A27016:629
A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…
A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Francis Tyton, 1662
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.
13. Moreover it is only Godliness that obeyeth with true Loyalty, and carrieth on all works methodically for the common Good. As he that will obey every Justice of Peace in all things that he commandeth, without respect to the Laws or will of the Sovereign Power, may be sooner a Traitor then truly obedient; (for every Justice or Lord may arm him against his Prince) so he that will obey the Princes of the earth, without respect to the Will or Interest of the Eternal God, will be but a Traitor to God, under pretence of obeying Princes, that are but his Officers and Servants. But the godly begin at God in their obedience; and therefore they proceed methodically, and obey men upon right grounds and in their proper places. It is not the most absolute obedience to man that is the best. He that should command men causelessly to fire his Country, or to destroy the innocent, or to ravish Virgins or mens Wives, were not to be obeyed, as Doeg ⟨p. 176⟩obeyed Saul; but God is first to be obeyed. It is he that begins, proceeds, and ends with God, that is sure to do no wrong, nor be misled.
13. Moreover it is only Godliness that obeyeth with true Loyalty, and carryeth on all works methodically for the common Good. As he that will obey every Justice of Peace in all things that he commandeth, without respect to the Laws or will of the Soveraign Power, may be sooner a Traytor then truly obedient; (for every Justice or Lord may arm him against his Prince) so he that will obey the Princes of the earth, without respect to the Will or Interest of the Eternal God, will be but a Traytor to God, under pretence of obeying Princes, that are but his Officers and Servants. But the godly begin at God in their obedience; and therefore they proceed methodically, and obey men upon right grounds and in their proper places. It is not the most absolute obedience to man that is the best. He that should command men causelesly to fire his Countrey, or to destroy the innocent, or to ravish Virgins or mens Wives, were not to be obeyed, as Doeg ⟨p. 176⟩obeyed Saul; but God is first to be obeyed. It is he that begins, proceeds, and ends with God, that is sure to do no wrong, nor be misled.