A26892:8739
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 18 › Tit. 2. Certain Cases of Conscience about Theft and Injury.
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.
Answ. If he be bound only by Gods law to relieve you, you must complain to God, and stay till he do you right, and not break his Law and order, by righting your self, in case you are not in the necessity aforesaid. If he be bound also by the Law of man to relieve you, you may complain to the Rulers, and seek your right by their assistance? but not by stealth.
§. 10. Quest. 3. If another borrow or possess my goods or money, and refuse to pay me, and I cannot1 have law and justice against him, or am not rich enough to sue him, may I not take them if I have an opportunity?
- 1Quest. 3.
Answ. If he turn your enemy in a time of War, or live under another Prince, with whom you are at War, or where your Prince alloweth you to take it; there it seemeth undoubtedly lawful to take your own by that Law of Arms, which then is uppermost. But when the Law that you are under forbiddeth you, the case is harder. But it is certain that Propriety is in communities, and is in order of nature antecedent to humane Government in Republics: and the preservation of it is one of the ends of Government: Therefore I conceive that in case you could take your own so secretly, or in such a manner as might no way hinder the ends of Government as to others, by encouraging thievery or unjust violence, it is not unlawful before God, the end of the Law being the chief part of the Law: But when you cannot take your own without either encouraging theft or violence in others, or weakening the power of the Laws and Government by your disobedience ⟨p. 111⟩(which is the ordinary case) it is unlawful: Because the preservation of order and of the honour of the Government and Laws, and the suppression of theft and violence, is much more necessary than the righting of your self, and recovering your own.