A26872:31
A Call to the Unconverted
A call to the unconverted to turn and live and accept of mercy while mercy may be had as ever they would find mercy in the day of their extremity from the living God / by his unworthy servant, Richard Baxter ; to be read in families where any are unconverted.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1658
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.
4. Dost thou believe that God is the Governor of the world or ⟨image 25⟩not? If not, then there can be no rightful Government. For as no Justice of Peace can have Power but from the Sovereign, so no Sovereign can have power but from God, nor be a lawful Governor but under him. And then all the world would be turned into confusion. But if thou must needs confess that God is the Governor of the world, what an unwise, unrighteous Governor wouldst thou make him, if thou think that he regardeth not the hearts and ways of those whom he doth govern? This still is but to deny him to be God.
4. Dost thou believe that God is the Governour of the world or ⟨image 25⟩not? If not, then there can be no rightfull Government. For as no Iustice of Peace can have Power but from the Soveraign, so no Soveraign can have power but from God, nor be a lawful Governour but under him. And then all the world would be turned into confusion. But if thou must needs confess that God is the Governour of the world, what an unwise, unrighteous Governour wouldst thou make him, if thou think that he regardeth not the hearts and ways of those whom he doth govern? This still is but to deny him to be God.
5. If God do not care so much what is in our hearts, or what we do, Why then would he make a Law for our hearts, and words, and ways? Would he command us that which he doth not care for? Would be so strictly forb•d us sin, if he were indifferent, whether we sin or no? Would he promise eternal life to the ⟨image 25⟩holy and obedient, if he care not whether we be holy and obedient or no? would he threaten Hell to all that are ungodly, if he care not whether we were godly or not? Darest thou say that the Almighty Holy God is fain to rule the world by a Lie, and to deceive men into obedience? Yea the very Law of nature it self doth contain not only precepts of our duty, but the Hopes and fears of a Life to come, without which the world could not be governed! And certainly they are no deceits, by which are infinite Wisdom, and Power, and Goodness doth govern the world.