A27004:907
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
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.
§. 13. What ever reward or punishment is annexed to sin by the Law, is offered with the duty and sin to the subjects choosing or refusing; and no man is in danger of any punishment but he that chooseth it, in its self or in its annexed cause. And he that will have it, or will have that which he is told by God is annexed to it, (especially if it be deliberately and obstinately to the last) hath none to blame of cruelty towards him but himself, nor nothing to complain of but his wilful choice.
Obj. But it were easy with God to confirm man's will so, that the threatening of a temporal punishment might have ruled him.
Obj. But it were easie with God to confirm man's will so, that the threatning of a temporal punishment might have ruled him.
Answ. It is easy with God to make every man an Angel, and every beast or worm a man: but if his wisdom think meet, below men to make such inferior things as Beasts; and below Angels or confirmed Souls to make so low a rank of creatures as Men, that have Reason, and undetermined and unconfirmed Free-wills; what are we that we should expostulate with him for making them no better, nor ruling them in our way?
Answ. It is easie with God to make every man an Angel, and every beast or worm a man: but if his wisdom think meet, below men to make such inferiour things as Beasts; and below Angels or confirmed Souls to make so low a rank of creatures as Men, that have Reason, and undetermined and unconfirmed Free-wills; what are we that we should expostulate with him for making them no better, nor ruling them in our way?