A26892:7353
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.
Thus the Apostles knew that no man had power from God to silence them, or persecute them for the Gospel. Therefore they would not obey those that forbade them to Preach: And yet they would appear before any Magistrate that commanded them, and obey their […]; And so we may do even to an Usurper, or a private man.
Thus the Apostles knew that no man had power from God to silence them, or persecute them for the Gospel. Therefore they would not obey those that forbad them to Preach: And yet they would appear before any Magistrate that commanded them, and obey their 〈…〉; And so we may do even to an Usurper, or a private man.
8. The principal and most notable Case, in which we must obey when a Rule• sinfully commandeth is, when the matter which he commandeth is not such as is either forbidden us by God, or out of the Verge of his place and calling at all to meddle with and command, nor yet such as is destructive of our duty to God; but such as in General belongeth to his office to determine of according to Gods general Rules; but he misseth it in the manner and goeth against those Rules; yet not so far as to destroy the duty we owe to God, or the end of it.
For instance, It is not in the Rulers power to determine whether there shall be Preaching or none; true doctrine or false, &c. But it is in his power to Regulate the circumstances of Time, Place, &c. (next to be recited.) Now if he do these to Order, Unity, and Edification, I will obey him formally and fully for Conscience sake: If he so do it as is destructive to the end (as is aforesaid), as to say, You shall meet only at twenty miles distance, or only at midnight, &c. I will obey him no farther than necessity and the common good requireth me: If he do it only with a tolerable inconvenience (as to say, You shall meet no where but in the open fields, &c.) I will obey for Conscience sake as I am in general a subject bound to honour the Magistrate; but not as he nameth an unmeet circumstance; in that respect my obedience shall be but material.