A26892:6113
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 25: Quest. 25. Whether Canons be Laws? And Pastors have a Legislative Power?
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. 25. Whether Canons be Laws? And Pastors have a Legislative Power?
ALL men are not agreed what a Law is, that is, what is to be taken for the proper sense of that Word. Some will have the name confined to such Common Laws as are stated durable Rules for the subjects actions: And some will extend it also to personal temporary verbal Precepts and Mandates, such as Parents and Masters use daily to the children and servants of their families. And of the first sort, some will confine the name [Laws] to those acts of Sovereignty which are about the common matters of the Kingdom, or which no interior Officer may make: And others will extend it to those Orders which by the Sovereigns Charter, a Corporation, or College, or School may make for the subregulation of their particular societies and affairs.
ALL men are not agreed what a Law is, that is, what is to be taken for the proper sense of that Word. Some will have the name confined to such Common Laws as are stated durable Rules for the subjects actions: And some will extend it also to personal temporary verbal Precepts and Mandates, such as Parents and Masters use daily to the children and servants of their families. And of the first sort, some will confine the name [Laws] to those acts of Soveraignty which are about the common matters of the Kingdom, or which no interiour Officer may make: And others will extend it to those Orders which by the Soveraigns Charter, a Corporation, or Colledge, or School may make for the subregulation of their particular societies and affairs.
I have declared my own opinion de nomine fully elsewhere, 1. That the definition of a Law in the proper general sense, is, To be A sign or signification of the Reason and Will of the Rector as such, to his subjects as such, instituting or antecedently determining what shall be Due from them, and to them; Jus efficiendo, Regularly making Right.