A26892:8016
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.
§. 27. Direct. 5. Do not either divulge or aggravate the vices of your Governors to their dishonour. 1For their Honour is necessary to the public good. If they have not care of their own honour, yet their subjects must have a care of it. If once they be dishonoured, they will the more easily be contemned, hated and disobeyed. Therefore the dishonouring of the Rulers tendeth to the dissolution of the Government, and ruin of the Common-wealth. Only in two cases did the ancient Christians aggravate the wickedness of their Governors. 1. In case they were such cruel monsters as Nero, who lived to the misery of mankind: 2. In case they were not only open enemies of the Church of Christ, but their Honour stood in competition with the Honour of Christianity, piety and honesty, as in Julians case: I confess against Nero and Julian both living and dead (and many like them,) the tongues and pens of wise and sober persons have been very free: But the fifth Commandment is not to be forgotten, Honour thy Father and Mother. And 1 Pet. 2. 17. Fear God: Honour the 2King: Though you must not call evil good, yet you may conceal and hide evil: Ham was cursed for opening his fathers nakedness. Though you must flatter none in their fins, nor hinder their Repentance, but further it by all righteous means, yet must you speak Honourably of your Rulers, and endeavour to breed an Honourable esteem of them in the peoples minds; and not as some, that think they do well if they can secretly make their Rulers seem odious, by opening and aggravating their faults.
§. 27. Direct. 5. Do not either divulge or aggravate the vices of your Governours to their dishonour. 1For their Honour is necessary to the publick good. If they have not care of their own honour, yet their subjects must have a care of it. If once they be dishonoured, they will the more easily be contemned, hated and disobeyed. Therefore the dishonouring of the Rulers tendeth to the dissolution of the Government, and ruine of the Common-wealth. Only in two cases did the ancient Christians aggravate the wickedness of their Governours. 1. In case they were such cruel monsters as Nero, who lived to the misery of mankind: 2. In case they were not only open enemies of the Church of Christ, but their Honour stood in competition with the Honour of Christianity, piety and honesty, as in Iulians case: I confess against Nero and Iulian both living and dead (and many like them,) the tongues and pens of wise and sober persons have been very free: But the fifth Commandment is not to be forgotten, Honour thy Father and Mother. And