A26892:5873
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.
Part 3 › Question 5: Quest. 5. Whether we must hold that a Papist may be saved?
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.
4. As many Antinomians and other erroneous persons, do hold things which by consequence subvert Christianity; and yet not seeing the inconsistence, do hold Christianity first and faster, in heart and sincere practice, and would renounce their error if they saw the inconsistence, so is it with many Papists. And that which they hold first and fastest and practically, doth save them from the power, operations, and poison of their own opinions: As an Antidote or the strength of nature may save a man from a small quantity of poison.
4. As many Antinomians and other erroneous persons, do hold things which by consequence subvert Christianity; and yet not seeing the inconsistence, do hold Christianity first and faster, in heart and sincere practice, and would renounce their error if they saw the inconsistence, so is it with many Papists. And that which they hold first and fastest and practically, doth save them from the power, operations, and poyson of their own opinions: As an Antidote or the strength of nature may save a man from a small quantity of poyson.
5. Moreover we have cause to judge that there are millions among the Papists, corrupted with many of their lessor errors, who yet hold not their greater; that believe not that none are Christians but the Popes subjects, and that Christs Kingdom and the Popes are of the same extent, or that he can remit mens pains in another world, or that the Bread and Wine are no Bread and Wine, or that men merit of God in point of Commutative Justice, or that we must adore or worship the Bread, or yet the Cross or Image it self, &c. Or that consent to abundance of the Clergies tyrannical usurpations and abuses: And so being not properly Papists, may be saved, if a Papist might not. And we the less know how many or few among them are really of the Clergies Religion and mind, because by terror they restrain men from manifesting their judgement, and compel them to comply in outward things.
5. Moreover we have cause to judge that there are millions among the Papists, corrupted with many of their lessor errors, who yet hold not their greater; that believe not that none are Christians but the Popes subjects, and that Christs Kingdom and the Popes are of the same extent, or that he can remit mens pains in another world, or that the Bread and Wine are no Bread and Wine, or that men merit of God in point of Commutative Justice, or that we must adore or worship the Bread, or yet the Cross or Image it self, &c. Or that consent to abundance of the Clergies tyrannical usurpations and abuses: And so being not properly Papists, may be saved, if a Papist might not. And we the less know how many or few among them are really of the Clergies Religion and mind, because by terror they restrain men from manifesting their judgement, and compell them to comply in outward things.