Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

This represents God impotent, that he cannot, or unrighteous and base, that he will not administer the Authority he hath for the noblest and justest end. But can we say, that he neglects the government of the World? How come things then to remain in their due order? How comes the Law of nature yet to be preserved in every man's Soul? How comes Conscience to check, and cite, and judge? If God ⟨p. 764⟩did not exercise his Authority, what Authority could Conscience have to disturb man in unlawful practises, and to make his sports and sweetness so unpleasant and sour to him? Hath he not given frequent notices and memorials, that he holds a curb over corrupt inclinations, puts rubs in the way of malicious attempters, and often oversets the disturbers of the peace of the World?

3. Information, God can do no wrong; since he is absolute sovereign. Man may do wrong, Princes may oppress, and rifle, but it is a crime in them so to do: Because their power is a power of Government and not of propriety in the goods or lives of their subjects; but God cannot do any wrong, whatsoever the clamours of Creatures are: Because he can do nothing but what he hath a sovereign right to do. If he takes away your goods, he takes not away any thing that is yours, more than his own, since though he entrusted you with them, he devested not himself of the propriety. When he takes away our lives, he takes what he gave us by a temporary donation, to be surrendered at his call. We can claim no right in any thing but by his will. He is no debtor to us, and since he owes us nothing, he can wrong us in nothing that he takes away. His own sovereignty excuseth him in all those acts, which are most distasteful to the Creature. If we crop a medicinal plant for our use, or a flower for our pleasure, or kill a Lamb for our food, we do neither of them any wrong: Because the original of them was for our use, and they had their life, and nourishment, and pleasing qualities for our delight and support; and are not we much more made for the pleasure and use of God, than any of those can be for us? Of him, and to him are all things,