A26892:6715
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. This case hath no difficulty: 1. A Believer as such, is a member of Christ and the Church 1invisible, but not of the visible Church, till he be an orderly Professor of that belief. And this Profession is not left to every mans will how it shall be made, but Christ hath prescribed and instituted a certain way and manner of profession, which shall be the only ordinary symbol or badge, by which the Church shall know visible members; and that is baptism. Indeed when baptism cannot be had, an open profession without it may serve: For Sacraments are made for Man, and not Man for Sacraments. But when it may be had, it is Christs appointed Symbol, Tessera and Church-door. And till a person be baptized, he is but Irregularly and initially a Professor; As an Embryo in the Womb is a man; or as a Covenant before the writing, sealing and delivering is initially a Covenant; or as persons privately contracted without solemn Matrimony are married; or as a man is a Minister upon Election and Trial before Ordination: He hath only in all these cases, the beginning of a title, which is not complete; nor at all sufficient in foro Ecclesi•, to make a man Visibly and Legally, A married man, a Minister, and so here a Christian. For Christ hath chosen his own visible badge, by which his Church-members must be known.
Answ. This case hath no difficulty: 1. A Believer as such, is a member of Christ and the Church 1invisible, but not of the visible Church, till he be an orderly Professor of that belief. And this Profession is not left to every mans will how it shall be made, but Christ hath prescribed and instituted a certain way and manner of profession, which shall be the only ordinary symbol or badge, by which the Church shall know visible members; and that is baptism. Indeed when baptism cannot be had, an open profession without it may serve: For Sacraments are made for Man, and not Man for Sacraments. But when it may be had, it is Christs appointed Symbol, Tessera and Church-door. And till a person be baptized, he is but Irregularly and initially a Professor; As an Embrio in the Womb is a man; or as a Covenant before the writing, sealing and delivering is initially a Covenant; or as persons privately contracted without solemn Matrimony are married; or as a man is a Minister upon Election and Tryal before Ordination: He hath only in all these cases, the beginning of a title, which is not compleat; nor at all sufficient in foro Ecclesi, to make a man Visibly and Legally, A married man, a Minister, and so here a Christian. For Christ hath chosen his own visible badge, by which his Church-members must be known.