A26892:8006
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. It is true that no man can exercise more power than he hath: The power that we speak1 of being [Greek or Hebrew], Jus regendi, it is impossible to use more Authority than they have; though they may command beyond and without authority. And it is true, that where a man hath no authority or right to command, he cannot directly bind to obedience. But yet a Ruler may exercise more power than Man ever gave him, and oblige men to obedience thereby. God giveth them Power to Govern for his Glory, according to his Laws, and to promote Obedience to those Laws of God (in Nature and Scripture) by subordinate Laws of their own. And all this the Sovereign may do, if the people at the choice of him or his family, should only say, We take you for our Sovereign Ruler: For then he may do all that true Reason or Scripture make the work of a Sovereign Ruler; even Govern the people by all such just means, as tend to the public good and their everlasting happiness: And yet that people that should do no more but choose persons or families to Govern them, and set them no bounds, doth Give no Power to those they choose, but determine of the persons that shall have power from God. Yet it is granted you, that if the person or family chosen contract with them to Govern only with such and such limitations, they have bound themselves by their own contract; and thus both specifications of Government and Degrees of power come in by men: But always distinguish, 1. Between the peoples Giving away their Propriety (in their Goods, Labours, &c.) (which they may do) and giving Authority, or Governing power (which they have not2 to give.) 2. Between their Naming the persons that shall receive it from the Universal King, and Giving it themselves. 3. Between bounding and limiting Power, and Giving Power. 4. And between a Sovereigns binding himself by contract, and being bound by the Authority of others. If they be limited by contracts, which are commonly called the Constitutive or fundamental Laws, it is their own consent and contract that effectively obligeth and limiteth them; of which indeed the Peoples will may be the Occasion, when they resolve that they will be governed on no other terms:
Answ. It is true that no man can exercise more power than he hath: The power that we speak1