A26892:6843
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.
1. Some men are justly forbidden to preach the Gospel, as 1. Those that are utterly unable, and do worse than nothing when they do it. 2. Those that are Heretics and subvert the Essentials of Christianity or Godliness. 3. Those that are so Impious and Malignant, that they turn all against the Practice of that Religion which they profess; In a word, All that do (directly) more hurt than good.
1. Some men are justly forbidden to preach the Gospel, as 1. Those that are utterly unable, and do worse than nothing when they do it. 2. Those that are Hereticks and subvert the Essentials of Christianity or Godliness. 3. Those that are so Impious and Malignant, that they turn all against the Practice of that Religion which they profess; In a word, All that do (directly) more hurt than good.
2. In some places there are so many able preachers, that some tolerable men may be spared, if not accounted supernumeraries; and the Church will not suffer by their silence. But in other Countries either the Preachers are so few, or so bad, or the people so very ignorant, and hardened and ungodly, or so great a number that are in deep necessity, that the need of preaching is undeniable. And so I conclude,
2. In some places there are so many able preachers, that some tolerable men may be spared, if not accounted supernumeraries; and the Church will not suffer by their silence. But in other Countreys either the Preachers are so few, or so bad, or the people so very ignorant, and hardened and ungodly, or so great a number that are in deep necessity, that the need of preaching is undenyable. And so I conclude,
1. That he that is justly silenced, and is unfit to Preach, is bound to forbear.