A26892:7575
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.
3. All those Gentiles that would be proselytes, and join with the Jews in their policy, and dwell among them, were bound to be observers of their Laws. But 1. The Law of Nature as Mosaical did not formally and directly bind other Nations. 2. N•r were they bound to the Laws of their peculiar policy, Civil or Ecclesiastical, which were positives. The reason is, 1. Because they were all one body of Political Laws, given peculiarly to one political body. Even the Decalogue it self was to them a political Law. 2. Because Moses was not authorized or sent to be the Mediator or deliverer of that Law to any Nation but the Jews. And being never in the enacting or Promulgation sent or directed to the rest of the World, it could not bind them.
3. All those Gentiles that would be proselytes, and joyn with the Jews in their policy, and dwell among them, were bound to be observers of their Laws. But 1. The Law of Nature as Mosaical did not formally and directly bind other Nations. 2. N•r were they bound to the Laws of their peculiar policy, Civil or Ecclesiastical, which were positives. The reason is, 1. Because they were all one body of Political Laws, given peculiarly to one political body. Even the Decalogue it self was to them a political Law. 2. Because Moses was not authorized or sent to be the Mediator or deliverer of that Law to any Nation but the Jews. And being never in the enacting or Promulgation sent or directed to the rest of the World, it could not bind them.
II. As to the second Question, Though the Scripture as a writing bound not all the World, yet, 1. The Law of Nature as such which is recorded in Scripture did bind all. 2. The Covenant of1 Grace was made with all mankind in Adam and Noah: And they were bound to promulgate it by Tradition to all their off-spring: And no doubt so they did; whether by word (as all did) or by writing also (as it's like some did, as Henochs Prophesies were it's like delivered, or else they had not in terms been preserved till Judes time.) 3. And God himself as aforesaid by actual providences, pardoning, and benefits given to them that deserved hell, did in part promulgate it himself. 4. The neighbour Nations might learn much by Gods doctrine and dealing with the Jews.