A26892:7983
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.
Answ. Because the Authority of this famous Divine is with his Party so great, I shall adventure to1 say something, lest his words do the more harm; but not by confident opposition, but humble proposal and submission of my judgement to superiors and wiser men, as being conscious of my own inferiority and infirmity: I take all this to be an assertion no where by him proved: (and by me elsewhere ⟨p. 11⟩disproved fully). Laws are the Effects and signs of the Rulers Will: and instruments of Government. Legislation is the first part of Government: And if the whole Body are naturally Governors, the Pares imperans and pars subdita are confounded. If the most Absolute Monarch can make2 no Laws, then disobeying them were no fault. It is enough that their Power be derived from God immediately, though the persons be chosen by men. Their Authority is not derived from the peoples consent, but from God, by their consent, as a bare condition sine qua non. What if a Community say all to their elected King, [We take not our selves to have any Governing power to give or use, but we only choose you or your family to that Office which God hath instituted, who in that Institution giveth you the power upon our choice]: Can any man prove, that such a King hath no power, but is a Tyrant? because the people disclaim the Giving of the Power: When indeed they do their duty. Remember that in all this we speak not of the Government of this or that particular Kingdom; but of Kingdoms and other Commonwealths indefinitely.
Answ. Because the Authority of this famous Divine is with his Party so great, I shall adventure to1 say something, lest his words do the more harm; but not by confident opposition, but humble proposal and submission of my judgement to superiours and wiser men, as being conscious of my own inferiority and infirmity: I take all this to be an assertion no where by him proved: (and by me elsewhere ⟨p. 11⟩disproved fully). Laws are the Effects and signs of the Rulers Will: and instruments of Government. Legislation is the first part of Government: And if the whole Body are naturally Governours, the Pares imperans and pars subdita are confounded. If the most Absolute Monarch can make