A26892:8828
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.
§. 22. Quest. 15. If I say, I will give such or such a one this or that, am I bound thereby to do it?1
- 1Quest. 15.
Answ. It is one thing to express your present mind and resolution, without giving away the liberty of changing it: And its another thing to intend the obliging of your self to do the thing mentioned▪ and that obligation is either intended to man, or to God only; and that is either in point of rendition and use, or in point of veracity, or the performance of that moral duty of speaking truth. If you meant no more, in saying, I will do it, or I will give it; but that this is your present Will, and purpose ⟨p. 118⟩and resolution, yea, though it add the confident persuasion▪ that your will shall not change; yet this no further obligeth you, than you are obliged to continue in that will: And a mans confident resolutions may lawfully be changed upon sufficient cause. But if you intended to alienate the title to another, or to give him present right, or to oblige your self for the future to him by that promise; or to oblige your self to God to do it by way of peremptory assertion, as one that will be guilty of a lye if you perform it not; or if you dedicate the thing to God by those words as a Vow, then you are obliged to do accordingly (supposing nothing else to prohibit it.)
Answ. It is one thing to express your present mind and resolution, without giving away the liberty of changing it: And its another thing to intend the obliging of your self to do the thing mentioned▪ and that obligation is either intended to man, or to God only; and that is either in point of rendition and use, or in point of veracity, or the performance of that moral duty of speaking truth. If you meant no more, in saying, I will do it, or I will give it; but that this is your present Will, and purpose