A26892:8034
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.
§. 40. Direct. 17. Pray constantly and heartily for the spiritual and corporal welfare of your Governors: 1And you have reason to believe, that God who hath commanded you to put up such prayers, will not suffer them to be wholly lost, but will answer them some way to the benefit of them that perform the duty; 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3. And the very performance of it will do us much good of it self: For it will keep the heart well disposed to our Governors, and keep out all sinful desires of their hurt; or control them and cast them out if they come in: Prayer is the exercise of Love and good desires: And exercise increaseth and confirmeth habits. If any ill wishes against your Governors should st•al into your minds, the next time you pray for them, conscience will accuse you of hypocrisy, and either the sinful desires will corrupt or end your Prayers, or else your prayers will cast out those ill desires. Certainly the faithful fervent prayers of the Righteous, do prevail much with God: And things would go better than they do in the world, if we prayed for Rulers as heartily as we ought.
§. 40. Direct. 17. Pray constantly and heartily for the spiritual and corporal welfare of your Governours: 1And you have reason to believe, that God who hath commanded you to put up such prayers, will not suffer them to be wholly lost, but will answer them some way to the benefit of them that perform the duty; 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3. And the very performance of it will do us much good of it self: For it will keep the heart well disposed to our Governours, and keep out all sinful desires of their hurt; or controll them and cast them out if they come in: Prayer is the exercise of Love and good desires: And exercise increaseth and confirmeth habits. If any ill wishes against your Governours should st•al into your minds, the next time you pray for them, conscience will accuse you of hypocrisie, and either the sinful desires will corrupt or end your Prayers, or else your prayers will cast out those ill desires. Certainly the faithful fervent prayers of the Righteous, do prevail much with God: And things would go better than they do in the world, if we prayed for Rulers as heartily as we ought.