A26892:6376
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.
Obj. It is contrary to the Holy nature of God, complacenically to Love an unsanctified Infant, that is yet in his Original Corruption unchanged, and he justifieth none relatively from the guilt of sin, whom he doth not at once inherently sanctify.
Obj. It is contrary to the Holy nature of God, complacenically to Love an unsanctified Infant, that is yet in his Original Corruption unchanged, and he justifieth none relatively from the guilt of sin, whom he doth not at once inherently sanctifie.
Answ. 1. Gods complacencial Love respecteth every one as he is; For it is Goodness only that he so Loveth. Therefore he so Loveth not those that either Actually or Habitually Love not Him, under any false supposition that they do Love him when they do not. His Love therefore to the Adult and Infants differeth as the objects differ. But there is this Lovely in such Infants, 1. That they are the Children of believing sanctified Parents, 2. That they are by his Covenant Relatively United to Christ, and so are Lovely as his members; 3. That they are pardoned all their original sin; 4. That they are set in the way to Actual Love and holiness; being thus dedicated to God.
2. All imperfect Saints are sinners; And all sinners are as such abhorred of God, whose pure eyes cannot behold iniquity. As then it will stand with his purity to accept and love the Adult upon their first believing, before their further sanctification, and notwithstanding the remnant of their sins, so may it do also to accept their Infants through Christ upon their Dedication.