A26892:8065
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.
§. 57. Direct. 28. Do nothing that tendeth to bring the sacred bonds of Oaths into an irreligious contempt, 1or to make men take the horrid crime of Perjury to be a little sin. Sovereigns have no sufficient2 security of the fidelity of their Subjects, or of their lives or Kingdoms, if once Oaths and Covenants be made light of, and men can play fast and loose with the bonds of God which lye upon them. He is virtually a Traitor to Princes and States who would bring perjury and perfidiousness into credit, and teacheth men to violate Oaths and Vows. For there is no keeping up humane Societies and Governments where there is no trust to be put in one another: And there is no trust to be put in that man, that maketh no Conscience of an Oath or Vow.
§. 57. Direct. 28. Do nothing that tendeth to bring the sacred bonds of Oaths into an irreligious contempt, 1or to make men take the horrid crime of Perjury to be a little sin. Soveraigns have no sufficient2 security of the fidelity of their Subjects, or of their lives or Kingdoms, if once Oaths and Covenants be made light of, and men can play fast and loose with the bonds of God which lye upon them. He is virtually a Traytor to Princes and States who would bring perjury and perfidiousness into credit, and teacheth men to violate Oaths and Vows. For there is no keeping up humane Societies and Governments where there is no trust to be put in one another: And there is no trust to be put in that man, that maketh no Conscience of an Oath or Vow.
- 1Direct. 28.
- 2Perjurii poen• divi••a exitium, humana dedecus. Cicero. Agesilaus sent thanks to his enemies for their perjury, as making then no question of their overthrow. Perjuri numinis contemptores. Plutarch. Th•odosius execrabatur cum legisset superbam dominantium, praecipue perfidos & ingratos. Paul. Diaconus l. 2.