A26892:6223
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.
Obj. But the Church giveth them all right by Receiving them.
Answ. This is to be farther examined anon. If you mean a particular Church, perhaps they are Baptized into none such: Baptism as such is a Reception only into the Universal Church, as in Eunuchs case, Act. 8. appeareth. If you mean the Universal Church, it may be but one single ignorant man in an Infidel Country that Baptizeth; And he is not the Universal Church? Yea perhaps is not a lawfully called Minister of that Church? However this is but to say, that Baptism giveth Right to Baptism. For this Receiving is nothing but Baptizing? But there must be a Right to this Reception, if baptism be a distinguishing Ordinance, and all the world have not right to it. Christ saith, Matth. 28. 19. Disciple me all Nations, baptizing them: They must be initially made Disciples first, by Consent, and then be Invested in the visible state of Christianity by Baptism.
Answ. This is to be farther examined anon. If you mean a particular Church, perhaps they are Baptized into none such: Baptism as such is a Reception only into the Universal Church, as in Eunuchs case, Act. 8. appeareth. If you mean the Universal Church, it may be but one single ignorant man in an Infidel Countrey that Baptizeth; And he is not the Universal Church? Yea perhaps is not a lawfully called Minister of that Church? However this is but to say, that Baptism giveth Right to Baptism. For this Receiving is nothing but Baptizing? But there must be a Right to this Reception, if baptism be a distinguishing Ordinance, and all the world have not right to it. Christ saith, Matth. 28. 19. Disciple me all Nations, baptizing them: They must be initially made Disciples first, by Consent, and then be Invested in the visible state of Christianity by Baptism.