A26892:8024
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.
Obj. But may we not pray for the cutting off of persecutors? And may we not give God thanks for it if he do it himself, without any sinful means of ours?
Answ. Every Ruler that casteth down one sect or party of Christians, and setteth up another (perhaps as true to the interest of Christianity as they) is not to be prayed against and his destruction wished by the suffering party. 2. If he be a persecutor of Christianity and Piety it self, as Heathens, and Infidels are, yet if his Government do1 more good, than his persecution doth harm, you may not so much as wish his downfall. 3. If he were a Nero or a Julian, you must pray first for his conversion, and if that may not be, then next for his restraint, and never for his destruction but on supposition that neither of the former may be attained (which you cannot say). 4. You must pray for the deliverance of the persecuted Church, and leave the way and means to God, and not prescribe to him: Hurtful desires and prayers are seldom of God. 5. You may freelyer rejoice afterwards, than desire it before: because when a Julian is cut off, you know that Gods righteous will is accomplished; when before you knew not that it was his will: Yet after, it is the deliverance of the Church, and not the hurt of a persecutor as such, that you must give thanks for: Be very suspicious here lest partiality and passion blind you.
Answ. Every Ruler that casteth down one sect or party of Christians, and setteth up another (perhaps as true to the interest of Christianity as they) is not to be prayed against and his destruction wished by the suffering party. 2. If he be a persecuter of Christianity and Piety it self, as Heathens, and Infidels are, yet if his Government do1 more good, than his persecution doth harm, you may not so much as wish his downfall. 3. If he were a Nero or a Iulian, you must pray first for his conversion, and if that may not be, then next for his restraint, and never for his destruction but on supposition that neither of the former may be attained (which you cannot say). 4. You must pray for the deliverance of the persecuted Church, and leave the way and means to God, and not prescribe to him: Hurtful desires and prayers are seldom of God. 5. You may freelyer rejoyce afterwards, than desire it before: because when a Iulian is cut off, you know that Gods righteous will is accomplished; when before you knew not that it was his will: Yet after, it is the deliverance of the Church, and not the hurt of a persecuter as such, that you must give thanks for: Be very suspicious here lest partiality and passion blind you.