to teach, examine, hear and try all the Peoples Knowledge, Faith and Lives, which will find them work enough: And this is not to depose the Ministers