A26935:25
Gods goodness vindicated for the help of such (especially in melancholy) as are tempted…
Gods goodness vindicated for the help of such (especially in melancholy) as are tempted to deny it, and think him cruel, because of the present and future misery of mankind, with respect to the doctrine of reprobation and damnation / by Richard Baxter ... ; published and prefaced by a friend at whose desire it was written, and to whom it was committed.
London: printed for N. Simmons, 1671
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.
Quest. 12. Is the Goodness of a King to be judged of ⟨p. 25⟩by the Interest of Murderers in the Goal? when he restrained them by Laws, when he warned them by legal penalties, when he encourageth and protecteth all the Good, When the lives of the Innocent need this severity against the wicked; when the Common Wealth would take him to be bad, that would not restrain Thieves and Murderers by penalties: Yea though this King could if he would, have set a constant guard on these men to have kept these men from Murdering, but he thinketh meet only to Govern them by Laws: Will ⟨p. 26⟩you rather argue, (That the Goal is a place of misery, Therefore the King is cruel) Then (The rest of the Kingdom flourish in prosperity and peace: Therefore the King is wise and gracious.) And is not this little dirty spot of Earth, the next door to Hell, a place defiled by wilful sin, and unfit to be the Index of Gods benignity, from whence we should take an Estimate of it?
Quest. 12. Is the Goodness of a King to be judged of ⟨p. 25⟩by the Interest of Murderers in the Goal? when he restrained them by Laws, when he warned them by legal penalties, when he encourageth and protecteth all the Good, When the lives of the Innocent need this severity against the wicked; when the Common Wealth would take him to be bad, that would not restrain Thieves and Murderers by penalties: Yea though this King could if he would, have set a constant guard on these men to have kept these men from Murdering, but he thinketh meet only to Govern them by Laws: Will ⟨p. 26⟩you rather argue, (That the Goal is a place of misery, Therefore the King is cruel) Then (The rest of the Kingdom flourish in prosperity and peace: Therefore the King is wise and gratious.) And is not this little dirty spot of Earth, the next door to Hell, a place defiled by wilful sin, and unfit to be the Index of Gods benignity, from whence we should take an Estimate of it?