A26892:6255
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. Or if all the rest were granted you, yet it would follow that all Infants in the World, even of true believers, are left out of Gods Covenant of Grace, that is, the Covenant or promise of pardon of life; and are only taken in to the Covenant of Church-privileges. And so 1. You will make two Covenants (which you denied) and not only two sorts of benefits of one Covenant. 2. And two species of Baptism: while all Infants in the World are only under a Covenant of outward privileges, and have no baptism, but the seal of that Covenant, while believers have the Covenant, promise and seal of pardon and life.
3. Or if all the rest were granted you, yet it would follow that all Infants in the World, even of true believers, are left out of Gods Covenant of Grace, that is, the Covenant or promise of pardon of life; and are only taken in to the Covenant of Church-priviledges. And so 1. You will make two Covenants (which you denyed) and not only two sorts of benefits of one Covenant. 2. And two species of Baptism: while all Infants in the World are only under a Covenant of outward priviledges, and have no baptism, but the seal of that Covenant, while believers have the Covenant, promise and seal of pardon and life.
2. And this is my second Reason, Because then we have no promise or certainty, or ground of faith, for the pardon and salvation of any individual Infants in the World. And so Parents are left to little comfort for their Children. And if there be no promise there is no faith of it, nor no Baptism to seal it; and so we still make Antipaedobaptism unavoidable. For who dare set Gods seal to such as have no promise? Or pretend to Invest any in a near and saving Relation to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (which is the very nature of Baptism) when God hath given no such commission?
2. And this is my second Reason, Because then we have no promise or certainty, or ground of faith, for the pardon and salvation of any individual Infants in the World. And so Parents are left to little comfort for their Children. And if there be no promise there is no faith of it, nor no Baptism to seal it; and so we still make Antipaedobaptism unavoidable. For who dare set Gods seal to such as have no promise? Or pretend to Invest any in a neer and saving Relation to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (which is the very nature of Baptism) when God hath given no such commission?