Arg. 1. The being of a God undeniably evinces a future state for humane souls after this life. For if there be a God who rules the world which he hath made, he must rule it by rewards, and punishments, equally, and righteously distributed to good, and bad. Putting a difference betwixt the obedient, and disobedient. The Righteous, and the wicked. To make a species of creatures capable of moral government, and not to rule them at all; is to make them in vain, and inconsistent with his glory who is the last end of all things. To rule them, but not suitably to their natures; consists not with that infinite wisdom from which their beings proceeded, and by which their workings are ruled and ordered. To rule them in a way suitable to their natures, viz. by rewards and punishments, and not to perform, or execute them at all, is utterly incongruous with the veracity and truth of him that cannot lie. This were to impose the greatest cheat in the world upon men; and can never proceed from the holy and true God. So then, as he hath made a rational sort of creatures, capable of moral government by rewards and punishments; so he rules them in that way which is suitable to their natures, promising it shall be well with the righteous, and ill with wicked. These promises and threatenings can be no cheat, merely intended to scare and fright, where there is no danger; or encourage, where there is no real benefit: but what he promises, or threatens, must be accomplished, and every word of God take place, and be fulfilled. But it's evident that no such distinction is made by the providence of God, (at least ordinarily, and generally) in this life: but all things come alike to all: and as with the righteous so with the wicked. Yea, here it goes ill with them that fear God, they are oppressed. They receive their evil things, and wicked men their good. Therefore we conclude, the righteous Judge of the whole earth, will in another world, recompense to every one according as his work shall be.
Arg. 1. The being of a God undeniably evinces a future state for humane souls after this life. For if there be a God who rules the world which he hath made, he must rule it by rewards, and punishments, equally, and righteously distributed to good, and bad. Putting a difference betwixt the obedient, and disobedient. The Righteous, and the wicked. To make a species of creatures capable of moral government, and not to rule them at all; is to make them in vain, and inconsistent with his glory who is the last end of all things. To rule them, but not suitably to their natures; consists not with that infinite wisdom from which their beings proceeded, and by which their workings are ruled and ordered. To rule them in a way suitable to their natures, viz. by rewards and punishments, and not to perform, or execute them at all, is utterly incongruous with the veracity and truth of him that cannot lie. This were to impose the greatest cheat in the world upon men; and can never proceed from the holy and true God. So then, as he hath made a rational sort of creatures, capable of moral government by rewards and punishments; so he rules them in that way which is suitable to their natures, promising it shall be well with the righteous, and ill with wicked. These promises and threatnings can be no cheat, meerly intended to scare and fright, where there is no danger; or encourage, where there is no real benefit: but what he promises, or threatens, must be accomplished, and every word of God take place, and be fulfilled. But it's evident that no such distinction is made by the providence of God, (at least ordinarily, and generally) in this life: but all things come alike to all: and as with the righteous so with the wicked. Yea, here it goes ill with them that fear God, they are oppressed. They receive their evil things, and wicked men their good. Therefore we conclude, the righteous Judge of the whole earth, will in another world, recompence to every one according as his work shall be.
