The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

§. 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.

They that deny this, and plead for Physical Government only, must affirm, that nothing is any man's Duty, but what he actually performeth: and that nothing is any man's sin which he doth, or omitteth to do; that is, that there is no sin or moral evil in the world: For all that God Physically effecteth is good; and they suppose him to have no Law which commandeth any thing but what he Physically effecteth, and he will not Physically effect that which he forbiddeth. And if there be no such thing as moral evil or sin in the world, then no man should fear any, or avoid any! Let but a man leave any thing undone▪ (if it be nourishing his children, defending his King, loving God or man) and he may thence conclude that it never was his duty: Let him but do any thing that he hath a mind to, (if it be killing Father or Mother, or his Prince or Friend) and he may be sure that it is no sin, because he hath done it; for if God forbid it not, it is no sin: nay, he may make it an effect of God's government. But this consequence is so false and horrid, that no Nation on earth receiveth it, and Cannibals themselves abhor it, who eat not their friends, but strangers and enemies.

¹§. 11. VIII. If God be not the Governor of the world by Laws, then no man need to fear or avoid any thing forbidden by the Laws of Man, who can either keep it secret by Wit, or keep himself from humane revenge by Power. But the consequent is false: therefore so is the Antecedent.

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