A26892:7979
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.
§. 9. Prop. 8. The Natural power of individual persons over themselves is tota specie different from1 this Political or Civil Power. And it is not the Individuals resignation of this Natural power of self-disposal,2 unto one or more, which is the efficient Cause of Sovereignty or Civil Power.
§. 9. Prop. 8. The Natural power of individual persons over themselves is tota specie different from1 this Political or Civil Power. And it is not the Individuals resignation of this Natural power of selfdisposal,2 unto one or more, which is the efficient Cause of Soveraignty or Civil Power.
- 1Prop. 8.
- 2It was one of the Roman Laws of the twelve Tables, Vendendi filium patri potestas es•o. But this Law rather giveth the Father that power, than declareth it to be naturally in him. Nature alloweth him no other selling of him, than what is for his Childs own good.
§. 10. Prop. 9. If you take the word [Law] properly, for the expression of a Rulers Will obliging 1the Governed, or making their duty; and not improperly for mere Contracts between the Sovereign and the people, then it is clear in the definition it self, that neither Subjects, nor the Community as such have any Legislative power: Neither Nature nor Scripture hath given the people a Power of making Laws, either by themselves, or with the Sovereign: Either the sole power or a part of it: But the very Nature of Government requireth, that the whole Legislative power, that is, the power of making Governing Laws, belong to the summa Majestas or Sovereign alone. (Unless when the summa potestas is in many hands, you compare the partakers among themselves, and call one Party the Sovereign, as having more of the Sovereignty than the rest). For those that are no Governors at all, cannot perform the chief act of Government, which is the making of Governing-Laws: But the people are no Governors at all, either as a Community, or as Subjects: So that you may easily perceive that all the Arguments for a natural Democracy are built upon false suppositions; and where ever the People have any part in the Sovereignty; it is by the after-Constitution and not by Nature; And that Kings receive not their Power from the peoples gift, (who never had it themselves to use or give), but from God alone.