A26892:6192
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.
Quest. 34. Whether an unbaptized person who yet maketh a public profession of Christianity, be a member of the Visible Church? And so of the Infants of Believers unbaptized.
Quest. 34. Whether an unbaptized person who yet maketh a publick profession of Christianity, be a member of the Visible Church? And so of the Infants of Believers unbaptized.
Answ. 1. Such persons have a certain Imperfect irregular kind of profession, and so of Membership; Their Visibility or Visible Christianity is not such as Christ hath appointed. As those that are Married, but not by Legal Celebration, and as those that in cases of necessity are Ministers without Ordination; so are such Christians as Constantine and many of old without Baptism.
Answ. 1. SUch persons have a certain Imperfect irregular kind of profession, and so of Membership; Their Visibility or Visible Christianity is not such as Christ hath appointed. As those that are Marryed, but not by Legal Celebration, and as those that in cases of necessity are Ministers without Ordination; so are such Christians as Constantine and many of old without Baptism.
2. Such persons ordinarily are not to be admitted to the Rights and Communion of the Visible Church, because we must know Christs sheep by his own mark: But yet they are so far visible Christians, as that we may be persuaded nevertheless of their salvation. As to visible Communion, they have but a remote and incomplete jus •d rem, and no jus in re, or legal investiture and possession.