A26892:8011
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.
§. 24. Direct. 2. Begin with an Absolute Universal resolved Obedience to God, your Creator and Redeemer, 1who is your Sovereign King, and will be your final righteous Judge. As he that is no loyal Subject to the King, can never well obey his Officers: so he that subjecteth not his soul, to the Original Power of his Creator, can never well obey the Derivative Power of earthly Governors.
§. 24. Direct. 2. Begin with an Absolute Universal resolved Obedience to God, your Creator and Redeemer, 1who is your Soveraign King, and will be your final righteous Iudge. As he that is no loyal Subject to the King, can never well obey his Officers: so he that subjecteth not his soul, to the Original Power of his Creator, can never well obey the Derivative Power of earthly Governours.
- 1Direct. 2.
Object. But, you may say, experience teacheth us, that many ungodly people are obedient to their superiors as well as others. I answer, Materially they are, but not Formally and from a right principle, and to right ends: As a Rebel against the King, may obey a Justice of Peace for his own Ends, as long as he will let him alone, or take his part. But not formally as he is the Kings Officer. So ungodly men may flatter Princes and Magistrates for their own ends, or on some low and by account, but not sincerely as the Officers of God. He is not like to be truly obedient to man, that is so foolish, dishonest and impious as to rebel against his Maker: nor to obey that authority which he first denieth, in its Original and first efficient cause. What ever Satan and his servants may say, and however some hypocrites may contradict in their practices the Religion which they profess, yet nothing is more certain, than that the most serious godly Christians, are the best subjects upon earth, As their principles themselves will easily demonstrate.