A26892:6114
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.
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.
2. That these Laws are many more ways diversified and distinguished (from the efficient, sign, subjects, matter, end, &c.) than is meet for us here to enumerate. It is sufficient now to say, 1. That stated Regulating Laws as distinct from temporary Mandates and Proclamations: 2. And Laws for Kingdoms and other Common-wealthy, in regard of Laws for Persons, Schools, Families &c. 3. And Laws made by the Supreme Power, as distinct from those made by the derived authority of Colleges, Corporations, &c. called By-Laws or Orders, (For I will here say nothing of Parents and Pastors, whose Authority is directly or immediately from the efficiency of Nature in one, and Divine Institution in the other, and not derived efficiently from the Magistrate, or any man). 4. That Laws about great substantial matters, distinct from those about little and mutable circumstances, &c. I say the first sort as distinct from the second, are Laws so called by Excellency above other Laws. But that the rest are univocally to be called Laws, according to the best definition of the Law in Genere. But if any man will speak otherwise, let him remember that it is yet but lis de nomine, and that he may use his liberty, and I will use mine. Now to the Question.