Part 4 › Chapter 19 › Section 2: Tit. 2. Cases of Conscience about Justice in Contracts., A Christian Directory by Richard Baxter (1673) | AskReformation

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:8840p. 118–119

Answ. No• when your own honour or commodity is your end: Because the common good is the end of Government; and to a faithful Governor, it is a place of great labour and suffering, and requireth much self-denial and patience: Therefore they that purchase it as a place of honour, gain or pleasure, either know not what they undertake, or have carnal ends: Else they would rather purchase their liberty and avoid it. But if a King, or Judge, or other Magistrate, see that a bad man (more unfit to Govern) is like to be put in, if he be put by, it is lawful for him to purchase the peoples deliverance at a very dear rate; (even by a lawful War which is more than money, when the Sovereigns ⟨p. 119⟩power is in such danger): But the Heart must be watched, that it pretend not the common¹ good, and intend your own commodity and honour: And the probable consequents must be weighed: And the Laws of the Land must be consulted also: For if they absolutely prohibit the buying of a place of Judicature, they must be obeyed. And ill effects may make it sinful.

Answ. No• when your own honour or commodity is your end: Because the common good is the end of Government; and to a faithful Governour, it is a place of great labour and suffering, and requireth much self-denyal and patience: Therefore they that purchase it as a place of honour, gain or pleasure, either know not what they undertake, or have carnal ends: Else they would rather purchase their liberty and avoid it. But if a King, or Judge, or other Magistrate, see that a bad man (more unfit to Govern) is like to be put in, if he be put by, it is lawful for him to purchase the peoples deliverance at a very dear rate; (even by a lawful War which is more than money, when the Soveraigns ⟨p. 119⟩power is in such danger): But the Heart must be watcht, that it pretend not the common¹ good, and intend your own commodity and honour: And the probable consequents must be weighed: And the Laws of the Land must be consulted also: For if they absolutely prohibite the buying of a place of Judicature, they must be obeyed. And ill effects may make it sinful.

1Whether the consequent good or hurt is like to be greater, must be well considered.

:8842p. 119

Answ. If the Benefice be originally of your own gift, it is at first in your power to give part or all; to take some deductions out of it or not: But if it be already given to the Church, and you have¹ but the Patronage or Choice of the Incumbent, it is sacrilege to sell it for any commodity of your own: But whether you may take somewhat out of a greater Benefice, to give to another Church which is poorer, dependeth partly on the Law of the Land, and partly upon the probable consequents. If the Law absolutely forbid it (supposing that unlawful contracts cannot be avoided unless some lawful ones be restrained,) it must be obeyed, for the common good: And if the consequent of a lawful contract, be like to be the more hurtful encouragement of unlawful ones, such examples must be forborne, though the Law were not against them. But to sell Orders is undoubted Simony: (That is, the Office of the Ministry, or the act of Ordination:) though Scribes may be paid for writing instruments.

Answ. If the Benefice be originally of your own gift, it is at first in your power to give part or all; to take some deductions out of it or not: But if it be already given to the Church, and you have¹ but the Patronage or Choice of the Incumbent, it is sacriledge to sell it for any commodity of your own: But whether you may take somewhat out of a greater Benefice, to give to another Church which is poorer, dependeth partly on the Law of the Land, and partly upon the probable consequents. If the Law absolutely forbid it (supposing that unlawful contracts cannot be avoided unless some lawful ones be restrained,) it must be obeyed, for the common good: And if the consequent of a lawful contract, be like to be the more hurtful encouragement of unlawful ones, such examples must be forborn, though the Law were not against them. But to sell Orders is undoubted Simony: (That is, the Office of the Ministry, or the act of Ordination:) though Scribes may be paid for writing instruments.

1Quest. 23.