Speculum theologiæ in Christo, or, A view of some divine truths which are either…

1. Man, a rational Creature, could not be created, but he would immediately by the very frame of his Soul be under a Law. His Reason by the innate notion of a Deity, could not but be bound to know the Supreme Truth. His Will by its propension to its proper Object, could not but be bound to love the Supreme Goodness. The Respects, which are in the rational Powers towards their Creator, are a Law never to be altered. God will no more dissolve them, than he will contradict his own work: Man cannot loose himself from them, which are interwoven with his immortal Faculties. As long as God is God, the Supreme Truth and Goodness; and Man Man, an Intellective and Elective Creature; It must needs be indispensably just for us to know and love our Creator. The differences of Good and Evil are founded in Nature. The Image of Righteousness is not a movable thing, for then the love of God might be it to day, and by a Counter-motion, the hatred of him might be such to morrow, which is utterly impossible.

2. Man by his very Creation being under a Law, it could not be otherwise but God must be a Rector and Judg over him. He that made, must rule him; He that put a Law into his Faculties, must be his Judg; His Rectitude and Justice made him fit to be so. Hence that of the Apostle, Is God unrighteous ⟨p. 47⟩who taketh vengeance? I speak as a man, God forbid; for then how shall God judg the world? Rom. 3.5, and 6; As if he had said, Unless God cease to be Himself; unless his Righteousness and Justice fail, He must needs be Judg.

2. Man by his very Creation being under a Law, it could not be otherwise but God must be a Rector and Judg over him. He that made, must rule him; He that put a Law into his Faculties, must be his Judg; His Rectitude and Justice made him fit to be so. Hence that of the Apostle, Is God unrighteous ⟨p. 47⟩