A26892:6433
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.
Part 3 › Question 46: Quest. 46. May not Baptism in some Cases be repeated? And when?
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. 1. You must distinguish between Baptism, taken Morally, or only Physically. 2. Between Baptism Morally, as it is a Church or Visible Covenant, and as a Heart▪Covenant. 3. Between Real baptism and seeming baptism, which is a Nullity. 4. Between certain reception of baptism, and that which is uncertain or justly doubted of. And so I answer,
Answ. 1. YOu must distinguish between Baptism, taken Morally, or only Physically. 2. Between Baptism Morally, as it is a Church or Visible Covenant, and as a Heart▪Covenant. 3. Between Real baptism and seeming baptism, which is a Nullity. 4. Between certain reception of baptism, and that which is uncertain or justly doubted of. And so I answer,
1. Real and Certain Baptism as a visible Church-Ordinance may not be repeated. Though the Heart-Covenant was wanting. And though it wanted not only decent modes, but integral parts.
2. But in these cases Baptism may be used where it seemed to have been received before.
1. When the person made no profession of the Christian faith (nor his Parents for him, if an Infant). 2. If that profession notoriously wanted an Essential part; As if he only professed to believe in God the Father, and not in the Son, or the Holy Ghost. 3. If the Minister only baptized him into the name of the Father, or Son, or left out any essential part. 4. If the person or Minister only contracted for a distant futurity, (As I will be a Christian when I am old, &c.) and not for the present: which is not to be christened, but only to promise to be christened hereafter. 5. If all application of water (or any watery element) was omitted, which is the external sign. 6. Of the Baptizers power I shall speak anon. 7. If the Church or the person himself have just cause of doubting whether he was truly baptized or not, to do it again, with hypothetical expressions, [If thou art not baptized, I baptize thee] yea, or simply while that is understood, is lawful, and fit. And it is not to be twice baptized Morally, but only Physically, As I have fully opened in the Question of Re-ordination, to which I must refer the Reader.