Here it may be noted, that there is a circumstantial Difference between the moral Agency of a Ruler and a Subject. I call it circumstantial, because it lies only in the Difference of moral Inducements they are capable of being influenced by, arising from the Difference of Circumstances. A Ruler acting in that Capacity only, is not capable of being influenced by a moral Law, and it's Sanctions of Threatenings and Promises, Rewards and Punishments, as the Subject is; tho' both may be influenced by a Knowledge of moral Good and Evil. And therefore the moral Agency of the Supreme Being, who acts only in the Capacity of a Ruler towards his Creatures, and never as a Subject, differs in that Respect from the moral Agency of created intelligent Beings. God's Actions, and particularly those which he exerts as a moral Governor, have moral Qualifications, are morally good in the highest Degree. They are most perfectly holy & righteous; and we must conceive of Him as influenced in the highest Degree, by that which, above all others, is properly a moral Inducement; viz. the moral Good which He sees in such and such Things: And therefore He is, in the most proper Sense, a moral Agent, the Source of all moral Ability & Agency, the Fountain and Rule of all Virtue and moral Good; tho' by Reason of his being Supreme over all, 'tis not possible He should be under the Influence of Law or Command, Promises or Threatenings, Rewards or Punishments, Counsels or Warnings. The essential Qualities of a moral Agent are in God, in the greatest possible Perfection; such as Understanding, to perceive the Difference between moral Good & Evil; a Capacity of discerning that moral Worthiness and Demerit, by which some Things are Praise-worthy, others deserving of Blame and Punishment; and also a Capacity of Choice, and Choice guided by Understanding, and a Power of acting according to his Choice or Pleasure, and being capable of doing those Things which are in the highest Sense Praise-worthy. And herein does very much consist that Image of God wherein he made Man, (which we read of Gen. I.26, 27. & Chap. IX.6.) by which God distinguished Man from the Beasts, viz. in those Faculties & Principles of Nature, whereby He is capable of moral Agency. Herein very much consists the natural Image of God;
Here it may be noted, that there is a circumstantial Difference between the moral Agency of a Ruler and a Subject. I call it circumstantial, because it lies only in the Difference of moral Inducements they are capable of being influenced by, arising from the Difference of Circumstances. A Ruler acting in that Capacity only, is not capable of being influenced by a moral Law, and it's Sanctions of Threatnings and Promises, Rewards and Punishments, as the Subject is; tho' both may be influenced by a Knowledge of moral Good and Evil. And therefore the moral Agency of the Supreme Being, who acts only in the Capacity of a Ruler towards his Creatures, and never as a Subject, differs in that Respect from the moral Agency of created intelligent Beings. God's Actions, and particularly those which he exerts as a moral Governour, have moral Qualifications, are morally good in the highest Degree. They are most perfectly holy & righteous; and we must conceive of Him as influenced in the highest Degree, by that which, above all others, is properly a moral Inducement; viz. the moral Good which He sees in such and such Things: And therefore He is, in the most proper Sense, a moral Agent, the Source of all moral Ability & Agency, the Fountain and Rule of all Vertue and moral Good; tho' by Reason of his being Supreme over all, 'tis not possible He should be under the Influence of Law or Command, Promises or Threatnings, Rewards or Punishments, Counsels or Warnings. The essential Qualities of a moral Agent are in God, in the greatest possible Perfection; such as Understanding, to perceive the Difference between moral Good & Evil; a Capacity of discerning that moral Worthiness and Demerit, by which some Things are Praise-worthy, others deserving of Blame and Punishment; and also a Capacity of Choice, and Choice guided by Understanding, and a Power of acting according to his Choice or Pleasure, and being capable of doing those Things which are in the highest Sense Praise-worthy. And herein does very much consist that Image of God wherein he made Man, (which we read of Gen. I.26, 27. & Chap. IX.6.) by which God distinguished Man from the Beasts, viz. in those Faculties & Principles of Nature, whereby He is capable of moral Agency. Herein very much consists the natural Image of God;
