A26892:8333
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.
§. 16. Prop. 8. A private man may not usurp the Magistrates power, or do any act which is proper to his office, nor yet may he break his Laws, for the avenging of himself: He may use no other means than the Law of God and his Sovereign do allow him. Therefore he may not rail or revile or slander or rob or strike or hurt any (unless in case of defence as afterward), nor take any other prohibited course.
§. 16. Prop. 8. A private man may not usurp the Magistrates power, or do any act which is proper to his office, nor yet may he break his Laws, for the avenging of himself: He may use no other means than the Law of God and his Soveraign do allow him. Therefore he may not rail or revile or slander or rob or strike or hurt any (unless in case of defence as afterward), nor take any other prohibited course.
§. 17. Prop. 9. No rigour or severity must be used to right my self, where gentler means may probably do it; but the most harmless way must first be tried.
§. 17. Prop. 9. No rigor or severity must be used to right my self, where gentler means may probably do it; but the most harmless way must first be tryed.
§. 18. Prop. 10. In general, All wrongs, and debts and damages must be forgiven, when the hurt is like to be greater which will come by our righting our selves, than that which by forbearance we shall sustain: And all must be forgiven where Gods Law or mans forbiddeth us not to forgive. Therefore a man that will here know his duty, must conduct his actions by very great prudence (which if he have not himself, he must make use of a guide or Counsellor): and he must be able to compare the Evil which he suffereth with the evil which will in probability follow his Vindication, and to discern which of them is the greater: Or else he can never know how far and when he may and must forgive. And herein he must observe,