A26892:6706
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.
3. Though Infants are true members, yet the want of natural capacity, duly to receive, maketh it unlawful to give them the Sacrament, because it is to be Given only to Receivers, and Receiving is more than eating and drinking; It is Consenting to the Covenant, which is the real Receiving in a moral sense, or at least Consent professed. So that they want not a state of right, as to their Relation, but a natural capacity to Receive.
4. Persons at age who want not the Right of a stated Relation, may have such actual Natural and Moral indispositions, as may also make them for that time unmeet to Receive. As Sickness, Infection, a Journey, persecution, scattering the Church, a Prison: And (morally) 1. Want of necessary knowledge of the nature of the Sacrament (which by the negligence of Pastors or Parents may be the case of some that are but newly past their childhood); 2. Some heinous sin, of which the sinner hath not so far repented, as to be yet ready to receive a sealed pardon, or which is so scandalous in the Church, as that in public respects the person is yet unfit for its privileges. 3. Such sins or accusations of sin, as make the persons Church-title justly Controverted, and his Communion suspended, till the case be decided. 4. Such fears of unworthy Receiving, as were like to hurt and distract the person, if he should receive till he were better satisfied. These make a man uncapable of present Reception, and so are a bar to his plenary right: They have still right to Receive in a due manner: But being yet uncapable of that due Receiving, they have not a plenary right to the thing.
4. Persons at age who want not the Right of a stated Relation, may have such actual Natural and Moral indispositions, as may also make them for that time unmeet to Receive. As Sickness, Infection, a Journey, persecution, scattering the Church, a Prison: And (morally) 1. Want of necessary knowledge of the nature of the Sacrament (which by the negligence of Pastors or Parents may be the case of some that are but newly past their childhood); 2. Some heinous sin, of which the sinner hath not so far repented, as to be yet ready to receive a sealed pardon, or which is so scandalous in the Church, as that in publick respects the person is yet unfit for its priviledges. 3. Such sins or accusations of sin, as make the persons Church-title justly Controverted, and his Communion suspended, till the case be decided. 4. Such fears of unworthy Receiving, as were like to hurt and distract the person, if he should receive till he were better satisfied. These make a man uncapable of present Reception, and so are a barr to his plenary right: They have still right to Receive in a due manner: But being yet uncapable of that due Receiving, they have not a plenary right to the thing.