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Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Part 3
Question 1
p. 771

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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Householder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not about WORDS, to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to show thy self approved UNTO GOD, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Babblings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICKS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICKS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICKS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Housholder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not aboutTitle page of A Christian Directory, London, 1673

A26892:5790

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 3 › Question 1: CASES OF CONSCIENCE ABOUT Matters Ecclesiastical.

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.

[ Earlier:5787–5802 of 9,947

:5787p. 771

2. The word Church thus taken, signifieth sometime the Universal Church called Catholic; which consisteth of Christ and his Body Politic, or Mystical; And sometime some Part only of the Universal Church. And so it is taken either for a subordinate Political Part, or for a Community, or a Part considered as Consociate, but not Political; or as many particular Political Churches Agreeing and holding Concord and Communion without any Common Head, save the Universal Head.

2. The word Church thus taken, signifieth sometime the Universal Church called Catholick; which consisteth of Christ and his Body Politick, or Mystical; And sometime some Part only of the Universal Church. And so it is taken either for a subordinate Political Part, or for a Community, or a Part considered as Consociate, but not Political; or as many particular Political Churches Agreeing and holding Concord and Communion without any Comon Head, save the Universal Head.

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3. Such Political Churches, are either of Divine Constitution and Policy, or only of Humane.

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2. By Christians, I mean such as Profess the Essentials of the Christian Religion. For we speak of the Church as Visible.

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[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

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Cited: :5790
On this page: :5787–5802
Section: :5783–5820
Whole work: 9,947 passages

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Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (London, 1673), pt. 3, q. 1, p. 771. EEBO-TCP A26892.

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The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Printer: Robert White
Bookseller: Nevill Simmons
Year: 1673
Size: [35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port.
Words: 1,175,050
Catalogue: Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847
Text: EEBO-TCP A26892

Passages: 9,947
Sections: 502

The author

Richard Baxter 1615–1691

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

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WORDS,

to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to shew thy self approved

UNTO GOD,

a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

RIGHTLY DIVIDING

the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Bablings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.

2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.

LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.

3. By [True] may be meant, either Reality of Essence, opposite to that which is not really a

¹

Church in this univocal acception; or else Sound and Orthodox, in the Integrals, as opposite to erroneous and defiled with much enormity. And now I thus decide that question.

11 Cor. 11. 3. 1 Cor. 12 12. Eph. 1. 22, 23. 1 Cor. 6 15. 1 Cor. 12. 27. Eph. 4. 4, 5. Matth. 28. 19, 20.

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Prop. 1. The True Catholic Church consisteth of Christ the He•d, and all Christians as his Body, or the Members. As the Kingdom consisteth of the King and his Subjects.

Prop. 1. The True Catholick Church consisteth of Christ the He•d, and all Christians as his Body, or the Members. As the Kingdom consisteth of the King and his Subjects.

:5792p. 771–772

Prop. 2. As all the sincere Heart-Covenanters make up the Church as regenerate, and mystical or invisible, so that all that are Christened, that is, Baptized, and profess Consent to all the Essentials of ⟨p. 772⟩the Baptismal Covenant, not having Apostatized, nor being by lawful Power Excommunicated, are Christians, and make up the Church as Visible.

:5793p. 772

Prop. 3. Therefore there is but One Universal Church, because it containeth all Christians; and so¹ leaveth out none to be the matter of another.

1Ephes. 4 4▪ 5. 1 Cor. 1• ▪ 12. Mark 16▪ 16. Rom 14. 1▪ 6, 7. & 15. 1 3, 4

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Prop. 4. It is not Ignorance or Error about the mere Integrals of Christianity, which maketh them no Christians who hold the Essentials, that is, the Baptismal Covenant.

Prop. 4. It is not Ignorance or Error about the meer Integrals of Christianity, which maketh them no Christians who hold the Essentials, that is, the Baptismal Covenant.

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Prop. 5. That the Baptismal Covenant might be rightly understood and professed, the Churches have still used the Creed as the explication of the Covenant, in point of faith; and taken it for¹ the Symbol of the Christian Belief. And no further profession of faith was or is to be required, as² necessary to the Being of Christianity.

11 Cor. 15 1, 2, &c.
2Matth. 28. 19, 20.

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Prop. 6. If proud Usurpers or Censurers take on them to excommunicate, or unchristian, or unchurch others, without authority and cause, this maketh them not to be no Christians, or no Churches, ¹that are so used.

1Rom. 14. 3, 4. John.

:5797p. 772

Prop. 7. Therefore to know which is the true Catholic or Universal Church is but to know who¹ are Baptized-Professing-Christians.

Prop. 7. Therefore to know which is the true Catholick or Universal Church is but to know who¹ are Baptized-Professing-Christians.

1Rom. 6▪ 1, 2, &c.

:5798p. 772

Prop. 8. The Reformed Churches, the Lutherans, the Abassines, the Copts, the Syrians, the Armenians,¹ the Jacobites, the Georgians, the Maronites, the Greeks, the Muscovites, and the Romanists, do all receive Baptism in all its visible Essentials, and profess all the Essentials of the Christian Religion, though not with the same Integrity.

Prop. 8. The Reformed Churches, the Lutherans, the Abassines, the Copties, the Syrians, the Armenians,¹ the Jacobites, the Georgians, the Maronites, the Greeks, the Moscovites, and the Romanists, do all receive Baptism in all its visible Essentials, and profess all the Essentials of the Christian Religion, though not with the same Integrity.

1Ephes. 4. 4. 5.

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Prop. 9. He that denieth any one essential part, in it self, is so a Heretic as to be no Christian, nor true member of the Church, if it be justly proved, or notorious; that is, none ought to take him¹ for a Visible Christian, who know the proof of his denying that essential part of Christianity, or to whom it is notorious.

Prop. 9. He that denyeth any one essential part, in it self, is so a Heretick as to be no Christian, nor true member of the Church, if it be justly proved, or notorious; that is, none ought to take him¹ for a Visible Christian, who know the proof of his denying that essential part of Christianity, or to whom it is notorious.

1Tit. 3. ••. 3 John.

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Prop. 10. He that holdeth the Essentials primarily, and with them holdeth some error which by¹ unseen consequence subverteth some Essential point, but holdeth the Essentials so much faster, that he would forsake his error, if he saw the inconsistence, is a Christian notwithstanding? And if the name Heretic be applicable to him, it is but in such a sense, as is consistent with Christianity.

Prop. 10. He that holdeth the Essentials primarily, and with them holdeth some error which by¹ unseen consequence subverteth some Essential point, but holdeth the Essentials so much faster, that he would forsake his error, if he saw the inconsistence, is a Christian notwithstanding? And if the name Heretick be applicable to him, it is but in such a sense, as is consistent with Christianity.

1James 3 •. Phi. 3. 15, 16. Heb. 5. 1, 2.

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Prop. 11. He that is judged a Heretic and no Christian justly by others, must be lawfully¹ cited, and heard plead his Cause, and be judged upon sufficient proof, and not unheard, or upon rash presumption.

Prop. 11. He that is judged a Heretick and no Christian justly by others, must be lawfully¹ cited, and heard plead his Cause, and be judged upon sufficient proof, and not unheard, or upon rash presumption.

1Tit 3. 10. Matth. 18. 15.

:5802p. 772

Prop. 12. Christianity and Heresy being personal qualities, and no where found but in individuals,¹ nor one man guilty of another's error, it followeth that it is single persons upon personal guilt that must be judged.

Prop. 12. Christianity and Heresie being personal qualities, and no where found but in individuals,¹ nor one man guilty of anothers error, it followeth that it is single persons upon personal guilt that must be judged.

1Ezek. 18 17. Gen. 18 3, 24, •5.

Puritans

England

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

•: an illegible letter
〈…〉: illegible words
〈non-Latin alphabet〉: Greek or Hebrew the transcribers did not key
▪: illegible punctuation
⟨p. 12⟩: a page break in the printed book