A26892:8120
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.
§. 87. 4. The Christian Religion doth encourage obedience and peace with the Promise of the Reward of endless happiness (caeteris paribus): Heaven is more than any Prince can give. If that will not move men, there is no greater thing to move them. Atheism and Infidelity have no such motives.
§. 88. 5. Christianity teacheth subjects to obey not only good Rulers but bad ones, even Heathens themselves and not to resist when we cannot obey. Whereas among Heathens, Princes ruled no longer than they pleased the Soldiers or the people; so that Lampridius marvelled that Heliogabalus was no sooner butchered but suffered to reign three years: Mirum fortasse cuipiam videatur Constantine venerabilis, quod haec clades quam retuli loco principum fuerit; & quidem propè trienio, ita ut nemo inventus 1fuerit qui istum à gubernaculis Romonanae majestatis abduceret, cum Neroni, Vitellio, Caligulae caeterisque hujusm•di nunquam tyranniceda defuerit.
§. 88. 5. Christianity teacheth subjects to obey not only good Rulers but bad ones, even Heathens themselves and not to resist when we cannot obey. Whereas among Heathens, Princes ruled no longer than they pleased the Souldiers or the people; so that Lampridius marvelled that Heliogabalus was no sooner butchered but suffered to reign three years: Mirum fortasse cuipiam videatur Constantine venerabilis, quod haec clades quam retuli loco principum fuerit; & quidem propè trienio, ita ut nemo inventus 1fuerit qui istum à gubernaculis Romonanae majestatis abduceret, cum Neroni, Vitellio, Caligulae caeterisque hujusm•di nunquam tyranniceda defuerit.
- 1Cicero saith, that every Good man was in his heart, or as much as in him lay, one that killed Caesar.