Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with…

2. The second Argument arises from the Divine Goodness and Justice. God as Universal Sovereign is Supreme Judge of the World. For Judicature being an ⟨p. 200⟩essential part of Royalty, these rights are inseparable. And the natural notion of the Deity includes Justice in that Perfection, as infinitely excels the most just Governors on the Earth. This gives us convincing evidence for recompenses hereafter. For there is no way of proof more certain, than by such maxims as are acknowledged by all to be undoubtedly true by their own light. In the motives of intellectual assent, the mind must finally rest on some that are self-evident, without depending as to their clearness on any superior proof; and are therefore called first Principles, the fountains of Discourse. Now that God is most righteous and equal in his Judgment, before whose Throne, Man must appear, that he will by no means condemn ⟨p. 201⟩the Innocent, nor justify the Guilty; that He is so Pure and Holy that he cannot suffer Sin unrepented of, to go unpunished, is a prime Truth, declared by the voice of Nature. The weakest twilight of Reason discerns the Antipathy of this Connection, an unjust God indifferent to good or evil. Never any Sect of Idolaters formed such an unworthy Deity, that was absolutely careless of Virtue and Vice, without distinguishing them in his Affections and Retributions: This were to debase him beneath the most unreasonable men, for there is none of such an impure mind, so perfect a despiser of moral goodness, but has some respect for Virtue, and some abhorrence of Vice in ⟨p. 202⟩others, especially in their Children. From hence it certainly follows, that as Virtue and the reward, Sin and the punishment are allied in a direct line by a most wise Constitution; so 'tis just that the effects should truly correspond with the quality of mens actions. If they reverence God's Laws, 'tis most becoming his Nature and Relation to make them happy: if they abuse their Liberty, and violate his Commands, 'tis most righteous that they should feel the effects of their chosen wickedness. Now if we look only to things seen, we do not find such equal distributions as are suitable to the clear Light wherewith God has irradiated the Understanding of Man, concerning his Governing-Justice.