A26892:7987
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. 1. He may hire out himself to Labour for another; because he hath so far the power of1 himself, and his Labour is his own, which he may sell for wages: But in a family, that the Master be the Governor to see Gods Laws obeyed by his servants, is of Divine appointment, and this Governing power the servant giveth not to his Master, but only maketh himself the object of it. 2. The power that nature giveth a man over himself, is tota specie distinct from Civil Government: (as Dr. Hammond hath well showed against I. G.) An Individual person hath not that power of his own 2life as the King hath. He may not put himself to death, for that which the King may put him to death for. 3. If this were true, that every individual, by self-resignation might give a King his power over him; yet a posse ad esse non valet consequentia: And that it is not so is proved, in that God the Universal Sovereign hath prevented them, by determining himself, of his own Officers, and giving them their power in the same Charter by which he enableth the people to choose them. Therefore it is no better reasoning than to say, [If all the persons in London subjected themselves to the Lord Mayor, he would thereby receive his power from them,] when the King hath prevented that already, by giving him the power himself in his Charter; and leaving only the choice of the person to them; and that under the direction of the Rules which he hath given them.
Answ. 1. He may hire out himself to Labour for another; because he hath so far the power of1 himself, and his Labour is his own, which he may sell for wages: But in a family, that the Master be the Governour to see Gods Laws obeyed by his servants, is of Divine appointment, and this Governing power the servant giveth not to his Master, but only maketh himself the object of it. 2. The power that nature giveth a man over himself, is tota specie distinct from Civil Government: (as Dr. Hammond hath well shewed against I. G.) An Individual person hath not that power of his own 2life as the King hath. He may not put himself to death, for that which the King may put him to death for. 3. If this were true, that every individual, by self-resignation might give a King his power over him; yet a posse ad esse non valet consequentia: And that it is not so is proved, in that God the Universal Soveraign hath prevented them, by determining himself, of his own Officers, and giving them their power in the same Charter by which he enableth the people to choose them. Therefore it is no better reasoning than to say, [If all the persons in London subjected themselves to the Lord Mayor, he would thereby receive his power from them,] when the King hath prevented that already, by giving him the power himself in his Charter; and leaving only the choice of the person to them; and that under the direction of the Rules which he hath given them.