QUESTION V. 2E5 advantages, or are exposed to many miseries, according as this plenipotentiary manages his own and their affairs with prudence and faithfulness, or suffers himself to be governed by rash and foolish principles, by negligence or falsehood ? Now if any person who is not naturally the head and fountain of others, may be made their federal head or representative, much more may a natural head be appointed to represent them. And if these things are so far from being charged with in- justice in the common affairs of men, that they seem as it were necessary in some cases from the nature of things, why should it be reckoned unjust with God to deal with man in the same manner ? And why may not all mankind with the same reason be said to fall into condemnation and ruin in their na- tural and federal head, and yet the great God be just and righteous*? QUEST. V.Though the Justice of these Transactions may be granted in some Measure, where the Representative is chosen by chi actual and free Consent of all those whom he repre- sents, yet since this was not the Case between the,First Mart and all his Posterity, since they never consented that he should act for them, nor entrusted him to pass the Trial in, their Stead, therefore why should they fall under the Penalty and Misery due to his Folly and Gutlt ? To which I answer these several ways :-1. In one of the eases amongst men which was described before, viz. Where a nobleman by his treason exposesbis latest posterityto disgrace and poverty, he was not chosen the representative of his off- spring, and yet the disadvantages that come upon them through his treason are not reckoned unjustly inflicted, though the crime was committed some years or ages before they were born : And indeed, as I have intimated before, how canany person be sup- posed to be a more proper surety and representative of a large multitude than the common Father of them all, who has the obligation of parental love to take care of his offspring, and who may justly be supposed to be most worthy of that post of trust and honour. -2. There are a great many instances in scripture, in the common transactions of providence, and the government of God among men, where the children have been so far esteemed as packs of their parents, or as one with them, that they have been rewardedwith considerable blessings, and that through several generations, upon the account of their fathers' piety or virtue ; and they have been also deprived of See an objection answered at the end of the eight question.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=