A26892:8104
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.
§. 82. Obj. 4. Doth not experience tell the world, that Christianity every where causeth divisions? and1 sets the world together by the ears? What a multitude of sects are there among us at this day? And every2 one thinketh that his salvation lieth upon his opinion? And how can Princes govern men of so contrary ⟨p. 30⟩minds, when the pleasing of one party is the losing of the rest? We have long seen that Church-divisions shake the safety of the State. If it were not that few that are called Christians are such indeed, and serious in the Religion which themselves profess there were no quietness to be expected: For those that are most serious are so full of scruples, and have Consciences still objecting something or other against their obedience, and are so obstinate in their way, as thinking it is for their salvation, that all Ages and Nations have been fain to govern them by force as beasts, which they have called persecution.
§. 82. Obj. 4. Doth not experience tell the world, that Christianity every where causeth divisions? and1 sets the world together by the ears? What a multitude of sects are there among us at this day? And every2 one thinketh that his salvation lyeth upon his opinion? And how can Princes govern men of so contrary ⟨p. 30⟩minds, when the pleasing of one party is the losing of the rest? We have long seen that Church-divisions shake the safety of the State. If it were not that few that are called Christians are such indeed, and serious in the Religion which themselves profess there were no quietness to be expected: For those that are most serious are so full of scruples, and have Consciences still objecting something or other against their obedience, and are so obstinate in their way, as thinking it is for their salvation, that all Ages and Nations have been fain to govern them by force as beasts, which they have called persecution.