A26892:6256
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.
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?
Obj. Yes: Baptism and the Covenant of special promises are for all the Elect, though we know not who they are.
Answ. 1. I deny not Gods Eternal antecedent Election; But I deny that the Scripture ever mentioneth his pardoning or Glorifying any, upon the account of Election only, without certain spiritual conditions, which may be given as the reason of the difference in judgement. God may freely give the Gospel to whom he will, and also faith or the first grace by the Gospel, without any previous condition in man, but according to his free Election only: But he giveth pardon and Heaven as a Rector by his equal Laws and judgement; and always rendereth a reason of the difference, from the qualifications of man.