A26892:6221
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.
Answ. But God is not to be so dishonoured as to be supposed to make such Laws, as shall forbid men the greatest good in the World, and then to tempt them by the greatness of the benefit to take it to be no evil: As if he said, [If Soldiers would go take up a million of Heathens Children and Baptize them, it will put them into an undoubted state of salvation: But yet I forbid them doing it: And if they presently kill them, lest they sin after, they shall undoubtedly be saved; but yet I forbid them doing it.] I need not aggravate this temptation to them that know the power of the Law of nature, which is the Law of Love and good works, and how God that is most Good is pleased in our doing good: Though he tried Abraham's obedience once, as if he should have killed his Son, yet he stopped him before the execution: And doth he ordinarily exercise mens obedience, by forbidding them to save the souls of others, when it is easily in their power? Especially when with the adult the greatest labour and powerfullest Preaching, is frequently so frustrate, that not one of many is converted by it.
Answ. But God is not to be so dishonoured as to be supposed to make such Laws, as shall forbid men the greatest good in the World, and then to tempt them by the greatness of the benefit to take it to be no evil: As if he said, [If Souldiers would go take up a million of Heathens Children and Baptize them, it will put them into an undoubted state of salvation: But yet I forbid them doing it: And if they presently kill them, lest they sin after, they shall undoubtedly be saved; but yet I forbid them doing it.] I need not aggravate this temptation to them that know the power of the Law of nature, which is the Law of Love and good works, and how God that is most Good is pleased in our doing good: Though he tryed Abraham's obedience once, as if he should have killed his Son, yet he stopt him before the execution: And doth he ordinarily exercise mens obedience, by forbidding them to save the souls of others, when it is easily in their power? Especially when with the adult the greatest labour and powerfullest Preaching, is frequently so frustrate, that not one of many is converted by it.
9. Because else God should deal with unaccountable disparity with Infants and the Adult in the same ordinance of Baptism. It is certain that all Adult persons Baptised, if they dyed immediately, should not be saved. Even none that had no right to the Covenant and to Baptism; such as Infidels, Heathens, Impenitent persons, Hypocrites, that have not true Repentance and faith: And why should Baptism save an Infant without title, any more than the Adult without title? I still suppose that some Infants have no title, and that now I speak of them alone.