A27004:766
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.
The Minor is proved in the answer to the last objections, and by the common experience of the world.
Obj. How little doth the hopes and fears of another world do with the most? Do you not see that fleshly interest ruleth them, and therefore they are what the Great ones would have them be, who can help or hurt them?
Answ. 1. I have proved how much worse it would be, • that restraint which these hopes and fears make were taken off. 2. That this restraint is general in all Nations almost of the earth, though the prevalency of sin do much enfeeble it. 3. That Rulers themselves are under some of these restraints, in their Law-making and Judgement. Though fleshly interest much prevail against it, there are some remnants of secret hopes or fears in the consciences of sinners, which keep up so much good as is yet left, and keep men from those villainies, in which they might hope to escape all sufferings from men.
Answ. 1. I have proved how much worse it would be, • that restraint which these hopes and fears make were taken off. 2. That this restraint is general in all Nations almost of the earth, though the prevalency of sin do much enfeeble it. 3. That Rulers themselves are under some of these restraints, in their Law-making and Judgement. Though fleshly interest much prevail against it, there are some remnants of secret hopes or fears in the consciences of sinners, which keep up so much good as is yet left, and keep men from those villanies, in which they might hope to escape all sufferings from men.