Richard Baxter's dying thoughts upon Phil. I, 23 written for his own life and…

§ 1. V. The Justice of God as Governor of the World, inferreth different Rewards hereafter, as I have largely elsewhere proved. 1. God is not only a Mover of all that Moveth, but a Moral Ruler of Man by Laws, and Judgment, and Executions. Else there were no proper Law of Nature, which few are so unnatural as to deny: And Man should have no proper Duty, but only Motion, as he is moved: And then how cometh a Government by Laws to be set up under God by Men? And then there were no sin or fault in any; for if there were no Law and Duty, but only necessitated Motion, all would be moved as the Mover pleased, and there could be no sin: And then there would be no Moral Good, but forced or necessary motion: But all this is most absurd: And experience telleth us that God doth de facto, Morally Govern the World; and his Right is unquestionable.

§ 1. V. The Justice of God as Governour of the World, inferreth different Rewards hereafter, as I have largely elsewhere proved. 1. God is not only a Mover of all that Moveth, but a Moral Ruler of Man by Laws, and Judgment, and Executions. Else there were no proper Law of Nature, which few are so unnatural as to deny: And Man should have no proper Duty, but only Motion, as he is moved: And then how cometh a Government by Laws to be set up under God by Men? And then there were no sin or fault in any; for if there were no Law and Duty, but only necessitated Motion, all would be moved as the Mover pleased, and there could be no sin: And then there would be no Moral Good, but forced or necessary motion: But all this is most absurd: And experience telleth us that God doth de facto, Morally Govern the World; and his Right is unquestionable.

§ 2. And if God were not the Ruler of the World, by Laws and Judgment, the World would have no universal Laws; for there is no Man that is the universal Ruler: And then Kings, and other Supreme Powers, would be utterly Lawless and ungoverned, as having none above them to give them Laws, and so they would be capable of no sin or fault, and of no punishment; which yet neither their Subjects interest, nor their own Consciences will grant, or allow them throughly to believe,

§ 2. And if God were not the Ruler of the World, by Laws and Judgment, the World would have no universal Laws; for there is no Man that is the universal Ruler: And then Kings, and other Supream Powers, would be utterly Lawless and ungoverned, as having none above them to give them Laws, and so they would be capable of no sin or fault, and of no punishment; which yet neither their Subjects interest, nor their own Consciences will grant, or allow them throughly to believe,