A26892:5983
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.
5. Yet if any that Professeth Faith and Repentance, should commit Whoredom, Drunkenness,1 Murder, Blasphemy, or any mortal sin, before he is baptized, we have reason to make a stop of that mans baptism, because he contradicteth his own profession, and giveth us cause to take it for hypocritical, till he give us better evidence that he is penitent indeed.
5. Yet if any that Professeth Faith and Repentance, should commit Whoredome, Drunkenness,1 Murder, Blasphemy, or any mortal sin, before he is baptized, we have reason to make a stop of that mans baptism, because he contradicteth his own profession, and giveth us cause to take it for hypocritical, till he give us better evidence that he is penitent indeed.
- 11 Cor 6 9, 16. Tit. 3. 3, 4, 5. Eph. 2▪ 1, 2▪ 3. Acts 2. 37▪ 38.
6. Heart-Covenanting maketh an invisible Church-member, and Verbal Covenanting and Baptism make a Visible Church-member. And he that maketh a Profession of Christianity, so far as to declare that he believeth all the Articles of the Creed particularly and understandingly (with some tolerable understanding though not distinct enough and full) and that he openly devoteth himself to God the Father, Son, and Spirit, in the Vow and Covenant of Baptism, doth produce a sufficient title, to the Relation of a Christian and Church-member; and no Minister may reject him, for want of telling, when, and by what arguments, means, order, or degrees he was converted.