A26892:7970
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.
§. 3. Prop. 2. Rulers therefore are Gods officers, placed under him in his Kingdom, as he is the Universal absolute Sovereign of the World: And they receive their power from God, who is the only Original of Power. Not only their strength from his strength, but their Authority or Governing power, (which is Jus regendi) from his supreme authority; as Mayors and Bailiffs in Corporations receive their power from the King: Rom. 13. 1, 2, 3. There is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
§. 3. Prop. 2. Rulers therefore are Gods officers, placed under him in his Kingdom, as he is the Universal absolute Soveraign of the World: And they receive their power from God, who is the only Original of Power. Not only their strength from his strength, but their Authority or Governing power, (which is Ius regendi) from his supream authority; as Mayors and Bayliffs in Corporations receive their power from the King: Rom. 13. 1, 2, 3. There is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
§. 4. Prop. 3. This Governing power in genere is not an empty name, but in the very institution containeth in it those things Materially which are absolutely necessary to the end of Government.
§. 5. Prop. 4. Yet God hath left that which is commonly called the specification of Government, and some lower parts of the Matter, and Manner of exercise, undetermined, as also the Individual persons or families that shall Rule. In these three therefore it is that Communities interpose. 1. Whether the sovereignty shall be in one or two or ten, or how many, and how divided for their exercise, God hath not determined. 2. Nor hath he determined of every particular, whether the Power shall extend