Skip to content

Ask Library Bible Articles Connect

Toggle the side pane with ⌘ B

Library online
2,151 works
107 authors
135.7M words
1526–1797
812,035 Scripture references
Index built 2026-11-13

Filter authors and titles

Library
Richard Baxter
A Christian Directory
Part 4
Chapter 19
Section 4
p. 124

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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Householder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not about WORDS, to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to show thy self approved UNTO GOD, a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Babblings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.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,I. CHRISTIAN ETHICKS (or private Duties.)II. CHRISTIAN OECONOMICKS (or Family Duties.)III. CHRISTIAN ECCLESIASTICKS (or Church Duties.)IV. CHRISTIAN POLITICKS (or Duties to our Rulers and Neighbours.)By RICHARD BAXTER.Mal. 2. 7▪ 8.The Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way: Ye have Caused many to stumble at the Law; ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi—Matth. 13. 52.Every SCRIBE which is instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven, is like unto a man that is an Housholder, which bringeth forth out of his Treasure things New and Old.Heb. 5. 13, 14.For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: for he is a Babe: But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age: Those who by reason of USE, have their senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil.2 Tim. 2. 14, 15, 16.Of these things put them in remembrance; charging them before God, that they STRIVE not aboutTitle page of A Christian Directory, London, 1673

A26892:8931

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.

Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673

[35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port. · 1.2M words · Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847

Title page typeset from the transcription.

Part 4 › Chapter 19 › Section 4: Tit. 4. Cases of Conscience about Lending and Borrowing.

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.

[ Earlier:8928–8943 of 9,947

:8928p. 124

§. 3. Quest. 3. If a borrower be utterly unable to pay, and so break while he hath something, may be¹ not retain somewhat for his food or raiment.

§. 3. Quest. 3. If a borrower be utterly unable to pay, and so break while he hath something, may be¹ not retain somewhat for his food or rayment.

1Quest. 3.

:8929p. 124

Answ. No: unless it be in order to set up again in hope to repay his debts: For all that he hath being other mens, he may not take so much as bread to his mouth, out of that which is theirs, without their consent.

:8930p. 124

§. 4. Quest. 4 But if a man have bound himself to his Wives friends upon marriage to settle so much¹ upon her or her children, and this obligation was antecedent to his debts, may he not secure that to his Wife and Children, without any injury to his Creditors?

1Quest. 4.

:8931p. 124

[ Earlier passages Later passages ]

Position

Cited: :8931
On this page: :8928–8943
Section: :8913–8989
Whole work: 9,947 passages

Cite

Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (London, 1673), pt. 4, ch. 19, sect. 4, p. 124. EEBO-TCP A26892.

Or select words in any passage to make an image of them.

The book

Title as printed: 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.
Author: Richard Baxter 1615–1691
Place: London
Printer: Robert White
Bookseller: Nevill Simmons
Year: 1673
Size: [35], 929, [5], 214 p., [1] leaf of plates : port.
Words: 1,175,050
Catalogue: Wing B1219 · ESTC R21847
Text: EEBO-TCP A26892

Passages: 9,947
Sections: 502

The author

Richard Baxter 1615–1691

The Reformers and Puritans in their own words, with every quotation checked against the page.

Texts transcribed from the original printings by the Text Creation Partnership (EEBO-TCP and Evans-TCP) and dedicated to the public domain (CC0).

Read

Browse the library
Authors
Search the texts
Check a quotation
The Bible (KJV)
Articles

Use

Ask a question
Add it to your AI assistant
Connector reference

About

About AskReformation
Contact
Sources and licensing
Fair use
Privacy
Terms

WORDS,

to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers: Study to shew thy self approved

UNTO GOD,

a Workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

RIGHTLY DIVIDING

the word of Truth. But shun profane and vain Bablings; for they will increase unto more Ungodliness, and their Word will eat as doth a Canker.

2 Pet. 3. 16.In which (Pauls Epistles) are some things hard to be understood: which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures to their own destruction.

LONDON, Printed, by Robert White, for Nevill Simmons, at the Sign of the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church-yard. 1673.

Answ. The Law of the Land must much decide this controversy: If the propriety be actually before transferred to Wife or Children, it is theirs, and cannot be taken from them: But if it were done after by a deed of gift to defraud the Creditors, than that deed of gift is invalid, till debts be paid. If it be but an Obligation and no collation of propriety, the Law must determine who is to be first paid: and whether the Wife be supposed to run the hazard of gaining or losing with the Husband: And though the Laws of several Countries herein differ, and some give the Wife more propriety than others do, yet must they in each place be conscientiously observed, as being the Rule of such propriety. But we must see that there be no fraudulent intent in the transaction.

Answ. The Law of the Land must much decide this controversie: If the propriety be actually before transferred to Wife or Children, it is theirs, and cannot be taken from them: But if it were done after by a deed of gift to defraud the Creditors, than that deed of gift is invalid, till debts be paid. If it be but an Obligation and no collation of propriety, the Law must determine who is to be first paid: and whether the Wife be supposed to run the hazard of gaining or losing with the Husband: And though the Laws of several Countreys herein differ, and some give the Wife more propriety than others do, yet must they in each place be conscientiously observed, as being the Rule of such propriety. But we must see that there be no fraudulent intent in the transaction.

:8932p. 124

§. 5. Quest. 5. May not a broken Tradesman retain somewhat to set up again, if his creditors be willing¹ to compound for a certain part of the debt?

1Quest. 5.

:8933p. 124

Answ. If he truly acquaint them with his whole estate, and they voluntarily allow him part to himself, either in charity, or in hope hereafter to be satisfied, this is no unlawful course: But if he hide part from them, and make them believe that the rest is all, this is but a thievish procurement of their composition or consent.

:8934p. 124

§. 6. Quest. 6. May a borrower lawfully break his day, of promised payment, in case of necessity?

:8935p. 124

Quest. 6.

:8936p. 124–125

Answ. True necessity hath no Law: that is, a man is not bound to do things naturally impossible: But if he might have foreseen that necessity, or the doubtfulness of his payment at the day, it was his sin to promise it, unless he put in some limitation [If I be able,] and acquainted the lender with the uncertainty. However it be, when the time is come, he ought to go to his Creditor, and ⟨p. 125⟩tell him of his necessity, and desire further time, and endeavour to pay it as soon as he is able: and if he be not able, to make him what satisfaction he can, by his labour, or any other lawful way.

:8937p. 125

§. 7. Quest. 7. May I borrow of one to pay another, to keep my day with the first?

:8938p. 125

Quest. 7.

:8939p. 125

Answ. Yes, if you deal not fraudulently with the second, but are able to pay him, or acquaint him truly with your case.

:8940p. 125

§. 8. Quest. 8. Suppose that I have no probability of paying the last creditor, may I borrow of one¹ to pay another, and so live upon borrowing; or must I rather continue in one mans debt?

1Quest. 8.

:8941p. 125

Answ. If you truly acquaint your Creditors with your state, you may do as is most to your convenience. If the first Creditor be able and willing rather to trust you longer, than that you should borrow of another to pay him, you may continue his debtor, till you can pay him without borrowing: But if he be either poor or unwilling to bear with you, and another that is able be willing to venture, you may better borrow of another to pay him. But if they be all equally unwilling to stand to any hazard by you, then you must rather continue in the first mans debt, because if you wrong another you will commit another sin: Nay, you cannot borrow in such a case, because it is supposed that the other will not lend, when he knoweth your case. And you must not at all conceal it from him.

:8942p. 125

Object. But it may be my ruin to open my full state to another.

Object. But it may be my ruine to open my full state to another.

:8943p. 125

Answ. You must not live upon cheating and thievery to prevent your ruin? And what can it be less to get another mans money against his will. And it is against his will, if you hide your case, which if he knew he would not lend it to you.

Answ. You must not live upon cheating and thievery to prevent your ruine? And what can it be less to get another mans money against his will. And it is against his will, if you hide your case, which if he knew he would not lend it to you.

PuritansEngland

Pastor at Kidderminster and prolific nonconformist author.

Transcription key

•: an illegible letter
〈…〉: illegible words
〈non-Latin alphabet〉: Greek or Hebrew the transcribers did not key
▪: illegible punctuation
⟨p. 12⟩: a page break in the printed book