Citations from Richard Baxter, A Christian Directory (Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2008), Part IV, "Christian Politics" (pp. 737-904).
Chapter III
Prop. IV. Yet God hath left that which is commonly called, the specification of government; and some lower parts of the matter, and manner of exercise, undetermined; as also the individual persons or families that shall rule. In these three therefore it is that communities interpose. 1. Whether the sovereignty shall be in one, or two, or ten, or how many, and how divided for their exercise, God hath not determined. 2. Nor hath he determined of every particular, whether the power shall extend to this, or that, or the other thing, or not? Nor whether it shall be exercised thus or thus, by standing courts, or temporary judges, &c. 3. Nor hath he named the person or family that shall rule.
Prop. IX. If you take the word law properly, for the expression of a ruler's will obliging the governed, or making their duty...then it is clear in the definition itself, that neither subjects, nor the community, as such, have any legislative power.
Prop. X. Though God have not made a universal determination for any sort of government, against the rest, (whether monarchy, aristocracy, or democracy,) because that is best for one people, which may be worse for others, yet ordinarily monarchy is accounted better than aristocracy, and aristocracy better than democracy [with a lengthy refutation of Richard Hooker's argument that lawful legislative power belongs to the whole society for which the laws are made and that it is natural that "free and independent societies should themselves make their own laws"].
Direct. V. Do not either divulge or aggravate the vices of your governors to their dishonour; for their honour is necessary to the public good.If they have not care of their own honour, yet their subjects must have a care of it. If once they be dishonoured, they will the more easily be contemned, hated, and disobeyed. Therefore the dishonouring of the rulers tendeth to the dissolution of the government, and ruin of the commonwealth.
Direct. XV. Meddle not uncalled with the matters of superiors, and take not upon you to censure their actions, whom you have neither ability, fitness, or authority to censure. How commonly will every tradesman and labourer at his work, be censuring the counsels and government of the king; and speaking of things, which they never had means sufficiently to understand! Unless you had been upon the place, and heard all the debates and consultations, and understood all the circumstances and reasons of the business, how can you imagine that at so great a distance you are competent judges?
Direct. XX. Think not that any change of the form of government, would cure that which is caused by the people's sin, or the common pravity of human nature.
direct. XXX. Murmur not at the payment of those necessary tributes, by which the common safety must be preserved, and the due honour of your governors kept up. Sordid covetousness hath been the ruin of many a commonwealth. When every one is shifting for himself, and saving his own, and murmuring at the charge by which their safety must be defended...this selfishness is the most pernicious enemy of government, and to the common good.
