A26892:7136
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 113: Quest. 113. What Images, and what use of Images is lawful or unlawful?
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.
3. As the word [Image] is taken in general for signs, there is no question but they are frequently to be used: As all a mans words are the Images, that is, the signifiers of his mind; And all a mans writings are the same made visible. It is therefore a blind confounding error of some now among us (otherwise very sober good men) who accuse all Forms of prayer, and of Preaching as sinful, because (say they) they are Idols, or Images of Prayer and of Preaching: They are neither engraven nor painted Images of any Creature: But all words are or should be signs of the speakers mind. And if you will secundum quid call only the inward Desires by the name of Prayer, then the words are the signs of such prayer. But because Prayer in the full sense is Desire expressed, therefore the expressions are not the signs of such prayer, but part of the prayer it self, as the body is of the man: nor is a form, that is, fore-conceived or premeditated words (whether in mind or writing) any more an Image of prayer, than extemporate prayer is. All words are signs, but never the more for being premeditated, or written. And according to this opinion, all Books are sinful Images, and all Sermon-notes, and the Printing of the Bible it self, and all pious Letters of one friend to another, and all Catechisms: Strangers will hardly believe, that so monstrous an opinion as this, should in these very instances be ⟨p. 875⟩maintained, by men otherwise so understanding and truly godly, and every way blameless, as have and do maintain it at this day.
3. As the word [Image] is taken in general for signes, there is no question but they are frequently to be used: As all a mans words are the Images, that is, the signifiers of his mind; And all a mans writings are the same made visible. It is therefore a blind confounding errour of some now among us (otherwise very sober good men) who accuse all Forms of prayer, and of Preaching as sinful, because (say they) they are Idols, or Images of Prayer and of Preaching: They are neither engraven nor painted Images of any Creature: But all words are or should be signes of the speakers mind. And if you will secundum quid call only the inward Desires by the name of Prayer, then the words are the signes of such prayer. But because Prayer in the full sense is Desire expressed, therefore the expressions are not the signes of such prayer, but part of the prayer it self, as the body is of the man: nor is a form, that is, fore-conceived or premeditated words (whether in mind or writing) any more an Image of prayer, than extemporate prayer is. All words are signes, but never the more for being premeditated, or written. And according to this opinion, all Books are sinful Images, and all Sermon-notes, and the Printing of the Bible it self, and all pious Letters of one friend to another, and all Catechisms: Strangers will hardly believe, that so monstrous an opinion as this, should in these very instances be