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

Obj. Can it be any worse then it is already? what vice or villainy doth not every where abound, for all the belief of a life to come?

Obj. Can it be any worse then it is already? what vice or villany doth not every where abound, for all the belief of a life to come?

Answ. If it be so bad for all that belief, what would it be without? if the enervating of it by the lusts of the flesh do loose the reins, and leave the world in so much wickedness, what would it be if their hopes and fears of another life were gone? Now men have a secret witness in their breasts, which checketh and restraineth them: Now they have Kings and Rulers, who having some belief of a life to come, do form their Laws accordingly, and govern the common people with some respect to that belief. Now there are many ⟨p. 133⟩(through the mercy of God) who are serious in that belief, and live accordingly; who are instructors, restraints and examples to the rest. And from these is that order which is kept up in the world: But if all were as those few, that have overcome this belief, the world would be a Wilderness of savage Beasts, and would be so full of impiety, villainy, perfidiousness, bloodiness, and all confusion, that we should think it a greater sign of goodness in God to destroy it, than to continue it; and should think of his Government according to the effects, or should hardly believe he governed it at all.

Answ. If it be so bad for all that belief, what would it be without? if the enervating of it by the lusts of the flesh do loose the reins, and leave the world in so much wickedness, what would it be if their hopes and fears of another life were gone? Now men have a secret witness in their breasts, which checketh and restraineth them: Now they have Kings and Rulers, who having some belief of a life to come, do form their Laws accordingly, and govern the common people with some respect to that belief. Now there are many ⟨p. 133⟩