A26892:8116
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.
§. 85. 2. Christianity telleth us that our obedience to Magistrates is Gods own command, and so that we must obey him by obeying them. And as obedience to a Constable is more procured by the Kings Laws than by his own commands, so obedience to a King is far more effectually procured by Gods Laws than by his own. If God be more above a King, than a King is above a a Worm, the command of God must be a more powerful obligation upon every understanding person, than the Kings. And what greater advantage can a King have in Governing, than to have subjects whose Consciences do feel themselves bound by God himself, to obey the King and all his officers.
Obj. But this is still with exception, If it be not in things forbidden of God? And the subjects are1 made judges whether it be so or no.
- 1Object.
Ans. And woe to that man that grudgeth that God must be obeyed1 before him! and would be himself a God to be obeyed in things which God is against! The subjects are made no public Judges, but private discerners of their duties: And so you make them your selves: or else they must not judge whether the King or a Usurper were to be obeyed; or whether the word of the King or of a Constable, if they be contradictory, is to be preferred. To judge what we2 must choose or refuse is proper to a Rational Creature: even brutes themselves will do something like it by instinct of nature, and will not do all things according to your will: You would have us obey a Justice of Peace no further than our Loyalty to the King will give leave: and therefore there