A27004:349
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.
Yet let it be here noted, that all this while I meddle not with the controversy of the Liberty of man's will; and so, whether God's sapiential government by Laws, do operate also by necessitation, and Physical causation, as the natural motions of the Orbs, or the artificial motions of an Engine. I only argue, that whether God thus operate by his Government by secret necessitation or not, yet it is most certain, that he governeth Morally, and useth the Means of Doctrine, Laws and Judgments: which might consist with Physical necessitating efficacy in all that do obey indeed, if God's wisdom, and man's freedom of will did infer nothing to the contrary. But if it had been granted, that all God's government is by Physical efficacy, it would stand good nevertheless, that Laws and Judgment are part of the means which he maketh so effectual. But yet I shall go further in the next Argument.
Yet let it be here noted, that all this while I meddle not with the controversie of the Liberty of man's will; and so, whether God's sapiential government by Laws, do operate also by necessitation, and Physical causation, as the natural motions of the Orbs, or the artificial motions of an Engine. I only argue, that whether God thus operate by his Government by secret necessitation or not, yet it is most certain, that he governeth Morally, and useth the Means of Doctrin, Laws and Judgments: which might consist with Physical necessitating efficacy in all that do obey indeed, if God's wisdom, and man's freedom of will did inferr nothing to the contrary. But if it had been granted, that all God's government is by Physical efficacy, it would stand good nevertheless, that Laws and Judgment are part of the means which he maketh so effectual. But yet I shall go further in the next Argument.
§. 10. VII. Experience satisfieth all the rational world, that there is, de facto, a course of Duty appointed by God for men, which they do not eventually fulfil. Therefore there is not only a Moral Government, which is effectual, but also which is separated from necessitating efficacy.