A26892:508
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
§. 2. He that loveth any Christian aright, must needs love all that appear to him as Christians: And when malice will not suffer men to see Christianity in its profession, and credible appearance in another, this is as well contrary to Christian Love, as hating him when you know him to be a true Christian. Censoriousness (not constrained by just evidence) is contrary to Love, as well as hatred is.
§. 3. There is a Union and Communion with Christians as such: This consisteth in having one God, one Head, one Spirit, one Faith, one Baptismal Covenant, one Rule of holy living, and in loving and praying for all, and doing good to as many as we can. This is a Union and Communion of Mind, which ⟨p. 48⟩we must hold with the Catholic Church through the world. And there is a Bodily local Union and ••••muni••, which consisteth in our joining in body, as well as mind, with particular Congregations: 1And this as we cannot hold it with all, nor with any Congregation, but one at once; so we are not […] to hold it with any, that will drive us from it, unless we will commit some sin: Statedly we must hold it, with the Church which regularly we are joined to, and live with: and Occasionally we must hold it with all others, where we have a call and opportunity, who in the substance worship God according to his Word, and force us not to sin in conformity to them. It is not Schism to lament the sins of any Church, or of all the Churches in the world: The Catholic Church on earth consists of sinners. It is not Schism to refuse to be partaker in any sin of the purest Church in the world: Obedience to God is not Schism. It is not Schism that you join not Bodily with those Congregations where you dwell not, nor have any particular call to join with them: Nor that you choose the pure•• and most edifying Society, rather than one that is less pure and profitable to you: •aeteris paribus, supposing you are at liberty: nor that you hold not Bodily Communion with that Church, that will not suffer you to do it, without sinning against God: Nor that you join not with the purest Church, when you are called to abide with one less pure.