A26892:6155
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.
10. If the Pope or his Council, were the Infallible, or the Governing Expositors of all Gods Laws, and Scriptures, 1. God would have enabled them to do it by an Universal Commentary which all men should be obliged to believe, or at least not to contradict. For there is no Authority and Obligation given to men (yea, to so many successively) to do that (for the needful decision of Controversies) which they never have Ability given them to do. For that were to oblige them to things impossible. 2. And the Pope and his Council would be the most treacherous miscreants on earth, that in so many hundred years, would never write such an Infallible, nor Governing Commentary, to end the differences of the Christian world. Indeed they have judged (with others) against ⟨p. 804⟩Arrius, that Christ is true God, and one with the Father in substance, &c. But if they had said the contrary, must we have taken it for Gods truth, or have believed them?
11. To judge who for Heresy or Scandal, shall be punished by the Sword, belongeth to none but the Magistrate in his own dominions: As to judge who shall have Communion or be excommunicated from the Church, belongeth, as aforesaid, to the Pastors. And the said Magistrate hath first as a man his own Judgement of discerning what is Heresy, and who of his subjects are guilty of it, in order to his public Governing Judgement.
11. To judge who for Heresie or Seandal, shall be punished by the Sword, belongeth to none but the Magistrate in his own dominions: As to judge who shall have Communion or be excommunicated from the Church, belongeth, as aforesaid, to the Pastors. And the said Magistrate hath first as a man his own Iudgement of discerning what is Heresie, and who of his subjects are guilty of it, in order to his publick Governing Judgement.