A26892:7689
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.
Quest. 170. Are Temples, Fonts, Utensils, Church-lands, much more the Ministers, holy: And what reverence is due to them as holy?
Answ. The question is either de nomine whether it be fit to call them holy, or de re, whether they have that which is called Holiness.
Answ. THe question is either de nomine whether it be fit to call them holy, or de re, whether they have that which is called Holiness.
I. The word [Holy] signifieth in God, essential transcendent Perfection; and so it cometh not into our question. In creatures it signifieth, 1. A Divine nature in the Rational Creature (Angels and Men) by which it is made like God, and disposed to him and his service, by Knowledge, Love, and holy Vivacity; which is commonly called Real saving Holiness as distinct from mere Relative. 2. It is taken for the Relation of any thing to God as his own peculiar appropriated to him: so1 infinite is the distance between God and us, that whatever is His in a special sense, or separated to his use, is called Holy: And that is, 1. Persons. 2. Things. 1. Persons are either, 1. In general devoted to his Love and Service; 2. Or specially devoted to him in some special office. Which is, 1. Ecclesiastical, 2. Economical, 3. Political. Those devoted to his general service are, 1. Either Heartily and sincerely so devoted (who are ever sanctified in the first Real sense also,) or only by word and outward profession. 2. Things devoted to God are, 1. Some by his own immediate choice, designation and command, 2. Or by general directions to man to do it. And these are, 1. Some things more Nearly, some things more Remotely separated to him. None of these must be confounded: And so we must conclude,