Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

6. Omission of the service he hath appointed is another contempt of his Sovereignty. This is a contempt of his dominion, whereby he hath a right to appoint what means and conditions he pleaseth, for the enjoyment of his proffered and promised benefits. 'Tis an enmity to his Sceptre not to accept of his terms after a long series of precepts and invitations, made for the restoring us to that happiness we had lost, and providing all means necessary thereunto, nothing being wanting but our own concurrence with it, and acceptance of it, by rendering that easy homage he requires. By with-holding from him the service he enjoins, we deny that we hold any thing of him; As he that pays not the quit rent, though it be never so small, disowns the Sovereignty of the Lord of the Manor; It implies that he is a miserable poor Lord, having no right, or destitute of any power, to dispose of any thing in the World to our advantage. Job. 22.17. They say unto God, depart from us, what can the Almighty do for them? They will have no commerce with him in a way of duty, because they imagine him to have no ⟨p. 763⟩Sovereign power to do any thing for them in way of benefit, as if his dominion were an empty title, and as much destitute of any Authority to command a favour for them, as any Idol. They think themselves to have as absolute a disposal of things, as God himself; What can he do for us? What can he confer upon us, that we cannot invest our selves in? As though they were Sovereigns in an equality with God; Thus men live without God in the World, Eph. 2.12. as if there were no supreme being to pay a respect to, or none fit to receive any homage at their hands; With-holding from God the right of his time, and the right of his service, which is the just claim of his Sovereignty.

6. Omission of the service he hath appointed is another contempt of his Soveraignty. This is a contempt of his dominion, whereby he hath a right to appoint what means and conditions he pleaseth, for the enjoyment of his proffered and promised benefits. 'Tis an enmity to his Scepter not to accept of his terms after a long series of precepts and invitations, made for the restoring us to that happiness we had lost, and providing all means necessary thereunto, nothing being wanting but our own concurrence with it, and acceptance of it, by rendring that easy homage he requires. By with-holding from him the service he enjoyns, we deny that we hold any thing of him; As he that payes not the quit rent, though it be never so small, disowns the Soveraignty of the Lord of the Manour; It implyes that he is a miserable poor Lord, having no right, or destitute of any power, to dispose of any thing in the World to our advantage.