A26892:7414
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.
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.
So the primitive Christians selling their estates, and distributing to the poor, or laying it down at the Apostles feet, was plainly appropriated to that time, or the like occasions, by the Reason of it; which was suddenly to show the world what the belief of Heaven through the promises of Christ, could make them all, and how much their Love was to Christ and one another, and how little to the world: And also by the cessation of it, when the persecutions abated, and the Churches came to any settlement; Yea, and at first it was not a thing commanded to all, but only voluntarily done.
So the primitive Christians selling their estates, and distributing to the poor, or laying it down at the Apostles feet, was plainly appropriated to that time, or the like occasions, by the Reason of it; which was suddenly to shew the world what the belief of Heaven through the promises of Christ, could make them all, and how much their Love was to Christ and one another, and how little to the world: And also by the cessation of it, when the persecutions abated, and the Churches came to any setlement; Yea, and at first it was not a thing commanded to all, but only voluntarily done.
So the women's Veil, and the custom of kissing each other as a token of Love, and mens not wearing long hair, were the customs of the Country there ordered and improved by the Apostles about sacred things; but not introduced into other Countries that had no such custom.
So the womens Vail, and the custome of kissing each other as a token of Love, and mens not wearing long hair, were the customes of the Countrey there ordered and improved by the Apostles about sacred things; but not introduced into other Countreys that had no such custome.
So also Anointing was in th•se Countries taken for salubrious, and refreshing to the body, and a ceremony of initiation into places of great honour; Whereupon it was used about the sick, and Gods giving the gift of healing in those times was frequently conjunct with this means. So that hence the anointing of the sick came up; and the ancient Christians turned it into an initiating Ceremony,