A26892:8105
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.
Answ. 1. There is no doctrine in the world so much for Love and Peace and Concord as the doctrine1 of Christ is? What doth it so much urge and frequently inculcate? What doth it contain but Love and peace from end to end? Love is the sum and end of the Gospel, and the fulfilling of the Law. To Love God above all, and our neighbours as our selves, and to do as we would be done by, is the Epitome of the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles. 2. And therefore Christianity is only the occasion and not the Cause of the divisions of the earth. It is mens blindness and passions and carnal interests rebelling against the Laws of God, which is the make-bate of the world, and filleth it with strife. The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits: It blesseth the peace-makers and the meek: But it is the rebellious wisdom from beneath, that is earthly, sensual and devilish, which causeth envy and strife, and thereby confusion and every evil work. Jam. 3. 15, 16, 17. Matth. 5. 6, 7, 8. So that the true genuine Christian is the best subject and peaceablest man on earth: But seriousness is not enough to make a Christian: A man may be passionately serious in an error: Understanding must lead and seriousness follow. To be zealous in error is not to be zealous in Christianity: For the error is contrary to Christian verity. 3. As I said before, it is a testimony of the excellency of Religion that it thus occasioneth contention. Dogs and Swine do not contend for Crowns and Kingdoms: nor for sumptuous houses or apparel: nor do Infants trouble the world or themselves with Metaphysical or Logical or Mathematical disputes: Idiots do not molest the World with Controversies, nor fall thereby into Sects and parties. Nor yet do wise and learned persons, contend about chaff or dust or trifles. But as excellent things are matter of search, so are they matter of Controversy, to the most excellent wits. The hypocritical Christians that you speak of, who make God and their salvation give place to the unjust commands of men, are indeed no Christians; as not taking Christ for their Sovereign Lord: And it is not in any true honour of Magistracy, that they are so ductile, and will do any thing, but it is for themselves, and their carnal interest;
Answ. 1. There is no doctrine in the world so much for Love and Peace and Concord as the doctrine