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.
Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847
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.
Answ. OF all these great difficulties I have said what I know, in my Appendix to Infant Baptism to Mr. Bedford and Dr. Ward, and of Bishop Davenants judgement. And I confess that my judgement agreeth more in this with Davenants than any others, saving that he doth not so much appropriate the benefits of baptism to the children of sincere believers as I do. And though by a Letter in pleading Davenants cause, I was the occasion of good Mr. Gatakers printing of his answer to him, yet I am still most inclined to his judgement; Not that all the baptized, but that all the ⟨p. 818⟩baptized seed of true Christians are pardoned, justified, adopted, and have a title to the Spirit and salvation.
But the difficulties in this case are so great, as driveth away most who do not equally perceive the greater inconveniences which we must choose, if this opinion be forsaken: that is, that all Infants must be taken to be out of the Covenant of God, and to have no promise of salvation. Whereas surely the Law of Grace as well as the Covenant of Works included all the seed in their capacity.
But the difficulties in this case are so great, as driveth away most who do not equally perceive the greater inconveniencies which we must choose, if this opinion be forsaken: that is, that all Infants must be taken to be out of the Covenant of God, and to have no promise of salvation. Whereas surely the Law of Grace as well as the Covenant of Works included all the seed in their capacity.
1. To the first of these Questions, I answer, 1. As all true believers, so all their Infants do receive initially by the promise, and by way of obsignation and Sacramental Investiture in Baptism, a Jus Relationis, a right of peculiar Relation to all the three persons in the blessed Trinity: As to God, as
to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to shew thy self approved
UNTO GOD,
a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
RIGHTLY DIVIDING
the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Bablings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.
2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.
LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.
their reconciled Adopting Father, and to Jesus Christ as their Redeemer and actual Head and Justifier, so also to the Holy Ghost as their Regenerator and Sanctifier. This Right and Relation
adhereth to them, and is given them in order to future actual operation and communion. As a Marriage Covenant giveth the Relation and Right to one another, in order to the subsequent Communion
and duties of a married life: And as he that sweareth allegiance to a King, or is listed into an Army, or is entered into a School, receiveth the Right and Relation, and is so correlated, as obligeth to the mutual subsequent Offices of each, and giveth right to many particular benefits. By this Right and Relation, God is his own God and Father; Christ is his own Head and Saviour; and the Holy Spirit is his own Sanctifier, without asserting what operations are already wrought on his soul, but only to what future ends and uses these Relations are. Now as these Rights and Relations are given immediately, so those Benefits which are Relative, and the Infant immediately capable of them, are presently given by way of communion: He hath presently the pardon of Original sin, by virtue of the Sacrifice, Merit and Intercession of Christ. He hath a state of Adoption, and Right to Divine Protection, Provision and Church-communion according to his natural Capacity, and Right to everlasting life.
1. To the first of these Questions, I answer, 1. As all true believers, so all their Infants do receive initially by the promise, and by way of obsignation and Sacramental Investiture in Baptism, a Ius Relationis, a right of peculiar Relation to all the three persons in the blessed Trinity: As to God, as1 their reconciled Adopting Father, and to Jesus Christ as their Redeemer and actual Head and Justifier, so also to the Holy Ghost as their Regenerater and Sanctifier. This Right and Relation2 adhereth to them, and is given them in order to future actual operation and communion. As a Marriage Covenant giveth the Relation and Right to one another, in order to the subsequent Communion 3and duties of a married life: And as he that sweareth allegiance to a King, or is listed into an Army, or is entred into a School, receiveth the Right and Relation, and is so correlated, as obligeth to the mutual subsequent Offices of each, and giveth right to many particular benefits. By this Right and Relation, God is his own God and Father; Christ is his own Head and Saviour; and the Holy Spirit is his own Sanctifier, without asserting what operations are already wrought on his soul, but only to what future ends and uses these Relations are. Now as these Rights and Relations are given immediately, so those Benefits which are Relative, and the Infant immediately capable of them, are presently given by way of communion: He hath presently the pardon of Original sin, by virtue of the Sacrifice, Merit and Intercession of Christ. He hath a state of Adoption, and Right to Divine Protection, Provision and Church-communion according to his natural Capacity, and Right to everlasting life.
2. It must be carefully noted, that the Relative Union between Christ the Mediator and the baptized persons, is that which in Baptism is first given in order of nature, and that the rest do flow from this. The Covenant and Baptism deliver the Covenanter 1. From Divine Displicency by Reconciliation with the Father, 2. From Legal Penalties by Justification by the Son; 3. From sin it self by the operations of the Holy Ghost. But it is Christ as our Mediator-Head, that is first given us in Relative Union: And then, 1. The Father▪Loveth us with Complacency as in the Son, and for the sake of his first beloved. 2. And the Spirit which is given us in Relation is first the Spirit of Christ our 1Head; and not first inherent in us: So that by Union with our Head, that Spirit is next united to us, both Relatively, and as Radically Inherent in the Humane Nature of our Lord, to whom we are united. As the Nerves and Animal Spirits which are to operate in all the body, are Radically only in the Head, from whence they flow into, and operate on the members as there is need (though there may be obstructions); So the Spirit dwelleth in the Humane Nature of our Head; and there it can never be lost; And it is not necessary that it dwell in us by way of Radication, but by way of Influence and Operation.
1The Spirit is not given radically or immediately to any Christian, but to Christ our Head alone, and from Him to us.
These things are distinctly and clearly understood but by very few; and we are all much in the dark about them. But I think (however doctrinally we may speak better,) that most Christians are habituated to this perilous misapprehension (which is partly against Christianity it self,) that the Spirit floweth immediately from the Divine Nature of the Father and the Son (as to the Authoritative or Potestative conveyance) unto our souls. And we forget that it is first given to Christ in his Glorified Humanity as our Head, and radicated in Him, and that it is the Office of this Glorified Head, to send or communicate to all his members from Himself, that Spirit which must operate in them as they have need.
These things are distinctly and clearly understood but by very few; and we are all much in the dark about them. But I think (however doctrinally we may speak better,) that most Christians are habituated to this perilous misapprehension (which is partly against Christianity it self,) that the Spirit floweth immediatly from the Divine Nature of the Father and the Son (as to the Authoritative or Potestative conveyance) unto our souls. And we forget that it is first given to Christ in his Glorified Humanity as our Head, and radicated in Him, and that it is the Office of this Glorified Head, to send or communicate to all his members from Himself, that Spirit which must operate in them as they have need.
This is plain in many Texts of Scripture, Rom. 8. 32. He that spared not his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how shall be not also with him freely give us all things? (when he giveth him particularly to us.)
1 John 5. 11, 12. And this is the record that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son: He that hath the Son hath the life, and he that hath not the Son hath not the life.
Gal. 2. 20. I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (I know that is true of his Living in us Objectively and Finally, but that seemeth not to be all.)
Col. 3. 3, 4. For ye are dead, and your life is bid with Christ in God; when Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in Glory. I know that in verse 3. by Life is meant Felicity or Glory; But not only; as appeareth by verse 4. where Christ is called Our Life.
Matth. 28. 19. All power is given unto me in Heaven and Earth—ver. 20. I am with you ⟨p. 819⟩always—Joh. 13. 3. The Father hath given all things into his hands.
Matth. 28. 19. All power is given unto me in Heaven and Earth—ver. 20. I am with you ⟨p. 819⟩allwayes—Joh. 13. 3. The Father hath given all things into his hands.
Puritans
England
Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.
