A26892:8787
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.
Answ. To some things he is bound, and to some things not. The Infant is capable of being obliged by another upon four accounts: 1. As he is the Parents own; (or a Masters to whom he is in absolute servitude.) 2. As he is to be Ruled by the Parents. 3. As he is a Debtor to his Parents for benefits received. 4. As he is an expectant or capable of future benefits to be enjoyed upon conditions to be performed by him. 1. No Parents or Lord have an Absolute Propriety in any rational creature; but they have a propriety secundum quid, & ad hoc: And a Parents propriety doth in part expire or abate, as the Son groweth up to the full use of reason, and so hath a greater propriety in himself. Therefore he may oblige his Son only (on this account) so far as his propriety extendeth, and to such acts; and to no other: For in those his Will is reputatively his Sons will. As if a Parent sell his Son to servitude, he is bound to such service as beseemeth one man to put another to. 2. As he is Rector to his Child, he may by contract with a third person promise that his child shall do such acts, as he hath power to command and cause him to do: As to read, to hear Gods Word, •o labour as he is able: But this no longer, than while he is under his Parents Government: And so long Obedience requireth him to perform their contracts, in performing their commands. 3. The child having received his Being and maintenance from his Parents, remaineth obliged to them as his Benefactors in the debt of gratitude as long as he liveth: And that so deeply that some have questioned whether ever he can requite them: (which quoad valorem beneficii he can do only by furthering their salvation; as many a child hath been the cause of the Parents conversion.) And so far as the Son is thus a debtor to the Parents, he is obliged to do that which the Parents by contract with a third person shall impose upon him. As if the Parents could not be delivered out of captivity, but by obliging the Son to pay a great sum of money, or to live in servitude for their release: Though they never gave him any money, yet he is bound to pay the sum, if he can get it, or to perform the servitude: Because he hath received more from them, even his being. 4.
Answ. To some things he is bound, and to some things not. The Infant is capable of being obliged by another upon four accounts: 1. As he is the Parents own; (or a Masters to whom he is in absolute servitude.) 2. As he is to be Ruled by the Parents. 3. As he is a Debtor to his Parents for benefits received. 4. As he is an expectant or capable of future benefits to be enjoyed upon conditions to be performed by him. 1. No Parents or Lord have an Absolute Propriety in any rational creature; but they have a propriety secundum quid, & ad hoc: And a Parents propriety doth in part expire or abate, as the Son groweth up to the full use of reason, and so hath a greater propriety in himself. Therefore he may oblige his Son only (on this account) so far as his propriety extendeth, and to such acts; and to no other: For in those his Will is reputatively his Sons will. As if a Parent sell his Son to servitude, he is bound to such service as beseemeth one man to put another to. 2. As he is Rector to his Child, he may by contract with a third person promise that his child shall do such acts, as he hath power to command and cause him to do: As to read, to hear Gods Word, o labour as he is able: But this no longer, than while he is under his Parents Government: And so long Obedience requireth him to perform their contracts, in performing their commands. 3. The child having received his Being and maintenance from his Parents, remaineth obliged to them as his Benefactors in the debt of gratitude as long as he liveth: And that so deeply that some have questioned whether ever he can requite them: (which quoad valorem beneficii he can do only by furthering their salvation; as many a child hath been the cause of the Parents conversion.) And so far as the Son is thus a debtor to the Parents, he is obliged to do that which the Parents by contract with a third person shall impose upon him. As if the Parents could not be delivered out of captivity, but by obliging the Son to pay a great summ of money, or to live in servitude for their release: Though they never gave him any money, yet he is bound to pay the summ, if he can get it, or to perform the servitude: Because he hath received more from them, even his being. 4.