A26892:6273
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.
Yea, indeed outward Church-privileges are such uncertain blessings of the promise, that as they1 are but secondary, so they are but secondarily given and sealed, so that no man should ever be baptized, if these were all that were in the promise. The holiest person may be cast into a Wilderness, and deprived of all visible Church-communion: And doth God then Break his promise with him? Certainly no: It is therefore our saving Relations to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, which the promise giveth, and baptism sealeth; and other things but subordinately and uncertainly as they are means to these. So then its plain, that believers Infants have a promise of salvation, or no promise at all which baptism was instituted to seal.
Yea, indeed outward Church-priviledges are such uncertain blessings of the promise, that as they1 are but secondary, so they are but secondarily given and sealed, so that no man should ever be baptized, if these were all that were in the promise. The holiest person may be cast into a Wilderness, and deprived of all visible Church-communion: And doth God then Break his promise with him? Certainly no: It is therefore our saving Relations to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, which the promise giveth, and baptism sealeth; and other things but subordinately and uncertainly as they are means to these. So then its plain, that believers Infants have a promise of salvation, or no promise at all which baptism was instituted to seal.
- 1Matth. 6. 33. Rom. 8. 28, 32, &c.
I have said so much more of this in my Appendix to the Treatise of Infant Baptism, to Mr. Bedford, in defence of Dr. Davenants judgement, as that I must refer the Reader thither.