A26892:7347
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.
4. Many such things may be done Materially on other reasons (as for the Churches good, the furtherance of the Gospel, the winning of men to God, the avoiding of scandal, or of hurt to others or our selves, &c.) when they are not to be done in formal obedience, out of Conscience to the Authority imposing: (As if it be commanded by one that hath no just power).
5. Our Actions may participate of obedience in general, as being actions of subjects, when they are not obedience in the full and perfect formality as to the particular. The last leaf of Rich. Hooker's eighth Book of Eccl. Polit. will show you the reason of this. He that hath not just power to command me this one particular Act, yet may be my Ruler in the General, and I am bound to Honour 1him in General as my Ruler; And to disobey him in a thing Lawful for me to do, though not for him to command, may be dishonouring of him, and an appearance of disobedience and denial of his power. A Parent is forbidden by God to command his Child to speak an idle word, or to do a vain and useless action (much more a hurtful). Yet if a Parent should command a Child to speak an idle word, or do a vain action, the duty of obedience would make it at that time, not to be vain and idle to him; yea if he bid him throw away a cup of Wine, or a piece of bread, which is evil when causeless, the Child may be bound to do it: not only because he knoweth not but the Parents may have lawful ends and reasons for their command (as to try and exercise his obedience); but also if he were sure that it were not so; Because he is a subject, and the honouring of a Parent is so great a good, and the dishonouring him by that disobedience may have such ill consequents, as will preponderate the evil of the l•ss of a Cup of Wine, &c. Yet in this case, the Act of obedience is but mixed: It is an act of subjection or Honour to a Parent, because in General he is a Governor: But it is but Materially obedience in respect of that particular matter, which we know he had no Authority to command.
5. Our Actions may participate of obedience in general, as being actions of subjects, when they are not obedience in the full and perfect formality as to the particular. The last leaf of Rich. Hooker's eighth Book of Eccl. Polit. will shew you the reason of this. He that hath not just power to command me this one particular Act, yet may be my Ruler in the General, and I am bound to Honour