A26892:8174
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.
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.
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 Maries, Queen Elizabeths, King Iames his dayes, &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.
12. Therefore if a Law had a special Reason for it at the first making (as the Law for using Bows and Arrows) that Reason ceasing we are to suppose the Will of the Law-giver to remit the obligation, if he urge not the execution, and renew not the Law.
13. By these plain principles many particular difficulties may be easily resolved, which cannot be foreseen and named: e. g. The Law against relieving a beggar bindeth not, when he is like to dye if he be not relieved; or in such a case as after the burning of London, when there was no Parish to bring him to. A Law that is but for the ordering of mens charity, (to soul, or body, by preaching or alms) will not disoblige me from the Duties of Charity themselves, in cases where Scripture or Nature proveeth them to be imposed by God. A Law for fasting will not bind me, when it would be destructive to my body: even on Gods Sabbaths duties of mercy were to be preferred to Rest and Sacrifices.