A26915:572
Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…
Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation of souls, and of those scandals, heresies, and desperate apostasies that are the consequents of a counterfeit, or superficial change / by Richard Baxter.Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation of souls, and of those scandals, heresies, and desperate apostasies that are the consequents of a counterfeit, or superficial change / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by A.M. for Nevil Simmons, 1658
Directions to Sinners that are purposed to Turn, and are under the… › Direction 12
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.
To this I answer: 1. You may be sure that this Objection is frivolous, because ⟨p. 514⟩it makes against the frequent, express Commands of God, the practice of his Church in all ages, and the nature of Christianity it self: God hath in all Ages been pleased to receive men into his service and Church in a Covenant way; and Baptism it self is our solemn Covenanting with him: and the Lords Supper is appointed for a solemn renewing of it. And indeed it is implicitly and virtually renewed by a true Christian every day of his life. In every duty he gives up himself to God: And if he should cease this Heart-covenant, he would cease to be a Christian: For the very essence of his Christianity consisteth in it. It is his Faith it self.
2. And when you covenant for the time to come, you do not take on you to foretell infallibly your own perseverance; but you Profess your present consent to be Christ's, and to continue his, and you engage your selves thereto. And should you not choose the strictest engagements: 1. Where there is the greatest need of them, because of the looseness of the heart, and the strength of temptations, that would draw us away; and 2. Where there is the most absolute ⟨p. 515⟩necessity, because if we miscarry we are undone: 3. And where you are already obliged by Gods Commands whether you vow or not: 4. And where God hath made your consent to the Obligation of necessity to Salvation. He that intends to keep Covenant, and knows that he must keep it, or be condemned; hath little reason to be loath to make it.
2. And when you covenant for the time to come, you do not take on you to foretell infallibly your own perseverance; but you Profess your present consent to be Christ's, and to continue his, and you engage your selves thereto. And should you not choose the strictest engagements: 1. Where there is the greatest need of them, because of the loosness of the heart, and the strength of temptations, that would draw us away; and 2. Where there is the most absolute ⟨p. 515⟩