A26892:6202
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.
3. We must distinguish of Infants as Baptised Lawfully upon just title, or unlawfully without title.
4. And also of Title before God, which maketh a Lawful claim and Reception at his bar; and Title before the Church, which maketh only the Administration lawful before God, and the Reception lawful only in foro ecclesiae or externo.
5. The word Baptism signifieth either the external part only, consisting in the words and outward action, or the Internal Covenanting of the heart also.
6. And that internal Covenant is either sincere which giveth right to the benefits of Gods Covenant, or only partial, reserved, and unsound, such as is common to hypocrites.
Conclus. 1. God hath been pleased to speak so little in Scripture of the case of Infants, that modest men will use the words [Certainly and Undoubtedly] about their case, with very great Caution. And many great Divines have maintained that their very Baptism it self, cannot be [Certainly and undoubtedly] proved by the Word of God, but by Tradition: Though I have endeavoured to prove the contrary in a special Treatise on that point.