A26892:6948
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.
Part 3 › Question 99: Quest. 99. How many Sacraments are there appointed by Christ?
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. The word [Sacrament] hath so many significations, that it is not fit for the Question1 till it be explained. Passing all others now, we must take notice, 1. That our use of it is not so large as the Latin Interpreter who putteth it for [Mystery], but for [A solemn Dedication of man to God by a Vow expressed by some sacred Ceremony, signifying mutually our Covenant to God, and Gods Reception of us and his Covenant with us.] And it is brought into the Church from the Roman Military Oath called a Sacrament, in which as Tertul. de Cor. Mil. showeth, the Soldier sware fidelity and obedience to Caesar, renouncing Father, Mother, &c. for his service, and swearing to prefer it and his safety before them all: See Martinius reciting the Oath out of divers Authors. This is our sense of the word: Let no man now that taketh it in other sense, pretend therefore that we differ in doctrine.
Answ. THe word [Sacrament] hath so many significations, that it is not fit for the Question1 till it be explained. Passing all others now, we must take notice, 1. That our use of it is not so large as the Latin Interpreter who putteth it for [Mysterie], but for [A solemn Dedication of man to God by a Vow expressed by some sacred Ceremony, signifying mutually our Covenant to God, and Gods Reception of us and his Covenant with us.] And it is brought into the Church from the Roman Military Oath called a Sacrament, in which as Tertul. de Cor. Mil. sheweth, the Souldier sware fidelity and obedience to Caesar, renouncing Father, Mother, &c. for his service, and swearing to prefer it and his safety before them all: See Martinius reciting the Oath out of divers Authors. This is our sense of the word: Let no man now that taketh it in other sense, pretend therefore that we differ in doctrine.
- 1Of which see Marti•ius fully in Onom. de Sacra•. Bellarmine himself reckoneth five.