A27004:319
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural evidence the being of God ... : the second part, of Christianity, proving by evidence supernatural and natural, the certain truth of the Christian belief ... / by Richard Baxter ... ; also an appendix defending the soul's immortality against the Somatists or Epicureans and other pseudo-philosophers.
London: printed by R. White for Fran. Titon, 1667
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.
18. It maketh Man a Beast, who is uncapable of Moral Government.
19. It maketh him far worse than a Beast, as corruptio optimi est pessima: for a Beast hath an analogical improper government by Man, but Man must have such as moveth him rationally, according to his nature, or he must have none at all. And it would banish all Order, Duty and Virtue out of the world, and make Earth somewhat worse than Hell, which is not wholly destitute of Government.
20. But the best of it is, while it nullifieth Right and Wrong, it inferreth, that whosoever shall beat or hang the owners of this Doctrine do them no wrong, nor offend any Laws of God or Man: For if there be no Government, there is no Transgression; and if they are Brutes, they may ⟨p. 43⟩be used as Brutes, who are incapable of Titles, Rights, Inheritances, or of any plea as against an injury.
20. But the best of it is, while it nullifieth Right and Wrong, it inferreth, that whosoever shall beat or hang the owners of this Doctrine do them no wrong, nor offend any Laws of God or Man: For if there be no Government, there is no Transgression; and if they are Bruits, they may ⟨p. 43⟩be used as Bruits, who are incapable of Titles, Rights, Inheritances, or of any plea as against an injury.