A27004:838
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.
2. If you think your selves but ingenuous Beasts,1 why should you not be content to be used as Beasts. A Beast is not capable of true Propriety, Right or Wrong: He that can master him, doth him no wrong, if he work him, or fleece him, or take away his life. Why may not they that can master you, use you like Pack-horses, or Slaves, and beat you, and take away your lives.
- 1Maximum argumentum est, naturam ipsam de immortalitate animorum tacitum judicare, quod omni•s curae sunt, & maximè quidem, quae post-mortem futura sunt. Cicero Tuscul. Qu. l. 1. p. 220.
3. Would you be only your selves of this mind, or would you have all others of it? If your selves only, why envy you the Truth (as you suppose) to others? If all others, what security shall Kings have of their lives? or Subjects of their lives of liberties? What trust can you put in Wife, or Child, or Servant, or any man that you converse with? Will you not quickly feel the effect of their opinions? Had you not rather, that the enemy who would murder you, the thief who would rob you, the liar that would deceive you, did believe a Judgement and life of Retribution, than not?
3. Would you be only your selves of this mind, or would you have all others of it? If your selves only, why envy you the Truth (as you suppose) to others? If all others, what security shall Kings have of their lives? or Subjects of their lives of liberties? What trust can you put in Wife, or Child, or Servant, or any man that you converse with? Will you not quickly feel the effect of their opinions? Had you not rather, that the enemy who would murder you, the thief who would rob you, the lyar that would deceive you, did believe a Judgement and life of Retribution, than not?