On the contrary, how easy it were to give examples out of the Scripture of those, whom neither Antigonus, Clem. Alex. Calonius, nor any other shall deny, were Sons, and eminent ones also, who were moved with the reward, with heaven, and glory coming; but these are known to any who are acquainted with the Scriptures. I never dared to preach such Doctrine, or put persons upon these trials, lest in so doing I should reflect upon the infinite Wisdom of God, as if he were not wise enough to know how to govern his Rational Creature. It is true, from that absolute Right he hath over us in our Creation, he may give us a Law, and require obedience without making any promise of reward to encourage to obedience, and his Majesty deserves it: but his design was to exalt his Love, Grace, Mercy, Faithfulness, Truth and Goodness, which are excellent perfections in God, as well as Sovereignty and Holiness: therefore he is pleased to invite us, allure us to obedience, by promises of great reward, reward like a God; he deters us from disobedience by terrible threats (thereby making way for the clearing of his Justice.) This is the method his Wisdom thinks meet to take in governing men. Now we must teach men, that those who are moved with such rewards, promises, punishments, threats, as the Sovereign wisdom thinks meet to govern his Creatures by, these are Mercenaries, Slaves, but they who serve him, though there were none of all these, neither Heaven nor Hell, these are Sons: Should I have taught people thus, if any one had told me, I dealt boldly with Gods government of his Creature, I could not have told how to have defended my self against it. Though I do say, and blessed be God we know it, that Gods people are not driven on always with actual thoughts of Hell and threats; nor are they drawn on always with actual thoughts of that glory God hath promised and prepared; but the reverence they bear to his Majesty, the pleasure that lieth in obedience and communion ⟨p. 308⟩with him: the love they bear to him and to the Lamb, these are the principles which move and act, yet not without the other, implied, and lying at the bottom, though they be not distinctly minded at all times:
On the contrary, how easie it were to give examples out of the Scripture of those, whom neither Antigonus, Clem. Alex. Calonius, nor any other shall deny, were Sons, and eminent ones also, who were moved with the reward, with heaven, and glory coming; but these are known to any who are acquainted with the Scriptures. I never dared to preach such Doctrine, or put persons upon these trials, lest in so doing I should reflect upon the infinite Wisdom of God, as if he were not wise enough to know how to govern his Rational Creature. It is true, from that absolute Right he hath over us in our Creation, he may give us a Law, and require obedience without making any promise of reward to encourage to obedience, and his Majesty deserves it: but his design was to exalt his Love, Grace, Mercy, Faithfulness, Truth and Goodness, which are excellent perfections in God, as well as Soveraignty and Holiness: therefore he is pleased to invite us, allure us to obedience, by promises of great reward, reward like a God; he deters us from disobedience by terrible threats (thereby making way for the clearing of his Justice.) This is the method his Wisdom thinks meet to take in governing men. Now we must teach men, that those who are moved with such rewards, promises, punishments, threats, as the Soveraign wisdom thinks meet to govern his Creatures by, these are Mercenaries, Slaves, but they who serve him, though there were none of all these, neither Heaven nor Hell, these are Sons: Should I have taught people thus, if any one had told me, I dealt boldly with Gods government of his Creature, I could not have told how to have defended my self against it. Though I do say, and blessed be God we know it, that Gods people are not driven on alwayes with actual thoughts of Hell and threats; nor are they drawn on alwayes with actual thoughts of that glory God hath promised and prepared; but the reverence they bear to his Majesty, the pleasure that lyeth in obedience and communion ⟨p. 308⟩with him: the love they bear to him and to the Lamb, these are the principles which move and act, yet not without the other, implyed, and lying at the bottom, though they be not distinctly minded at all times:
