A26892:7510
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 148: Quest. 148. How know we the true Canon of Scripture from Apocrypha?
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.
Quest. 148. How know we the true Canon of Scripture from Apocrypha?
Answ. BY these means set together: 1. There is for the most part, a special venerable excellency in the Books themselves, which helpeth us in the distinct reception of them.
2. The Tradition of infallible Church History telleth us, which Books they are which were written by men inspired by the Holy Ghost, and who sealed their Doctrine with Miracles in those times: It being but matter of fact (which Books such men wrote whom God bear witness to) infallible Church History (such as we have to know which are the Statutes of the Land, and which are counterfeit) is a sufficient notification and proof.
3. The sanctifying Spirit still in all Ages and Christians attesteth the Divinity and Truth of the Doctrine of the main body of the Bible; especially the Gospel: And then if we should err about the authority of a particular Book, it would not overthrow our Faith. It is not necessary to salvation, to believe this particular Text to be Divine. But it is sin and folly to doubt causelessly of the parts, when the Spirit attesteth the Doctrine and the Body of the Book. I pass these things briefly, because I have largelier handled them elsewhere.