Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

He now that nauseates the means whereby he may come to know and obey God, has no intention to make the Law of God his Rule: There is no man that intends seriously an end, but he intends means in order to that end: As when a man intends the preservation or recovery of his health, he will intend means in order to those ends, otherwise he cannot be said to intend his health: So he that is not diligent in using means to know the mind of God, has no sound intention to make the Will and Law of God his Rule. Is not the inquiry after the Will of God made a work by the by, and fain to lackey after other concerns of an inferior nature, if it hath any place at all in the Soul? which is a despising the Being of God: The Notion of the Sovereignty of God, bears the same date with the Notion of his Godhead; ⟨p. 56⟩and by the same way that he reveals Himself, he reveals his Authority over us; whether it be by Creatures without, or Conscience within. All Authority over Rational Creatures consists in commanding and directing; the duty of Rational Creatures in compliance with that Authority consists in obeying: Where there is therefore a careless neglect of those means which convey the knowledge of Gods Will and our Duty, there is an utter disowning of God as our Sovereign and our Rule.

He now that nauseates the means whereby he may come to know and obey God, has no intention to make the Law of God his Rule: There is no man that intends seriously an end, but he intends means in order to that end: As when a man intends the preservation or recovery of his health, he will intend means in order to those ends, otherwise he cannot be said to intend his health: So he that is not diligent in using means to know the mind of God, has no sound intention to make the Will and Law of God his Rule. Is not the inquiry after the Will of God made a work by the by, and fain to lacquy after other concerns of an inferior nature, if it hath any place at all in the Soul? which is a despising the Being of God: The Notion of the Soveraignty of God, bears the same date with the Notion of his Godhead; ⟨p. 56⟩and by the same way that he reveals Himself, he reveals his Authority over us; whether it be by Creatures without, or Conscience within. All Authority over Rational Creatures consists in commanding and directing; the duty of Rational Creatures in compliance with that Authority consists in obeying: Where there is therefore a careless neglect of those means which convey the knowledge of Gods Will and our Duty, there is an utter disowning of God as our Soveraign and our Rule.