A26892:7543
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.
2. But the question being only of the Taking such Oaths, and not the Imposing of them, I say, ⟨p. 903⟩that 1. It is not lawful to swear obedience to an Usurper Civil or Ecclesiastical, in licitis & honestis, Because it is a subjecting our selves to him, and an acknowledging that authority which he hath not▪ For we can swear no further to obey the King himself but in things lawful and honest: And to do so by an Usurper is an injury to the King, and unto Christ.
2. But if the King himself shall command us to swear obedience to a subordinate Civil Usurper, he thereby ceaseth to be an Usurper, and receiveth authority, and it becometh our duty. And if he that was an Ecclesiastical Usurper, quoad personam, that had no true Call to a Lawful Office, shall after have a Call, or if any thing fall out, which shall make it our duty to Consent and Call him, then the impediment from his Usurpation is removed.
3. It is not lawful, though the Civil Magistrate command us, to swear obedience even in licitis & honestis, to such an Usurper, whose Office it self is unlawful, or forbidden by Christ, as he is such an Officer. No Protestant thinketh it lawful to swear obedience to the Pope as Pope: nor do any that take Lay-Elders to be an unlawful Office, think it lawful to swear obedience to them as such.