Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Richard Baxter: a chronology
- Further reading
- Biographical notes
- A Holy Commonwealth
- Preface
- An Addition to the Preface
- Adam Contzen the Jesuites Directions
- 1 There is a God that is mans Creator
- 2 God is the Soveraign Ruler of Mankind
- 3 Of the Constitution of Gods Kingdome
- 4 Of the Administration of the Universal Kingdom
- 5 Of a subordinate Commonwealth in General
- 6 Of the several sorts of Commonwealths
- 7 Of the Foundation efficient and conveying causes of Power
- 8 Of the best form of Government, and Happyest Common-wealth
- 9 How a Commonwealth may be reduced to this Theocratical temper, if it have advantages, and the Rulers and People are willing
- 10 Of the Soveraigns Power over the Pastors of the Church, and of the difference of their Offices
- 11 Of the Soveraigns Prerogatives, and Power of Governing by Laws and Judgement
- 12 Of due Obedience to Rulers, and of Resistance
- 13 Of the late Warres Meditations
- Appendix: Preface to The Life of Faith (1670)
- Index
- Title in the Series
5 - Of a subordinate Commonwealth in General
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
- Richard Baxter: a chronology
- Further reading
- Biographical notes
- A Holy Commonwealth
- Preface
- An Addition to the Preface
- Adam Contzen the Jesuites Directions
- 1 There is a God that is mans Creator
- 2 God is the Soveraign Ruler of Mankind
- 3 Of the Constitution of Gods Kingdome
- 4 Of the Administration of the Universal Kingdom
- 5 Of a subordinate Commonwealth in General
- 6 Of the several sorts of Commonwealths
- 7 Of the Foundation efficient and conveying causes of Power
- 8 Of the best form of Government, and Happyest Common-wealth
- 9 How a Commonwealth may be reduced to this Theocratical temper, if it have advantages, and the Rulers and People are willing
- 10 Of the Soveraigns Power over the Pastors of the Church, and of the difference of their Offices
- 11 Of the Soveraigns Prerogatives, and Power of Governing by Laws and Judgement
- 12 Of due Obedience to Rulers, and of Resistance
- 13 Of the late Warres Meditations
- Appendix: Preface to The Life of Faith (1670)
- Index
- Title in the Series
Summary
Having spoken of Gods Universal Kingdom, I am next to speak of the distinct, subordinate Common-wealth which God hath by institution made the parts of it. And here first I shall speak of the NATURE of a Common-wealth in General; and then of those Modal differences which have obtained the name of the divers species of Common-wealths: and that, 1. As the difference is in the number and quality of persons that have the Soveraignty. And, 2. As it is in the gradually or modally diversified Matter, or Object of their power. And having spoken of the Constitutive Causes, I shall speak of the Efficient.
Thes. 45. A Common-wealth is sometime taken for the society Governed, sometime for the Government of that society; sometime it is taken properly in the first signification, and sometime analogically, for that which is a Common-wealth, but of an imperfect kind, or only secundum quid.
Thes. 46. A Commonwealth properly so called, is ‘A society of Gods Subjects ordered into the Relations of Soveraign and Subjects for the common good, and the pleasing of God their Absolute Soveraign.’ Or, ‘It is the Government of a society of Gods Subjects by a Soveraign subordinate to God, for the common good, and the Glory, and pleasing of God.’ Or it is ‘The order of a Civil body, consisting in the Authority of the Magistrate, especially the supream, and the subjection of the people, for the common good, and the pleasing of God.’
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Baxter: A Holy Commonwealth , pp. 68 - 75Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1994