A26892:7751
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.
§. 19. Direct. 14. The doctrine o• Politics, especially of the Nature of Government and Laws in General, is of great use to all that will ever understand the Nature of Gods Government and Laws, that is, of Religion. Though there be no necessity of knowing the Government and Laws of the Land or of other Countries, and further than is necessary to our obedience or our outward concernments, yet so much of Government and Laws as Nature and Scripture make common to all particular forms and Countries, must be known by him that will understand Morality or Divinity, or will ever study the Laws of the Land. And it is a preposterous course, and the way of Ignorance and error, for a Divine to study Gods Laws, and a Lawyer mans Laws, before either of them know, in general what a Law, or what Government is, as nature notifieth it to us.
§. 19. Direct. 14. The doctrine o• Politicks, especially of the Nature of Government and Laws in General, is of great use to all that will ever understand the Nature of Gods Government and Laws, that is, of Religion. Though there be no necessity of knowing the Government and Laws of the Land or of other Countreys, and further than is necessary to our obedience or our outward concernments, yet so much of Government and Laws as Nature and Scripture make common to all particular forms and Countreys, must be known by him that will understand Morality or Divinity, or will ever study the Laws of the Land. And it is a preposterous course, and the way of Ignorance and errour, for a Divine to study Gods Laws, and a Lawyer mans Laws, before either of them know, in general what a Law, or what Government is, as nature notifieth it to us.
§. 20. Direct. 15. When you come to Divinity, I am not for their way that would have you begin with the Fathers and thence form a body of Divinity to your selves: If every young student must be put on such a task, we may have many Religions quickly, but shall certainly have much ignorance and error. We must not be so blind or unthankful to God as to deny that later times have brought forth abundance of Theological writings, incomparably more methodical, judicious, full, clear, and excellently fitted also by application, to the good of souls, than any that are known to us since the writing of the Sacred Scriptures. Reverence of antiquity hath its proper place and use, but is not to make men fools, non-proficients, or contemners of Gods greater mercies.