A26892:7973
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.
§. 6. Prop. 5. Though these in the constitution are determined of by explicit or implicit contract or consent between the Ruler and the Community, yet by none of these three can the people be truly and properly said to Give the Ruler his Power of Government. Not by the first or last; for both those do but determine who shall be the Recipient of that power; whether one or more, and who individually. Not the second, for that is but a limiting or bounding or regulating the Governing power, that it be not exercised to their hurt: The bounding and regulating of their power, is not the Giving them power. The People having the strength cannot be ruled against their concordant wills: And therefore if they contract with their Governors, that they will be Ruled thus and thus or not at all, this is not to Give them power. Yet Propriety they have, and there they may be Givers. So that this Bounding or Regulating, and Choosing the form, and Persons, and giving of their propriety, is all that they have to do. And the choosing of the Family or person is not at all a Giving the Power: They are but sine quibus non to that: They do but open the door to let in the Governor: They do but name the family or man to whom God and not they shall Give the power.
§. 6. Prop. 5. Though these in the constitution are determined of by explicite or implicite contract or consent between the Ruler and the Community, yet by none of these three can the people be truly and properly said to Give the Ruler his Power of Government. Not by the first or last; for both those do but determine who shall be the Recipient of that power; whether one or more, and who individually. Not the second, for that is but a limiting or bounding or regulating the Governing power, that it be not exercised to their hurt: The bounding and regulating of their power, is not the Giving them power. The People having the strength cannot be ruled against their concordant wills: And therefore if they contract with their Governours, that they will be Ruled thus and thus or not at all, this is not to Give them power. Yet Propriety they have, and there they may be Givers. So that this Bounding or Regulating, and Choosing the form, and Persons, and giving of their propriety, is all that they have to do. And the choosing of the Family or person is not at all a Giving the Power: They are but sine quibus non to that: They do but open the door to let in the Governour: They do but name the family or man to whom God and not they shall Give the power.