A26892:7151
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.
Yet if only an inferior Captain gave but subordinate Colours, not to notify a Soldier of the Army as such, but to distinguish his Troop from the rest, it were not so much as the other: So if a Bishop or Ruler did but make such a symbol by which the Christians of his charge might be discerned from all others, and not as a badge of Christianity it self, though I know no reason for such distinction, and it may be faulty otherwise, yet would it not be this usurping of Sacramental Institution, which now I speak of. All Professing signs are not symbols of Christianity. Christ hath done his own work well already: His Colours, Sacraments or Symbols are sufficient; we need not devise more, and accuse his institutions of insufficiency; nor make more work for our selves in Religion, when we leave undone so much that he hath made us.
Yet if only an inferiour Captain gave but subordinate Colours, not to notifie a Souldier of the Army as such, but to distinguish his Troop from the rest, it were not so much as the other: So if a Bishop or Ruler did but make such a symbol by which the Christians of his charge might be discerned from all others, and not as a badge of Christianity it self, though I know no reason for such distinction, and it may be faulty otherwise, yet would it not be this usurping of Sacramental Institution, which now I speak of. All Professing signs are not symbols of Christianity. Christ hath done his own work well already: His Colours, Sacraments or Symbols are sufficient; we need not devise more, and accuse his institutions of insufficiency; nor make more work for our selves in Religion, when we leave undone so much that he hath made us.
15. All abuse of Images will not warrant us to separate from the Church which abuseth them: nor is all such abuse, Idolatry. If the Church or our Rulers will against our will place Images inconveniently in Churches, we may lawfully be there, so that they be not Symbols of Idol Worship, or of a Religion or Worship so sinful in the substance, as that God will not accept it; and so be it we make no sinful use of those inconvenient Images our selves. Though mere Temptation and Scandal make them sinful in those that so abuse them, and set them up; yet he that is not the author of that Temptation or Scandal, may not forsake Gods Worship, because that such things are present, nor is not to be interpreted a Consenter to them, while he cometh only about lawful Worship, (and perhaps hath fit opportunity at other times to profess his dissent.)