A26895:127
The Christian religion expressed I, briefly in the ancient creeds, the Ten commandments, and…
The Christian religion expressed I, briefly in the ancient creeds, the Ten commandments, and the Lords prayer, and, II, more largely in a profession taken out of the Holy Scriptures, containing 1, the articles of the Christian belief, 2, our consent to the gospel covenant, 3, the sum of Christian duty, according to the primitive simplicity, purity, and practice, fitted to the right instruction of the ignorant, the promoting of holiness, and the charitable concord of all true believers ... / by Richard Baxter.
London : s.n., 1660
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.
19. As Infants are by baptism admitted among the Infant-members of the Church, upon their Parents profession of Christianity, and dedicating them to God; so must they personally make a profession of their own faith, and own their baptismal Covenant, and give up themselves to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, before they are to be admitted into the number and Communion ⟨p. 37⟩of the Adult members of the Church; Which profession is to be tried and approved of by the Pastors of the Church: And so excellent a duty, to be carefully, and seriously, and solemnly performed, that the transition into the state and communion of the Adult, may appear to be so great and observable a thing, as may excite all to an answerable care and diligence, in preparation thereunto, and to look after that saving faith and holiness, which they must so solemnly profess. And Ministers should have a special care, that they take nothing for a credible profession, that is not so: and corrupt not the Church by letting in uncapable members, that must either be cast out again, to the grievous exasperating them against the Church and way of God, and so to the apparent hazard of their souls: or else must live ungoverned in their wickedness, to the great dishonour of God, and the provocation of his wrath against them and the Church.
19. As Infants are by baptism admitted among the Infant-members of the Church, upon their Parents profession of Christianity, and dedicating them to God; so must they personally make a profession of their own faith, and own their baptismal Covenant, and give up themselves to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, before they are to be admitted into the number and Communion ⟨p. 37⟩of the Adult members of the Church; Which profession is to be tryed and approved of by the Pastors of the Church: And so excellent a duty, to be carefully, and seriously, and solemnly performed, that the transition into the state and communion of the Adult, may appear to be so great and observable a thing, as may excite all to an answerable care and diligence, in preparation thereunto, and to look after that saving faith and holiness, which they must so solemnly profess. And Ministers should have a special care, that they take nothing for a credible profession, that is not so: and corrupt not the Church by letting in uncapable members, that must either be cast out again, to the grievous exasperating them against the Church and way of God, and so to the apparent hazzard of their souls: or else must live ungoverned in their wickedness, to the great dishonour of God, and the provocation of his wrath against them and the Church.