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

Obj. But do you not ordinarily say, that Vice bringeth its punishment with it in its natural effects? and Obedience its Reward? Is not the life of a Glutton and Drunkard punished by poverty, and shame, and sickness? And is not Godliness a pleasure in it self? If it be our highest end and Happiness to love God and please him, then sure the beginnings of it here, must have more good, than all the pleasures of sin? and so God maketh a sufficient difference here.

Answ. Some Vices that are sottishly managed, do bring poverty, shame and sickness: but that may easily be avoided by a vicious wit: Gluttony and drunkenness may fall short of sicknesses. Fornication and adultery and incest may be managed with greater craft. Pride and ambition may attain dominion and wealth: Theft may be hid, and cheating and fraud may make men rich, and free them from the pinching wants, and cares, and the temptations to discontent and contention, of the poor. Malice may delight it self in secret revenges, in poisonings, murderings, and such like, ⟨p. 123⟩without any worldly hurt to the transgressor. A Tiberius, a Nero, a Caligula, a Domitian, a Commodus, a Heliogabalus, a Sardanapalus, may be on the Throne, when a Socrates, a Seneca, a Cicero, a Cato, a Demosthenes is put to death; yea, when a Paul or Peter, an Ignatius, a Cyprian, are sacrificed to their bloody rage.

Answ. Some Vices that are sottishly managed, do bring poverty, shame and sickness: but that may easily be avoided by a vicious wit: Gluttony and drunkenness may fall short of sicknesses. Fornication and adultery and incest may be managed with greater craft. Pride and ambition may attain dominion and wealth: Theft may be hid, and cheating and fraud may make men rich, and free them from the pinching wants, and cares, and the temptations to discontent and contention, of the poor. Malice may delight it self in secret revenges, in poysonings, murderings, and such like, ⟨p. 123⟩without any worldly hurt to the transgressour. A Tiberius, a Nero, a Caligula, a Domitian, a Commodus, a Heliogabalus, a Sardanapalus, may be on the Throne, when a Socrates, a Seneca, a Cicero, a Cato, a Demosthenes is put to death; yea, when a Paul or Peter, an Ignatius, a Cyprian, are sacrificed to their bloody rage.