A26892:8041
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.
§. 44. Direct. 20. Think not that any change of the form of Government, would cure that which is 1caused by the peoples sin, or the common pravity of humane nature. Some think they can contrive such2 forms of Government, as that Rulers shall be able to do no hurt: But either they will disable them to do good, or else their engine is but glass, and will fail or break when it comes to execution. Men that are themselves so bad and unhumbled, as not to know how bad they are, and how bad mankind is, are still laying the blame upon the form of Government, when any thing is amiss, and think by a change to find a cure. As if when an Army is infected with the Plague, or composed of Cowards, the change of the General or form of Government, would prove a cure. But if a Monarch be faulty, in an Aristocracy you will but have many faulty Governors for one: and in a Democracy a multitude of Tyrants.
§. 44. Direct. 20. Think not that any change of the form of Government, would cure that which is 1caused by the peoples sin, or the common pravity of humane nature. Some think they can contrive such2 forms of Government, as that Rulers shall be able to do no hurt: But either they will disable them to do good, or else their engine is but glass, and will fail or break when it comes to execution. Men that are themselves so bad and unhumbled, as not to know how bad they are, and how bad mankind is, are still laying the blame upon the form of Government, when any thing is amiss, and think by a change to find a cure. As if when an Army is infected with the Plague, or composed of Cowards, the change of the General or form of Government, would prove a cure. But if a Monarch be faulty, in an Aristocracy you will but have many faulty Governours for one: and in a Democracy a multitude of Tyrants.
- 1Direct. 20.
- 2Eam Rempublicam optimam dicunt Stoici, quae sit mixta ex regno & populari dominatu, optimor umque potentia. Lart. in Zenone.