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Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Part 3
Question 112
p. 872

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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Householder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not about WORDS, to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to show thy self approved UNTO GOD, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Babblings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICKS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICKS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICKS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Housholder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not aboutTitle page of A Christian Directory, London, 1673

A26892:7089

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 3 › Question 112: Quest. 112. Whether Religious Worship may be given to a Creature? and what?

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.

[ Earlier:7086–7101 of 9,947

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2. There is an eminent degree therefore of estimation, reverence and Love and trust due to Good men above bad, and to those in Heaven above those on earth; And a peculiar honour to Rulers as such,¹ which is not due to their inferiors.

2. There is an eminent degree therefore of estimation, reverence and Love and trust due to Good men above bad, and to those in Heaven above those on earth; And a peculiar honour to Rulers as such,¹ which is not due to their inferiours.

1Psal. 15. 4.

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3. This is to be expressed by the Body, by convenient actions.

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4. The highest honour which we owe to any, is for the Image of God in them, viz. 1. His Natural Image as men, 2. His moral Image as Saints, 3. His Relative Image of supereminency, as superiors. And so it is God in them first, and they next as the Images of God, who are to be honoured.

4. The highest honour which we owe to any, is for the Image of God in them, viz. 1. His Natural Image as men, 2. His moral Image as Saints, 3. His Relative Image of supereminency, as superiours. And so it is God in them first, and they next as the Images of God, who are to be honoured.

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Cited: :7089
On this page: :7086–7101
Section: :7079–7104
Whole work: 9,947 passages

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Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (London, 1673), pt. 3, q. 112, p. 872. EEBO-TCP A26892.

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The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Printer: Robert White
Bookseller: Nevill Simmons
Year: 1673
Size: [35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port.
Words: 1,175,050
Catalogue: Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847
Text: EEBO-TCP A26892

Passages: 9,947
Sections: 502

The author

Richard Baxter 1615–1691

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

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WORDS,

to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to shew thy self approved

UNTO GOD,

a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

RIGHTLY DIVIDING

the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Bablings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.

2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.

LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.

p. 872

5. There is no honour to be given to any Creature, but that of which God himself is the End; viz. as it referreth to his Glory.

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6. Therefore all honour given to men, must be thus far Religious honour (or worship): For as all¹ things are sanctified to and by Saints, so all things that Religious men do, must be Religiously done.

11 Tim. 4. 5. Ti•. 1. 15. 1 Cor. 10. 14. 1 Pet. 4. 3. 1 Cor. 6. 9 . & 10. 17. Rev. 21. 8. & 2•. 15 Act. 17. 16. Gal. 5. 20. 2 Commandment. Rev. 22. 8, 9. Rev. 2. 14, 20. 1 Cor. 8 . & 10. 19, 28. 1 Joh. 5. 21. Dan. 3.

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7. As Persons, so places, books, words, utensils, times, &c. must be honoured for Gods sake, as they are Related to God, with such estimations and expressions as are suitable to their Relations.

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Neg. 1. No Creature must be esteemed to be a God; nor any of Gods proper attributes or honour given to any Creature whatsoever.

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2. No Creature must be esteemed better or greater or wiser than it is; (As far as we have means to know it.)

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3. Whatsoever outward expressions of honour (by word or deed) are appropriated to the true God, 1. By Divine Institution, 2. Or by nature, 3. Or by received usage, that expression of honour ought not to be used to a creature, were the heart never so free from honouring it. 1. Because it is bodily Idolatry: 2. And scandal as being Idolatry interpretatively, in the just sense of others.

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4. Whatsoever outward expressions of honour, Idolaters have used, and do use to signify their inward Idolatry, or taking a Creature or a fiction to be God, and so make it a tessara or symbol or Professing sign of that their Idolatry, if those actions are so used or esteemed among us, or within the notice of our actions; It is unlawful for us to use the like to any Creature. Because the use of their expression, maketh it to be a Profession of Idolatry by us, and so to be interpretative Idolatry and scandal: For to use Professing symbols is to profess.

4. Whatsoever outward expressions of honour, Idolaters have used, and do use to signifie their inward Idolatry, or taking a Creature or a fiction to be God, and so make it a tessara or symbol or Professing sign of that their Idolatry, if those actions are so used or esteemed among us, or within the notice of our actions; It is unlawful for us to use the like to any Creature. Because the use of their expression, maketh it to be a Profession of Idolatry by us, and so to be interpretative Idolatry and scandal: For to use Professing symbols is to profess.

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Except when there is some notorious reason to use the same words or actions to another lawful signification, which is of greater weight than the scandal; And we make it as public, to obviate the scandal, that we do it not to the Idolaters intents.

Except when there is some notorious reason to use the same words or actions to another lawful signification, which is of greater weight than the scandal; And we make it as publick, to obviate the scandal, that we do it not to the Idolaters intents.

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For example, [If the Mahometans make it a symbol of their Religion, to say [God is but one] upon a false supposition that the Christians make more Gods than one; yet it is lawful for us to use that symbolical word to a better end. But if they add to their symbol [And Mahomet is his Prophet], we may not use that, because it's 1. Symbolical of a false Religion; 2. And a falsehood of it self.

For example, [If the M•hometans make it a symbole of their Religion, to say [God is but one] upon a false supposition that the Christians make more Gods than one; yet it is lawful for us to use that symbolical word to a better end. But if they add to their symbol [And Mahomet is his Prophet], we may not use that, because it's 1. Symbolical of a false Religion; 2. And a falshood of it self.

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So if they make it a distinctive note of their religious meetings, to congregate the people by Voice and not by Bells; when it will be taken for a professing their Religion to do the same, we must avoid it: But not when there is great cause for it (as if we have no other means) and the reason against it, or scandal may be well avoided.

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5. Image Worship, (or bowing or otherwise worshipping towards an Image as an object,) in the time of Divine worship, or when we otherwise pretend to be worshipping God, is so gross an appearance of ⟨p. 873⟩inward Idolatry, (either as visibly describing God to be like a Creature, or else as seeming to mean what Idolaters did by that action) that God hath thought meet to forbid it to all mankind by a special¹ Law. (Command. 2.)

5. Image Worship, (or bowing or otherwise worshipping towards an Image as an object,) in the time of Divine worship, or when we otherwise pretend to be worshiping God, is so gross an appearance of ⟨p. 873⟩inward Idolatry, (either as visibly describing God to be like a Creature, or else as seeming to mean what Idolaters did by that action) that God hath thought meet to forbid it to all mankind by a special¹ Law. (Command. 2.)

1Rom. 11. 4. 1 King. 19. 18. Rev. 22. 8, 9. Jos. 23. 7. 2 King. 17. 35. Exod. 20. 5.

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6. The scandal of seeming Idolatry is a heinous sin, and not to be excused by the contrary meaning of the heart, no more than lying Idolatrous professions are. Because to blaspheme God as if he were like a Creature, or to tell the World by our actions that a creature is God, are both very heinous. And so is it to murder our brethren's souls, by tempting them to the like.

6. The scandal of seeming Idolatry is a heynous sin, and not to be excused by the contrary meaning of the heart, no more than lying Idolatrous professions are. Because to blaspheam God as if he were like a Creature, or to tell the World by our actions that a creature is God, are both very heynous. And so is it to murder our brethrens souls, by tempting them to the like.

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7. It is no appearance of Idolatry to kneel to a King, or a Father, or Superior, when we are professing¹ nothing but to Honour them with due honour: But when the Church assembleth professedly to Worship God, if then they mix expressions of veneration to Angels, and Saints in Heaven, or to a King, or any Creature, in their Worshipping of God, without a very notorious signification of sufficient difference, it will seem a joining them in part of the same Divine honour.

7. It is no appearance of Idolatry to kneel to a King, or a Father, or Superiour, when we are professing¹ nothing but to Honour them with due honour: But when the Church assembleth professedly to Worship God, if then they mix expressions of veneration to Angels, and Saints in Heaven, or to a King, or any Creature, in their Worshipping of God, without a very notorious signification of sufficient difference, it will seem a joyning them in part of the same Divine honour.

1Gen. 27. 29 . & 32. 10 . & 44. 8. Exod. 11. 8. •2 King. 5. 18. Gen. 41. 43. Ruth. 2. 10. 1 Sam. 25. 23, 41.

Puritans

England

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

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⟨p. 12⟩: a page break in the printed book