A26892:6690
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.
Answ. 1. IF it always made us guilty no man could join with any Pastor or Church in the world, without being a wilful sinner. Because no man worshippeth God without sin, in matter or manner, omission or commission.
Answ. 1. IF it alwayes made us guilty no man could joyn with any Pastor or Church in the world, without being a wilful sinner. Because no man worshippeth God without sin, in matter or manner, omission or commission.
2. If it never made us guilty, it would be lawful to join with Mahometans and Bread-worshippers, &c.
2. If it never made us guilty, it would be lawful to joyn with Mahometans and Bread-worshippers, &c.
3. Therefore the following decision of the question, in what cases it is a duty or a sin to separate, doth decide this case also. For when separation is no duty, but a sin, there our presence in the Worship is no sin: But when separation is a duty, there our presence is a sin.
4. Especially in these two cases our presence is a sin; 1. When the very Assembly and Worship is so bad as God will not accept, but judgeth the substance of it for a sin. 2. In case we our selves be put upon any sin in Communion, or as a previous condition of our Communion (As to make some false profession, or to declare our consent to other mens sin, or to commit corporal visible reputative Idolatry, or the like). But the Pastor and Church shall answer for their own faults, and not we, when we have cause to be present, and make them not ours by any sinful action of our own.