A26892:8035
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.
§. 41. Obj. For all the prayers of the Church five parts of six of the World are yet Idolaters, Heathens,1 Infidels and Mahometans: And for all the prayers of the Reformed Churches, most of the Christian part of the world, are drowned in Popery or gross ignorance and superstition, and the poor Greek Churches have Mahometan or tyrannical Governors, and carnal proud usurping Prelates domineer over the Roman Church, and there are but three Protestant Kings on the whole earth! And among the Israelites themselves, who had Priests and Prophets to pray for their Princes, a good King was so rare, that when you have named five or six over Judah, (and never a one after the division over Israel) you scarce know where to find the rest. What good then do your Prayers for Kings and Magistrates?
§. 41. Obj. For all the prayers of the Church five parts of six of the World are yet Idolaters, Heathens,1 Infidels and Mahometans: And for all the prayers of the Reformed Churches, most of the Christian part of the world, are drowned in Popery or gross ignorance and superstition, and the poor Greek Churches have Mahometane or tyrannical Governours, and carnal proud usurping Prelates domineer over the Roman Church, and there are but three Protestant Kings on the whole earth! And among the Israelites themselves, who had Priests and Prophets to pray for their Princes, a good King was so rare, that when you have named five or six over Judah, (and never a one after the division over Israel) you scarce know where to find the rest. What good then do your Prayers for Kings and Magistrates?
- 1Object.
Answ. 1. As I said before, they keep the hearts of subjects in an obedient holy frame. 2. Were1 it not for prayers, those few good ones would be fewer, or worse than they are: and the bad ones might be worse, or at least do more hurt to the Church than they now do. 3. It is not to be expected that all should be granted in kind, that believers pray for: For then not only Kings, but all the world, should be converted and saved: For we should pray for every one: But God who knoweth best how to distribute his mercies, and to honour himself and refine his Church by the malice and persecution of his enemies, will make his peoples prayers a means, of that measure of good which he will do for Rulers, and by them in the world: And that's enough to encourage us to pray. 4. And indeed if when Proud ungodly worldlings, have sold their souls by wicked means to climb up into places of power and command, and domineer over others, the Prayers of the faithful should