A27004:909
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.
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?
§. 14. Sin doth unquestionably deserve a natural death and annihilation.
This all men grant that believe that God is our Governor, and that there is any such thing as His Laws, and Man's sins. If treason against a King deserve death,1 much more rebellion and sin against God. Life and being is God's free gift: if he take it away from the innocent, he taketh but his own: therefore there can be no doubt but he may take it away from the guilty who abuse it.
This all men grant that believe that God is our Governour, and that there is any such thing as His Laws, and Man's sins. If treason against a King deserve death,1 much more rebellion and sin against God. Life and being is God's free gift: if he take it away from the innocent, he taketh but his own: therefore there can be no doubt but he may take it away from the guilty who abuse it.