A26892:8325
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.
§. 10. Prop. 2. When the Repentance and satisfaction of the sinner is like to conduce more to the public good, and the honour of God, and other Ends of Government, than his punishment would do, a private man may not be obliged to prosecute him before the Magistrate, and the Magistrate hath power to forgive him as to the penalty which it belongeth to him to inflict: (Though this may not extend to the remitting of crimes ordinarily and frequently, nor to the remitting of some sort of heinous crimes at all; because this cannot attain the ends of Government as aforesaid).
§. 10. Prop. 2. When the Repentance and satisfaction of the sinner is like to conduce more to the publick good, and the honour of God, and other Ends of Government, than his punishment would do, a private man may not be obliged to prosecute him before the Magistrate, and the Magistrate hath power to forgive him as to the penalty which it belongeth to him to inflict: (Though this may not •xtend to the remitting of crimes ordinarily and frequently, nor to the remitting of some sort of heynous crimes at all; because this cannot attain the ends of Government as aforesaid).
§. 11. Prop. 3. All personal wrongs so far as they are merely against my self, and disable me not from my duty to God and my Neighbour, I may and must forgive: For my own interest is put more in my own power; and here it is that I am commanded to forgive. If you say that I am bound to preserve my own life and soul as much as another's; I answer, It's true; I am bound to preserve my own and another's ultimately for the service and glory of God; and Gods interest in me I cannot remit or give away. As there is no obligation to duty but what is Originally from God, so there is none but what is Ultimately for God, even to Please and Glorify him.
§. 11. Prop. 3. All personal wrongs so far as they are meerly against my self, and disable me not from my duty to God and my Neighbour, I may and must forgive: For my own interest is put more in my own power; and here it is that I am commanded to forgive. If you say that I am bound to preserve my own life and soul as much as anothers; I answer, It's true; I am bound to preserve my own and anothers ultimately for the service and glory of God; and Gods interest in me I cannot remit or give away. As there is no obligation to duty but what is Originally from God, so there is none but what is Ultimately for God, even to Please and Glorifie him.