A26892:8172
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.
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.
9. Sometimes particular duties are commanded with this express exception, [Unless they have just and reasonable impediment] (As for coming every Lords Day to Church, &c.): which seemeth to imply, that (though in cases where the public good is concerned, the person himself shall not be Judge, nor at all as to the penalty; yet that) in actions of an indifferent nature in themselves, this exception is still supposed to be implied, [Unless we have just and reasonable impediments] of which in private Cases, as to the Crime, we may judge.
9. Sometimes particular duties are commanded with this express exception, [Unless they have just and reasonable impediment] (As for coming every Lords Day to Church, &c.): which seemeth to imply, that (though in cases where the publick good is concerned, the person himself shall not be Judge, nor at all as to the penalty; yet that) in actions of an indifferent nature in themselves, this exception is still supposed to be implyed, [Unless we have just and reasonable impediments] of which in private Cases, as to the Crime, we may judge.
10. I need not mention the common natural exceptions: As that Laws bind not to a thing when it becometh naturally impossible; or, cessante materia, vel capacitate subjecti obligati, &c.
11. Laws may change their sense in part by the change of the Law-giver: For the Law is not formally to us his Law that is dead and was once our Ruler, but his that is alive and is now our Ruler. If Henry the eighth make a Law about the outward acts of Religion (as for coming to Church, &c.) and this remain unrepealed in King Edwards, Queen Mary's, Queen Elizabeths, King James his days, &c. even till now: As we are not to think that the Law-givers had the same sense and will, so neither that the Law hath the same sense and obligation: For if the general words be capable of several senses, we must not take it as binding to us in the sense it was made in, but in the sense of of our present Law-givers or Rulers; because it is their Law.