A26892:8750
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.
§. 15. Quest. 8. May not a Wife or Child or Servant take more than a cruel Husband or Parent or1 Master doth allow? Suppose it be better meat or drink?
- 1Quest. 8.
Answ. How far the Wife hath a true propriety her self, and therefore may take it, dependeth on the Contract and the Laws of the Land; which I shall not now meddle with. But for Children and Servants, they may take no more than the most cruel and unrighteous parents; or masters do allow them; except to save their lives upon the conditions in the first case: But the servant may seek relief of the Magistrate: and he may leave such an unrighteous Master: And the Child must bear it patiently as the cross by which it pleaseth God to try him: Unless that the Government of the Parent be so bad, as to tend to his undoing: And then I think he may leave his Parents for a better condition: (except it be when their own necessity obligeth him to stay and suffer for their help and benefit).1 For it is true that a Child oweth as much to his Parents as he can perform, by way of gratitude, for their good: But it is true also, that a Parent hath no full and absolute propriety in his Child, as men have in their Cattle: But is made by nature, their guardian for their benefit: And therefore when Parents would undo their Children's souls or bodies, the Children may forsake them, as being first forsaken by them; further than as they are obliged in gratitude to help them, as is aforesaid.
Answ. How far the Wife hath a true propriety her self, and therefore may take it, dependeth on the Contract and the Laws of the Land; which I shall not now meddle with. But for Children and Servants, they may take no more than the most cruel and unrighteous parents; or masters do allow them; except to save their lives upon the conditions in the first case: But the servant may seek relief of the Magistrate: and he may leave such an unrighteous Master: And the Child must bear it patiently as the cross by which it pleaseth God to try him: Unless that the Government of the Parent be so bad, as to tend to his undoing: And then I think he may leave his Parents for a better condition: (except it be when their own necessity obligeth him to stay and suffer for their help and benefit).