A26892:7497
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.
8. That which is written to and for all men, may be read by all that can: But the Scripture was written to and for all,—&c.
Object. But there are many things in it hard to be understood?
Answ. 1. And there are many things easy to be understood. 2. We never said that men should not use the help of their Teachers, and all that they can to understand it. 3. Were not those Teachers once ignorant? And yet they did read it by the help of Teachers: And so may others. 4. As the King for Concord commandeth all the Schoolmasters to teach one Grammar: So God makeeth it the Ministers Office to Instruct people in the Scriptures. And were it not a question unworthy of a Schoolmaster, to dispute, Whether the Scholars must learn by their Book, or by their Master? Yea, to conclude that it must be by their Master, and not by their Book? or that they must never open their Book, but when their Master is just at hand to teach them? The Doctrine of the Papists who tell us that the Scriptures should not be read by the Vulgar, it being the rise of all Heresies, is so inhumane and impious, as savouring of gross enmity to Scriptures, and to knowledge, that were there no other, it would make the Lovers of Religion and mens souls, to pray earnestly to Christ to save his flocks from such seducers, who so Jewishly use the Key of Knowledge.
Answ. 1. And there are many things easie to be understood. 2. We never said that men should not use the help of their Teachers, and all that they can to understand it. 3. Were not those Teachers once ignorant? And yet they did read it by the help of Teachers: And so may others. 4. As the King for Concord commandeth all the Schoolmasters to teach one Grammar: So God makeeth it the Ministers Office to Instruct people in the Scriptures. And were it not a question unworthy of a Schoolmaster, to dispute, Whether the Scholars must learn by their Book, or by their Master? Yea, to conclude that it must be by their Master, and not by their Book? or that they must never open their Book, but when their Master is just at hand to teach them? The Doctrine of the Papists who tell us that the Scriptures should not be read by the Vulgar, it being the rise of all Heresies, is so inhumane and impious, as savouring of gross enmity to Scriptures, and to knowledge, that were there no other, it would make the Lovers of Religion and mens souls, to pray earnestly to Christ to save his flocks from such seducers, who so Jewishly use the Key of Knowledge.