A27004:715
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
Part 1 › Chapter 14: That there is a Life of Retribution after this.
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.
Obj. Governors use not to give men Rewards for their Obedience: subjects must obey without Reward.
Obj. Governours use not to give men Rewards for their Obedience: subjects must obey without Reward.
Answ. It is not the Name but the Thing that we enquire of: Call it a Benefit if you had rather: All Government is upheld by Rewards and Punishment. Reward is either that which is common to all obedient Subjects, or such as is specially proper to some: All subjects that are faithful, have title to protection, and approbation, and justification against all false accusations; and to their share in that peace and felicity of the Common-wealth,1 which is the end of the Government: And some Commonwealths having far greater felicities than others, accordingly the Subjects of them have their right and part: And this is the common reward or benefit of obedience and fidelity. Besides which, some great exploits are usually rewarded with some special praemium. In humane Kingdoms as such, the End is no higher than the Beginning: Temporal Governors give but temporal Rewards: The felicities of the Kingdom, which are the ends of Government, as they are from Man are but temporal; and our share in them is all our Reward from men: But the original and end of the Kingdom of God are higher, and of further prospect: The benefits of fidelity are greater, as shall be further proved.
Answ. It is not the Name but the Thing that we enquire of: Call it a Benefit if you had rather: All Government is upheld by Rewards and Punishment. Reward is either that which is common to all obedient Subjects, or such as is specially proper to some: All subjects that are faithfull, have title to protection, and approbation, and justification against all false accusations; and to their share in that peace and felicity of the Common-wealth,1 which is the end of the Government: And some Commonwealths having far greater felicities than others, accordingly the Subjects of them have their right and part: And this is the common reward or benefit of obedience and fidelity. Besides which, some great exploits are usually rewarded with some special praemium. In humane Kingdoms as such, the End is no higher than the Beginning: Temporal Governours give but temporal Rewards: The felicities of the Kingdom, which are the ends of Government, as they are from Man are but temporal; and our share in them is all our Reward from men: But the original and end of the Kingdom of God are higher, and of further prospect: The benefits of fidelity are greater, as shall be further proved.