Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

6. Unequal dispensations are acts of his Sovereignty. By this right, he is patient toward those, whose sins by the common voice of men deserve speedy Judgments, and pours out pain upon those, that are patterns of virtue to the World. By this he gives sometimes the worst of men an Ocean of wealth and honour to swim in, and reduceth an useful and exemplary grace to a scanty poverty. By this he Rules the Kingdoms of men, and sets a Crown upon the head of the basest of men, Dan. 4.17. While he deposeth another, that seemed to deserve a weightier Diadem. This is, as he is the Lord of the Ammunition of his Thunders, and the Treasures of his Bounty.

6. Ʋnequal dispensations are acts of his Soveraignty. By this right, he is patient toward those, whose sins by the common voice of men deserve speedy Judgments, and pours out pain upon those, that are patterns of vertue to the World. By this he gives sometimes the worst of men an Ocean of wealth and honor to swim in, and reduceth an useful and exemplary grace to a scanty poverty. By this he Rules the Kingdoms of men, and sets a Crown upon the head of the basest of men, Dan. 4.17. While he deposeth another, that seem'd to deserve a weightier Diadem. This is, as he is the Lord of the Ammunition of his Thunders, and the Treasures of his Bounty.

7. He may inflict what torments he pleases. Some say by this right of Sovereignty he may inflict what torments he pleaseth upon an innocent person; which indeed will not bear the nature of a punishment as an effect of Justice, without the supposal of a crime; but a torment, as an effect of that Sovereign right he hath over his Creature, which is as absolute over his work, as the Potters power is over his own Clay, Jerem. 18.6. Rom. 9.21.