Observations, censures, and confutations of notorious errours in Mr. Hobbes his Leviathan and other his bookes to which are annexed occasionall anim-adversions on some writings of the Socinians and such hæreticks of the same opinion with him / by William Lucy ...

Sect. 3

* 1.1A second Argument to prove, that there was an Ido∣latrous worship before the Floud is thus framed. The punishment of Sinnes is proportioned to the Sins which are punished; now the Floud being the greatest punish∣ment that ever God afflicted the world with, it is neces∣sary that it should be for the worship of false Gods, or Idol∣atry, which are the greatest Sins.

* 1.2To this is rightly answered, that the punishment of Sins in this world is not alwaies proportioned to the sins; All the temporal punishment, that men have, is lesse then they deserve, and therefore may in justice be mo∣derated according to Gods equitable kindnesse; what punishment God layd upon these men, who perished in the Floud, after death, was not revealed, but the judge∣ment was most right, because they held the truth of God in unrighteousness, as St. Paul, Rom. 1.18. and, as it is in the 21. verse of the same, Because they, knowing GOD, glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vaine in their imaginations. So that the Condemnation upon the Gentiles was not alwaies for Errours in judge∣ment, but Errours in practise, that although they did know God aright, yet they did not worship him as God. And therefore we may be satisfied, concerning their

sins, with what the Scripture revealeth,* 1.3 and need not make them worse then they were described there, which sayes, That the wickednesse of man was great in the Earth, and that every Imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evill continually, Gen. 6.5. and it is the same which S. Paul before, they became vaine in their Imaginations, that is, their desires, and affections (as was described before) they were given to all Luxury and sensuality. So that here was a large scope for Gods justice to punish, and the temporal punishment of this world, Death by drowning, was vehemently called for by the sins of those men, who lived in that Age, without any addition of false worship. I therefore conclude for that first age, in the first sense, in respect of the God they worshipped, there was none but the right God wor∣shipt in the world; but in regard of the second sense, the manner of worship in their Religion to him, unlesse these Oblations before spoke of, we find nothing recorded be∣fore the Floud, that is necessary to be assented to.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2. Argument.
• * 1.2

  Answ. The punish∣m••nt dispro∣portionate to sin in this world.
• * 1.3

  Of what sort were their sins who perished in the Floud.