A26892:8078
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.
§. 67. Direct. 35. Think not that it is unlawful to obey in every thing which is unlawfully commanded. 1It may in many cases be the subjects duty, to obey the Magistrate who sinfully commandeth him. For all the Magistrates sins in commanding do not enter into the matter or substance of the thing commanded: If a Prince command me to do the greatest duty, in an ill design, to some selfish end, it is his sin so to command, but yet that command must be obeyed (to better ends). Nay, the matter of the command may be sinful in the Commander, and not in the obeyer. If I be commanded without any just reason to hunt a feather, it is his sin that causelessly commandeth me so to lose my time: and yet it may be my sin to disobey it, while the thing is lawful: Else servants and children must prove all to be needful as well as lawful which is commanded them before they must obey. Or the command may at the same time be evil by accident, and the obedience good by accident and per se: very good accidents, consequence or effects, may belong to our Obedience, when the accidents of the command it self are evil. I could give you abundance of instances of these things.
§. 67. Direct. 35. Think not that it is unlawful to obey in every thing which is unlawfully commanded. 1It may in many cases be the subjects duty, to obey the Magistrate who sinfully commandeth him. For all the Magistrates sins in commanding do not enter into the matter or substance of the thing commanded: If a Prince command me to do the greatest duty, in an ill design, to some selfish end, it is his sin so to command, but yet that command must be obeyed (to better ends). Nay, the matter of the command may be sinful in the Commander, and not in the obeyer. If I be commanded without any just reason to hunt a feather, it is his sin that causelesly commandeth me so to lose my time: and yet it may be my sin to disobey it, while the thing is lawful: Else servants and children must prove all to be needful as well as lawful which is commanded them before they must obey. Or the command may at the same time be evil by accident, and the obedience good by accident and per se: very good accidents, consequence or effects, may belong to our Obedience, when the accidents of the command it self are evil. I could give you abundance of instances of these things.
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