A27004:435
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.
1. No man can reasonably think, that God is less able to reward, protect and encourage his subjects in their duty, than any Tempter whatsoever in their disobedience. And no man can think that he is less wise to know how to perform it: nor can any think that Infinite Goodness is less disposed to do good to the good, than any Tempter whosoever can be to do good to the evil. These things being all as clear as light it self to the considerate, it must needs follow, that no reason can allow a man to hope to be finally a gainer or saver by his disobedience to his Maker, or to fear to be a loser by him.
2. But if it were so, obedience would be our duty still: for the authority of God, as his propriety, is absolute; and he that giveth us power to require the analogical obedience of our Horse or Ox, though it be to our benefit only, and his hurt, yea though it be in going to the slaughter, if he did so by us could do us no wrong, nor give us any just excuse for our disobedience. For as sweet as life is to us, it is not so much Ours in right as His, and therefore should be at his disposal.
§. 9. The breaking of Gods Laws must needs deserve a greater penalty, than the breaking of any Man's Laws, as such.