A26892:6251
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.
Either Infants are in the same Covenant (that is, are subjects of the same promise of God) with their believing Parents, or in some other Covenant, or in no Covenant: If they be under no Covenant (or promise) or under some other promise or Covenant only, and not the same; they are not to be Baptized. For Baptism is a mutual Covenanting; where the Minister by Christs Commission in his name acteth his part, and the believer his own and his Infants part: And God hath but one Covenant, which is to be made, sealed and delivered in baptism. Baptism is not an equivocal word, so as to signify divers Covenants of God.
Either Infants are in the same Covenant (that is, are subjects of the same promise of God) with their believing Parents, or in some other Covenant, or in no Covenant: If they be under no Covenant (or promise) or under some other promise or Covenant only, and not the same; they are not to be Baptized. For Baptism is a mutual Covenanting; where the Minister by Christs Commission in his name acteth his part, and the believer his own and his Infants part: And God hath but one Covenant, which is to be made, sealed and delivered in baptism. Baptism is not an equivocal word, so as to signifie divers Covenants of God.
Obj. But the same Covenant of God hath divers sorts of benefits, The special God giveth to the sincere, and the Common to the common and hypocritical receiver.
Answ. 1. God indeed requireth the Minister to take Profession for the Visible Church-title; And so it being the Ministers duty so far to believe a liar, and to Receive dissemblers wh[…] had no right to lay that claim, you may say that God indirectly and improperly, giveth them Church-privileges: But properly, that is, by his promise or Covenant-deed of gift, he giveth them nothing at all; For his Covenant is one, and undivided in its action, though it give several benefits, and Though Providence may give one and not another, yet the Covenant giveth all or none. God saith that Godliness hath the promise of this life and of that to come: but he never said (that I know of) [To the bypocrite or unsound