A26892:7968
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 4 › Chapter 3: Directions for Subjects concerning their duty to their Rulers.
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.
§. 1. Direct. 1. Though I shall pass by most of the theory, and especially of the controversial points in Politics, and not presume to play the Lawyers part; yet I must advise you to understand so much, of the cause, and nature and end of Government, as is necessary to direct you in your obedience, and to preserve you from all temptations to rebellion. Especially take heed of those mistakes which confound sovereignty and subjection, and which delude▪ the people with a conceit that they are the Original of power, and may entrust it as they please; and call their Rulers to account, and take the forfeiture, and recall their trust, &c. It is not to flatter Kings, but to give God his due, that I shall caution you against these mistakes of Popularity: And first I shall briefly lay down the truth, and then answer some few of the chief objections.
§. 1. Direct. 1. Though I shall pass by most of the theory, and especially of the controversal points in Politicks, and not presume to play the Lawyers part; yet I must advise you to understand so much, of the cause, and nature and end of Government, as is necessary to direct you in your obedience, and to preserve you from all temptations to rebellion. Especially take heed of those mistakes which confound soveraignty and subjection, and which delude▪ the people with a conceit that they are the Original of power, and may entrust it as they please; and call their Rulers to account, and take the forfeiture, and recall their trust, &c. It is not to flatter Kings, but to give God his due, that I shall caution you against these mistakes of Popularity: And first I shall briefly lay down the truth, and then answer some few of the chief objections.
§. 2. Propos. 1. That there be Government in genere, and obedience thereto, is determined even in Nature, 1by the God of Nature, in making man a sociable creature, and each man insufficient for himself, and in making Republics necess•••• to the welfare and safety of individuals, and Government necessary to these Republics. This therefore is not left to the peoples wills. Though some odd cases may be imagined, in which some individual persons, may live out of a Common-wealth, and not b obliged to live under Civil-Government; yet that exception doth but confirm the general Rule: Even as all men ordinarily are bound to live in Communion with some particular Church, and know their own Pastor, though yet some few may be excepted, as some Ambassadors, Travellers, Seamen, Soldiers, banished men, &c. So here, the obligation to live under Government lieth upon the generality of the World, though some few may be excepted.