A26892:8764
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. There is much difference in the cases, though the soul be more precious than the body: For, 1. Here there is supposed to be so much leisure and space as that you may have time to tell the Magistrate of it, whose duty primarily it is: Whereas in the other case it is supposed that so much delay would be a mans death. Therefore your duty is to acquaint the Magistrate with the sin and danger; and not to anticipate him, and play the Magistrate your self. Or in the case of Cards and Dice and hurtful books, you may acquaint the persons with the sin, and persuade them to cast them away themselves. 2. Your taking away these instruments is not like to save them: For the love of the sin, and the Will to do it, remaineth still: and the sinner will but be hardened by his indignation, against your irregular course of charity. 3. Men are bound to save mens bodies whether they will or not: because it may be so done: But no man can save another's soul against his will! And it is Gods will that their salvation or damnation shall be more the fruit of their own wills, than of any others. Therefore though it's possible to devise an instance, in which it is lawful to steal a poisonous book or idol from another (when it is done so secretly as will encourage no disobedience or disorder; nor is like to harden the sinner, but indeed to do him good, &c.) yet ordinarily all this is1 unlawful, for private men, that have no Government of others, or extraordinary interest in them.
Answ. There is much difference in the cases, though the soul be more precious than the body: For, 1. Here there is supposed to be so much leisure and space as that you may have time to tell the Magistrate of it, whose duty primarily it is: Whereas in the other case it is supposed that so much delay would be a mans death. Therefore your duty is to acquaint the Magistrate with the sin and danger; and not to anticipate him, and play the Magistrate your self. Or in the case of Cards and Dice and hurtful books, you may acquaint the persons with the sin, and perswade them to cast them away themselves. 2. Your taking away these instruments is not like to save them: For the love of the sin, and the Will to do it, remaineth still: and the sinner will but be hardened by his indignation, against your irregular course of charity. 3. Men are bound to save mens bodies whether they will or not: because it may be so done: But no man can save anothers soul against his will! And it is Gods will that their salvation or damnation shall be more the fruit of their own wills, than of any others. Therefore though it's possible to devise an instance, in which it is lawful to steal a poysonous book or idol from another (when it is done so secretly as will encourage no disobedience or disorder; nor is like to harden the sinner, but indeed to do him good, &c.) yet ordinarily all this is