A26892:8003
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.
§. 22. Object. 11. Lib. 8. p. 205. [If Magistrates be Heads of the Church, they are of Necessity1 Christians.]
- 1Object. 11.
Answ. That can never be proved. A Constitutive Head indeed must be a Christian and more, even 1a Pastor to a particular Church, and Christ to the universal. This Headship our Kings disclaim: But a Head of the Church, that is, Over the Church, or a Coercive Governor of it, the King would be if he were no Christian. As one that is no Physician may be Head over all the Physicians in his Kingdom; or though he be no Philosopher, or Artist, he may be Head over all the Philosophers and Artists; and in all their Causes have the Supreme Coercive power; so would the King over all Protestants if he were no Protestant, and over all Christians if he were no Christian? But you think that he that is no member of the Church cannot be the Head of it: I answer, Not a Constitutive Essential Head as the Pastor is: But he may be the Head over it, and have all the coercive power over it. What if the King be not a member of many Corporations in his Kingdom? Yet as he is Head of the Kingdom, he is Head of or over them as they are parts of it.
Answ. That can never be proved. A Constitutive Head indeed must be a Christian and more, even 1a Pastor to a particular Church, and Christ to the universal. This Headship our Kings disclaim: But a Head of the Church, that is, Over the Church, or a Coercive Governour of it, the King would be if he were no Christian. As one that is no Physicion may be Head over all the Physicions in his Kingdom; or though he be no Philosopher, or Artist, he may be Head over all the Philosophers and Artists; and in all their Causes have the Supream Coercive power; so would the King over all Protestants if he were no Protestant, and over all Christians if he were no Christian? But you think that he that is no member of the Church cannot be the Head of it: I answer, Not a Constitutive Essential Head as the Pastor is: But he may be the Head over it, and have all the coercive power over it. What if the King be not a member of many Corporations in his Kingdom? Yet as he is Head of the Kingdom, he is Head of or over them as they are parts of it.