Which if we well consider, it will be found exceeding necessary and useful to make man a governable creature by Law, and consequently the order comfort and tranquillity of the world necessarily depends upon it. How immorigerous and intractable would the corruptions of mans nature make him, and uncapable of any moral restraint from the most flagitious and barbarous crimes, had not God planted such a passion as this in his nature, which like a1 bridle curbs in the corrupt propensions thereof. If fear did not clap its manacles ⟨p. 21⟩and fetters upon the wild and boisterous lusts of men, they would certainly bear down all milder motives and break loose from all ingenuous bands of restraint, the world would inevitably be filled with disorders tumults, rapines, theft, murders, and all manner of uncleanness, and unrighteousness, nec hospes ab hospite tutus, 2men would become like the fishes of the sea, as the Prophet complains, Habak. 1. 14. where the greater swallow up a multitude of the smaller fry alive at one gulp; propriety could not be maintained in the world, no mans person could be safe or inviolate; power and opportunity to do mischief would measure out to men their Lot and inheritance, and consequently all Societies must disband and break up. We say, and the observation is sure, he that fears not his own, may easily be master of another mans life. 'Tis law, and fear of punishment that keeps the World in order; men are afraid to do evil, because they are afraid to suffer it, they see the Law hath inseparably linked penal and moral evils together, if they will presume upon the one, they must necessarily pull the other upon them too; and this keeps them in some order, and decorum; there would be no order or security without Law; but if Laws had no annexed penalties to enforce them and give them their Sanction as good there were no Laws; they would have no more power to restrain the corruptions of mens hearts, than the new cords or green withs had to bind Samson; And yet if the severest penalties in the world, ⟨p. 22⟩were annexed to, or appointed by the Law, they could signify nothing to the ends of Government without Fear. This is that tender sensible power or passion on which threatenings work, and so brings men under moral government and restraint, Rom. 13. 3, 4. Magistrates are a terror to evil works; wilt thou not then be afraid of the power?
Which if we well consider, it will be found exceeding necessary and useful to make man a governable creature by Law, and consequently the order comfort and tranquillity of the world necessarily depends upon it. How immorigerous and intractable would the corruptions of mans nature make him, and uncapable of any moral restraint from the most flagitious and barbarous crimes, had not God planted such a passion as this in his nature, which like a1 bridle curbs in the corrupt propensions thereof. If fear did not clap its manacles ⟨p. 21⟩and fetters upon the wild and boysterous lusts of men, they would certainly bear down all milder motives and break loose from all ingenuous bands of restraint, the world would inevitably be filled with disorders tumults, rapines, theft, murders, and all manner of uncleanness, and unrighteousness, nec hospes ab hospite tutus, 2men would become like the fishes of the sea, as the Prophet complains, Habak. 1. 14. where the greater swallow up a multitude of the smaller fry alive at one gulp; propriety could not be maintained in the world, no mans person could be safe or inviolate; power and opportunity to do mischief would measure out to men their Lot and inheritance, and consequently all Societies must disband and break up. We say, and the observation is sure, he that fears not his own, may easily be master of another mans life. 'Tis law, and fear of punishment that keeps the World in order; men are afraid to do evil, because they are afraid to suffer it, they see the Law hath inseparably linked penal and moral evils together, if they will presume upon the one, they must necessarily pull the other upon them too; and this keeps them in some order, and decorum; there would be no order or security without Law; but if Laws had no annexed penalties to inforce them and give them their Sanction as good there were no Laws; they would have no more power to restrain the corruptions of mens hearts, than the new cords or green withs had to bind Samson; And yet if the severest penalties in the world, ⟨p. 22⟩were annexed to, or appointed by the Law, they could signifie nothing to the ends of Government without Fear. This is that tender sensible power or passion on which threatnings work, and so brings men under moral government and restraint, Rom. 13. 3, 4. Magistrates are a terror to evil works; wilt thou not then be afraid of the power?
- 1Est timor instar frae•i quo equus regitur, hic metus si toleretur, omnia conciderent. Lavat. in pro. 29. v. 25.
- 2Intellectualis creatura eò ipso quòd creatura est, superiorem habet, cujus providentiae & ordinationi subjaceat: & qua intellectualis est capax est gubernationis moralis, qua dirigatur ad bonum, & arceatur à malo, & talis lex est illi simpliciter necessaria, ut convenienter suae naturae vivere possit. Suarez de leg. lib. 1 cap. 3.
