A26892:6920
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.
2. Some sins may be of so heinous scandal, that if the person repent of them this day, his absolution and reception may be delayed till the scandal be removed, 1. Because the public good is to be preferred before any mans personal good. 2. And the Churches, or Enemies about, cannot so suddenly know of a mans repentance. If they hear of a mans Murder, Perjury or Adultery to day, and hear that he is absolved to morrow, they will think that the Church consisteth of such, or that it maketh very light of sin. Therefore the ancient Churches delayed and imposed penances, partly to avoid such scandal. 3. And partly because that some sins are so heinous, that a sudden profession is not a sufficient Evidence of repentance, unless there be also some evidence of Contrition.
2. Some sins may be of so heynous scandal, that if the person repent of them this day, his absolution and reception may be delayed till the scandal be removed, 1. Because the publick good is to be preferred before any mans personal good. 2. And the Churches, or Enemies about, cannot so suddenly know of a mans repentance. If they hear of a mans Murder, Perjury or Adultery to day, and hear that he is absolved to morrow, they will think that the Church consisteth of such, or that it maketh very light of sin. Therefore the ancient Churches delayed and imposed penances, partly to avoid such scandal. 3. And partly because that some sins are so heynous, that a sudden profession is not a sufficient Evidence of repentance, unless there be also some evidence of Contrition.
3. But ordinarily no man ought to be Excommunicate for any sin whatsoever, unless Impenitence be1 added to the sin. Because he is first to be admonished to Repent, Matth. 18. 15, 16. Tit. 3. 10. And Repentance is the Gospel condition of pardon to believers.
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