Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

Justice or Injustice comes not into consideration in this case. There is no debt, which Justice or Injustice always respects in its acting: If he had pleased, he might have chosen all, if he had pleased, he might have chosen none. It was in his supreme power, to have resolved to have left all Adam's posterity under the rack of his Justice; if he determined to snatch out any, it was a part of his dominion, but without any injury to the Creatures he leaves under their own guilt. Did he not pass by the Angels, and take man? And by the same right of Dominion may he pick out some men from the common Mass, and lay aside others, to bear the punishment of their Crimes. Are they not all his Subjects? All are his Criminals, and may be dealt with at the pleasure of their undoubted Lord and Sovereign? This is a work of arbitrary power: Since he might have chosen none, or chosen all, as he saw good himself. 'Tis at the liberty of the Artificer, to determine his Wood, or Stone to such a figure, that of a Prince or that of a Toad; and his materials have no right to complain of him, since it lies wholly upon his own liberty. They must have little sense of their own vileness and God's infinite excellency above them by right of Creation, that will contend, that God hath a lesser right over his Creatures, than an Artificer over his Wood or Stone. If it were at his liberty whither to redeem Man, or send Christ upon such an undertaking; 'tis as much at his liberty, and the prerogative is to be allowed him, what persons he will resolve to make capable of enjoying the fruits of that Redemption. One Man was as fit a subject for Mercy as another; as they all lay in their original guilt. Why would not Divine Mercy cast its eye upon this Man, as well as upon his Neighbour? There was no cause in the Creature, but all in God, it must be resolved into his own will.

Justice or Injustice comes not into consideration in this case. There is no debt, which Justice or Injustice always respects in its acting: If he had pleased, he might have chosen all, if he had pleased, he might have chosen none. It was in his supream power, to have resolved to have left all Adam's posterity under the rack of his Justice; if he determined to snatch out any, it was a part of his dominion, but without any injury to the Creatures he leaves under their own guilt. Did he not pass by the Angels, and take man? And by the same right of Dominion may he pick out some men from the common Mass, and lay aside others, to bear the punishment of their Crimes. Are they not all his Subjects? All are his Criminals, and may be dealt with at the pleasure of their undoubted Lord and Soveraign? This is a work of arbitrary power: Since he might have chosen none, or chosen all, as he saw good himself. 'Tis at the liberty of the Artificer, to determine his Wood, or Stone to such a figure, that of a Prince or that of a Toad; and his materials have no right to complain of him, since it lies wholly upon his own liberty. They must have little sence of their own vileness and God's infinite excellency above them by right of Creation, that will contend, that God hath a lesser right over his Creatures, than an Artificer over his Wood or Stone. If it were at his liberty whither to redeem Man, or send Christ upon such an undertaking; 'tis as much at his liberty, and the prerogative is to be allow'd him, what persons he will resolve to make capable of enjoying the fruits of that Redemption. One Man was as fit a subject for Mercy as another; as they all lay in their orginal guilt. Why would not Divine Mercy cast its eye upon this Man, as well as upon his Neighbour? There was no cause in the Creature, but all in God, it must be resolved into his own will.