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Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Part 3
Question 130
p. 886

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

A26892:7297

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 130: Quest. 130. How far is the holy Scriptures a Law and perfect Rule to us?

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:7294–7309 of 9,947

:7294p. 886

3. It is a perfect Rule for all that is of Universal Moral necessity: That is, Whatever it is necessary that¹ man believe, think, or do, in all ages and places of the World, this is of Divine obligation. Whatever the World is Universally bound to (that is, All men in it) it is certain that Gods Law in Nature or Scripture or both, bindeth them to it. For the World hath no Universal King or Lawgiver but God.

11 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Pet. 1. 20. 2 Tim. •. 15. Rom. 15. 4 . & 16. 26. Joh. •. 3•. Act. 1•. 2. 11. Joh. 19. 24, 28, 36, 37.

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4. Gods own Laws in Nature and Scripture are a perfect Rule for all the duties of the understanding, thoughts, affections, passions, immediately to be exercised on God himself; For no one else is a discerner or judge of such matters.

:7296p. 886

5. It perfectly containeth all the Essential and Integral parts of the Christian Religion: so that nothing is of it self and directly any part of the Christian Religion which is not there.

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Position

Cited: :7297
On this page: :7294–7309
Section: :7291–7317
Whole work: 9,947 passages

Cite

Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (London, 1673), pt. 3, q. 130, p. 886. 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.

:7297p. 886

6. It instituteth those Sacraments perfectly, which are the seals of Gods Covenant with man, and the delivery of the benefits, and which are the Badges or Symbols of the Disciples and Religion of Christ in the World.

:7298p. 886

7. It determineth what Faith, Prayer and obedience, shall be his appointed means and Conditions of Justification, Adoption, and Salvation. And so what shall be Professed and Preached in his name to the World.

:7299p. 886

8. It is a perfect Instrument of donation or Conveyance of our Right to Christ, and of Pardon and Justification, and Adoption, and the Holy Spirits assistances, and of Glory. As it is Gods Covenant, promise or deed of gift.

:7300p. 886

9. It instituteth certain Ministers as his own Church▪ officers, and perfectly describeth their office, as instituted by him.

:7301p. 886

10. It instituteth the form of his Church Universal which is called, his body: And also of Particular holy societies for his Worship: And prescribeth them certain Duties, as the Common Worship there to be performed.

:7302p. 886

11. It determineth of a weekly day, even the first, to be separated for and used in this holy Worship.

:7303p. 886

12. It is a perfect General Rule for the Regulating of those things, which it doth not command or forbid in particular. As that all be done wisely, to edification, in charity, peace, concord, season, order, &c.

:7304p. 886

13. It giveth to Magistrates, Pastors, Parents and other Superiors, all that power by which they are authorized, to oblige us under God, •o any undetermined particulars.

13. It giveth to Magistrates, Pastors, Parents and other Superiours, all that power by which they are authorized, to oblige us under God, •o any undetermined particulars.

:7305p. 886

14. It is the perfect Rule of Christs Judging, Rewarding and punishing at last, according to which he will proceed.

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15. It is the only Law that is made by Primitive Power.

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16. And the only Law that is made by Infallible wisdom.

16. And the only Law that is made by In•all•ble wisdom.

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17. And the only Law which is faultless, and hath no thing in it that will do the subject any harm.

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18. And the only Law which is from Absolute Power, the Rule of all other Laws, and from which¹ there is finally no appeal.

1Psal. 12. 6 . & 19. 7, 8, 9, 10. Psal. 119.

Puritans

England

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

•: an illegible letter
〈…〉: illegible words
〈non-Latin alphabet〉: Greek or Hebrew the transcribers did not key
▪: illegible punctuation
⟨p. 12⟩: a page break in the printed book