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

As the Elements are conjunct, but not confounded in mixed bodies, and in themselves, are easily to be distinguished, where they are not divided, and their effects sometimes also distinct, but usually mixed as are the causes; so is it in the case of these three Great Relations: though God's Propriety extend further than his Government; because Inanimates and Brutes are capable of one, and not of the other; yet as to the Rational Creatures, they are in reality of the same extent. God is as to Right the Owner and the Ruler of all the world, and also their real Benefactor, and quoad debitum their ultimate end. But as to consent, on their parts, none but the godly give up themselves to him in any one of these Relations. In order of Nature, God is first our Owner, and then our Ruler, and our chief Good or End. His work in the first Relation, is Arbitrary Disposal of us; his work in the second is to Govern us; and in the third, Attraction and Felicitating. But he so Disposeth of us, as never to cross his rules of Government; and so governeth us, as never to cross his absolute Propriety; and attracteth and felicitateth us in consent with his Premiant act of Government; and all sweetly and wonderfully conspire the perfection of his works.

As the Elements are conjuct, but not confounded in mixed bodies, and in themselves, are easily to be distinguished, where they are not divided, and their effects sometimes also distinct, but usually mix'd as are the causes; so is it in the case of these three Great Relations: though God's Propriety extend further than his Government; because Inanimates and Bruites are capable of one, and not of the other; yet as to the Rational Creatures, they are in reality of the same extent. God is as to Right the Owner and the Ruler of all the world, and also their real Benefactor, and quoad debitum their ultimate end. But as to consent, on their parts, none but the godly give up themselves to him in any one of these Relations. In order of Nature, God is first our Owner, and then our Ruler, and our chief Good or End. His work in the first Relation, is Arbitrary Disposal of us; his work in the second is to Govern us; and in the third, Attraction and Felicitating. But he so Disposeth of us, as never to cross his rules of Government; and so governeth us, as never to cross his absolute Propriety; and attracteth and felicitateth us in concent with his Premiant act of Government; and all sweetly and wonderfully conspire the perfection of his works.