A26892:512
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.
If they had not made better advantage of Fire and Sword, than of Scripture and Argument, the world would but have laughed them to scorn, when they had heard them say, All are Schismatics that will not be our Subjects: Our Dominion and will shall be necessary to the Unity of the Church. The Universal Church indeed is One, united under One Head and Governor; but it is only Jesus Christ that is that Head, and not any Usurping Vicar or Vice-Christ. The Bishops of particular Churches are his Officers; but he hath Deputed no Vicar to his own Office, as the Universal Head. Above all Sects take heed of this pernicious Sect, who pretend their Usurped Authority for their Schism, and have no way to promote their Sect, but by calling all Sectaries that will not be Sectaries, and Subjects unto them.
If they had not made better advantage of Fire and Sword, than of Scripture and Argument, the world would but have laughed them to scorn, when they had heard them say, All are Schismaticks that will not be our Subjects: Our Dominion and will shall be necessary to the Unity of the Church. The Universal Church indeed is One, united under One Head and Governour; but it is only Jesus Christ that is that Head, and not any Usurping Vicar or Vice-Christ. The Bishops of particular Churches are his Officers; but he hath Deputed no Vicar to his own Office, as the Universal Head. Above all Sects take heed of this pernicious Sect, who pretend their Usurped Authority for their Schism, and have no way to promote their Sect, but by calling all Sectaries that will not be Sectaries, and Subjects unto them.
§. 5. 2. Another pretence for Schism is the Numbers of the Party: This is another of the Papists motives: As if it were lawful to Divide the Church of Christ, if they can but get the greater party? They say, We are the most, and therefore you should yield to us: (And so do others where by the Sword they force the most to submit to them.) But we answer them, As many as they are, they are too few, to be the Universal Church. The Universal Church containing all true professing Christians, is much more than they. The Papists are not a third part (if a fourth) of the whole Church. Papists are a corrupted Sect of Christians: I will be against Dividing the Body of Christ into any Sects rather than to be one of that Sect or divided party, which is the greatest.