A26892:5980
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 any yet urge the Apostles example, I will grant that it obligeth us when the case is the like: (And I will not fly to any conceit of their heart-searching, or discerning mens sincerity.) When you bring us to a people that before were the Visible Church of God, and were all their life time trained up in the knowledge of God, of sin, of duty, of the promised Messiah, according to all the Law and Prophets, and want nothing, but to know the Son and the Holy Ghost, that this Jesus is the Christ, who will reconcile us to God, and give us the sanctifying Spirit, then we will also baptize men, the same day, that they profess to believe in Jesus Christ, and in the Father as reconciled by him, and the Holy Ghost as given by him. But if we have those to deal with who know not God, or sin, or misery, or Scripture Prophecies, no nor natural verities, we know no proof that the Apostles so ha••ily baptized such.
If any yet urge the Apostles example, I will grant that it obligeth us when the case is the like: (And I will not fly to any conceit of their heart-searching, or discerning mens sincerity.) When you bring us to a people that before were the Visible Church of God, and were all their life time trained up in the knowledge of God, of sin, of duty, of the promised Messiah, according to all the Law and Prophets, and want nothing, but to know the Son and the Holy Ghost, that this Iesus is the Christ, who will reconcile us to God, and give us the sanctifying Spirit, then we will also baptize men, the same day, that they profess to believe in Iesus Christ, and in the Father as reconciled by him, and the Holy Ghost as given by him. But if we have those to deal with who know not God, or sin, or misery, or Scripture Prophecies, no nor natural verities, we know no proof that the Apostles so ha••ily baptized such.
Of this I have largely spoken in my Treatise of Confirmation.