A26892:6264
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.
And mark well, that it is a Professed Consent to the whole Covenant that God requireth, as the condition of our true right to any part or benefit of it. He that shall only say, I consent to be a visible Church-member, doth thereby acquire no right to that membership; no not in foro Ecclesiae: But he must also profess that he consenteth to have God for his God, and Christ for his Lord and Saviour, and the Holy Spirit for his Sanctifier. So that he must be a liar or a sound believer that maketh this profession.
And mark well, that it is a Professed Consent to the whole Covenant that God requireth, as the condition of our true right to any part or benefit of it. He that shall only say, I consent to be a visible Church-member, doth thereby acquire no right to that membership; no not in foro Ecclesiae: But he must also profess that he consenteth to have God for his God, and Christ for his Lord and Saviour, and the Holy Spirit for his Sanctifier. So that he must be a lyar or a sound believer that maketh this profession.
But for an Infant to be born of true believers, and sincerely by them dedicated in Covenant to God, is all the Condition that ever God required to an Infant-title to his Covenant; And it is not the failure of the true Condition as a false profession is.
Indeed if the proportion were thus laid, it would hold good; [As we know not who sincerely covenanteth for himself, and yet must baptize all that soberly profess it; so we know not who doth sincerely Covenant for his Infant, and yet we must baptize all whom the Parents bring with such a profession, for themselves and them.]