A second volume of sermons preached by the late reverend and learned Thomas Manton…

(2.) By virtue of the Benefits bestowed by him. For great Benefits received from another, do necessarily beget a Power over him that receiveth them. As Parents have a Power and Authority over their Children, who are a means under God to give them Life and Education; the most barbarous People would acknowledge this: How much greater then is the Right of God, who hath given us Life, and Breath, and Being, and Well-being, and all things? He created us out of nothing; and being created, he preserveth us, and giveth us all the good things which we enjoy. And therefore, we are obliged to be subject to him, and to obey his Holy Laws, and to be accountable to him for the Breach of them. Therefore, let us slate it thus: As the Excellency of his Nature giveth him a Fitness, and a Sufficiency for the Government of Mankind; his Creation, Preservation, and other Benefits give him a full Right to make what Laws he pleaseth, and to call Man to an Account whether he hath kept them, yea or no. His Right is greater than Parents can have over their Children; for in Natural Generation they are but Instruments of his Providence, acting only the Power which God giveth them; and the Parents ⟨p. 146⟩propagate nothing to the Children, but the Body, and those things that belong to the Body; called therefore, The Fathers of our Flesh, Heb. 12.9. Yea, in framing the Body God hath a greater Hand than they; for they cannot tell whether the Child will be Male or Female, Beautiful or Deformed: They know not the number and posture of the Bones, and Veins, and Arteries, and Sinews: But God doth not only concur to all these things, but form the Spirit of Man in him, Zech. 12.1. And all the Care and Providence of our Parents cometh to nothing, unless the Lord directeth it, and secondeth it with his Blessing. Therefore, God naturally is the Governor and Judge of all Creatures, visible and invisible: So that, from his Empire and Jurisdiction, they neither can nor ought to exempt themselves. So that, to be God, and Judge of the World, is one and the same thing expressed in divers terms.

(2.) By vertue of the Benefits bestowed by him. For great Benefits received from another, do necessarily beget a Power over him that receiveth them. As Parents have a Power and Authority over their Children, who are a means under God to give them Life and Education; the most barbarous People would acknowledge this: How much greater then is the Right of God, who hath given us Life, and Breath, and Being, and Well-being, and all things? He created us out of nothing; and being created, he preserveth us, and giveth us all the good things which we enjoy. And therefore, we are obliged to be subject to him, and to obey his Holy Laws, and to be accountable to him for the Breach of them. Therefore, let us slate it thus: As the Excellency of his Nature giveth him a Fitness, and a Sufficiency for the Government of Mankind; his Creation, Preservation, and other Benefits give him a full Right to make what Laws he pleaseth, and to call Man to an Account whether he hath kept them, yea or no. His Right is greater than Parents can have over their Children; for in Natural Generation they are but Instruments of his Providence, acting only the Power which God giveth them; and the Parents