A vindication of some passages in a discourse concerning communion with God from the…

But for the thing it self, and his Reflections ⟨p. 45⟩upon it, I shall observe yet some few things and so pass on. As first, the opposition that he makes unto my Position is nothing but a crude Assertion of one of the meanest and most absurd Sophisms which the Socinians use in this Cause; Namely, that every one may remit injuries and offences as he pleaseth without exacting any Punishment. Which as it is true in most Cases of Injuries and offences against Private Persons, wherein no others are concerned but themselves, nor are they obliged by any Law of the Community to pursue their own Right; so with respect unto Public Rulers of the Community, & unto such Injuries and offences as are done against supreme Rule, tending directly unto the Dissolution of the Society centring in it, to suppose that such Rulers are not obliged to inflict those punishments which Justice and the preservation of the Community doth require, is a fond and ridiculous Imagination; destructive if pursued unto all Humane Society, and rendering Government an useless thing in the World. Therefore what this Author (who seems to understand very little of these things) ⟨p. 46⟩adds, that Governors may spare or punish as they see Reason for it; if the Rule of that Reason and Judgment be not that Justice which respects the Good and Benefit of the Society or Community, they do amiss and sin in sparing and punishing, which I suppose he will not ascribe unto the Government of God. But I have fully debated these things in sundry writings against the Socinians, so that I will not again enlarge upon them without a more important occasion. It is not improbable but he knows where to find those Discourses, and he may when he pleases exercise his skill upon them. Again, I cannot but remark upon the Consequences that he chargeth this Position withal, and yet I cannot do it without begging pardon for repeating such horrid and desperate Blasphemies; pag. 46. The Account saith he, of this is very plain because the Justice of God hath glutted it self with Revenge on sin in the Death of Christ, and so henceforward we may be sure he will be very kind, as a Revengeful man is when his Passion is over. pag. 47, The sum of which is that God is all Love and Patience when he hath taken ⟨p. 47⟩his fill of Revenge, as others use to say that the Devil is very good when he is pleased. pag.