Two compendious discourses the one concerning the power of God, the other about the certainty and evidence of a future state : published in opposition to the growing atheism and deism of the age.
         Smith, Thomas, 1638-1710.
      
       
         
           1699
        
      
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             Two compendious discourses the one concerning the power of God, the other about the certainty and evidence of a future state : published in opposition to the growing atheism and deism of the age.
             Smith, Thomas, 1638-1710.
          
           [4], 60 p.
           
             Printed for S. Smith and B. Walford ...,
             London :
             1699.
          
           
             Dedicatory signed: Tho. Smith.
             Includes bibliographical references.
             Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           God -- Omnipotence.
           Future life -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           Two
           Compendious
           DISCOURSES
           :
           The
           one
           concerning
           the
           Power
           of
           God
           :
           The
           other
           about
           the
           CERTAINTY
           and
           EVIDENCE
           OF
           A
           Future
           State.
           
        
         
           
             Published
             in
             opposition
             to
             the
             growing
             Atheism
             and
             Deism
             of
             the
             Age.
             
          
        
         
           
             LONDON
             :
          
           Printed
           for
           
             S.
             Smith
          
           and
           
             B.
             Walford
             ,
          
           at
           the
           
             Prince's
             Arms
          
           in
           St.
           
           Paul's
           Church-yard
           .
           MDCXCIX
           .
        
      
       
         
         
         
           To
           the
           Honourable
           ,
           Samuel
           Pepys
           Esquire
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           PResuming
           upon
           your
           leave
           and
           favour
           ,
           I
           take
           the
           liberty
           of
           inscribing
           your
           name
           before
           two
           short
           discourses
           ,
           written
           several
           years
           since
           ,
           which
           I
           now
           publish
           with
           very
           little
           alteration
           .
           In
           the
           time
           of
           a
           great
           fire
           no
           one
           is
           to
           be
           an
           idle
           stander
           by
           or
           looker
           on
           :
           but
           he
           is
           to
           contribute
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           in
           him
           lyes
           ,
           to
           the
           extinguishing
           of
           the
           raging
           and
           devouring
           flames
           :
           tho'
           it
           be
           onely
           by
           handing
           a
           bucket
           of
           water
           toward
           the
           next
           engine
           ,
           which
           others
           are
           laboriously
           managing
           with
           art
           and
           skill
           .
           This
           seems
           to
           be
           our
           present
           case
           .
           Dissoluteness
           of
           manners
           ,
           like
           a
           pestilential
           vapour
           ,
           having
           diffused
           its
           venimous
           influence
           farre
           and
           wide
           ,
           and
           Atheisme
           and
           Deisme
           growing
           rampant
           ,
           and
           all
           Religion
           ,
           whether
           natural
           or
           revealed
           and
           instituted
           ,
           being
           run
           down
           and
           ridiculed
           by
           several
           ,
           who
           set
           up
           for
           Wits
           and
           Virtuosos
           ,
           and
           pretend
           to
           greater
           measures
           of
           reason
           and
           understanding
           ,
           than
           their
           dull
           forefathers
           ever
           had
           ,
           who
           ,
           it
           seems
           ,
           prepossessed
           and
           prejudiced
           by
           a
           simple
           education
           ,
           could
           not
           attain
           to
           those
           new
           discoveries
           ,
           which
           they
           have
           made
           :
           a
           due
           concerne
           for
           the
           honour
           of
           God
           and
           of
           religion
           ,
           which
           is
           founded
           upon
           eternal
           and
           essential
           rules
           of
           righteousness
           and
           wisdom
           ,
           will
           justifie
           any
           mans
           discreet
           and
           sober
           zeal
           ,
           in
           opposing
           the
           growth
           of
           such
           outragious
           and
           impudent
           blasphemy
           and
           infidelity
           .
        
         
         
           This
           I
           alledge
           in
           defense
           of
           my
           little
           attempt
           :
           tho'
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           lookt
           upon
           to
           be
           almost
           as
           vaine
           ,
           as
           if
           I
           should
           go
           about
           to
           stop
           the
           violent
           current
           of
           water
           at
           London-bridge
           ,
           when
           it
           comes
           swelling
           and
           flowing
           in
           with
           full
           wind
           and
           tide
           ,
           with
           my
           naked
           hand
           :
           all
           other
           methods
           and
           remedies
           at
           present
           in
           this
           wicked
           and
           licentious
           age
           being
           ineffectual
           ,
           I
           must
           not
           say
           ,
           without
           a
           temporary
           Inquisition
           ,
           but
           I
           will
           say
           ,
           without
           a
           strict
           and
           rigorous
           execution
           of
           the
           laws
           ,
           made
           by
           our
           wise
           and
           godly
           Ancestors
           :
           which
           would
           make
           these
           bold
           men
           ,
           if
           not
           more
           sober
           ,
           honest
           ,
           and
           virtuous
           ,
           at
           least
           more
           modest
           ,
           reserved
           ,
           and
           decent
           in
           their
           behaviour
           and
           conduct
           .
           Having
           thus
           made
           out
           the
           sincerity
           of
           my
           intention
           and
           design
           in
           publishing
           these
           Papers
           ,
           I
           am
           the
           less
           sollicitous
           ,
           whether
           I
           have
           with
           equal
           care
           and
           judgment
           performed
           the
           part
           of
           a
           Scholar
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           of
           a
           Church-man
           :
           of
           which
           such
           excellently
           learned
           and
           thoroughly
           accomplished
           Gentlemen
           ,
           as
           your self
           ,
           are
           the
           most
           able
           and
           proper
           Judges
           .
           But
           however
           ,
           whilst
           I
           am
           endeavouring
           in
           my
           mean
           way
           to
           serve
           and
           promote
           the
           common
           cause
           and
           interest
           of
           religion
           and
           virtue
           ,
           I
           readily
           take
           advantage
           of
           this
           address
           ;
           which
           I
           present
           ,
           as
           a
           memorial
           of
           the
           great
           respect
           ,
           esteem
           ,
           and
           honour
           ,
           I
           have
           for
           you
           ,
           upon
           the
           accompt
           of
           your
           public
           services
           and
           merit
           ,
           and
           also
           of
           the
           many
           great
           obligations
           ,
           flowing
           from
           an
           entire
           friendship
           ,
           which
           you
           have
           been
           pleased
           for
           several
           years
           to
           lay
           upon
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
           
             Your
             most
             faithfull
             and
             most
             humble
             Servant
             Tho
             Smith
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           A
           DISCOURSE
           Concerning
           the
           Power
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           ALL
           error
           proceeds
           from
           an
           undue
           apprehension
           of
           things
           ;
           which
           is
           caused
           ,
           either
           by
           weakness
           and
           shallowness
           of
           judgment
           ,
           when
           there
           is
           a
           defect
           and
           inability
           in
           the
           understanding
           to
           search
           to
           the
           bottom
           of
           things
           ,
           to
           examine
           with
           a
           just
           and
           wise
           severity
           whatever
           is
           proposed
           ,
           before
           it
           be
           admitted
           ,
           and
           to
           weigh
           all
           circumstances
           in
           an
           even
           ballance
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           according
           to
           sober
           ,
           fix'd
           ,
           and
           sure
           principles
           ,
           bottomed
           upon
           reason
           ,
           good
           sense
           ,
           and
           unquestionable
           experience
           ,
           and
           agreeable
           to
           the
           faculties
           of
           the
           mind
           ,
           and
           the
           notions
           imprinted
           upon
           it
           :
           or
           else
           ,
        
         
           Which
           makes
           the
           error
           more
           dangerous
           and
           faulty
           ,
           by
           an
           inconsiderate
           assent
           ,
           and
           an
           over-hasty
           partiality
           ,
           when
           the
           affections
           hinder
           the
           calm
           and
           deliberate
           debates
           of
           sober
           reason
           ,
           and
           casting
           a
           mist
           before
           the
           understanding
           ,
           altogether
           blind
           it
           :
           so
           that
           it
           shall
           not
           be
           able
           to
           discern
           truth
           from
           falshood
           ,
           right
           from
           wrong
           ,
           opinion
           ,
           
           and
           plausibility
           ,
           and
           conjecture
           ,
           from
           certainty
           ,
           and
           knowledge
           ,
           and
           demonstration
           .
           But
           where
           the
           idea's
           of
           things
           ,
           capable
           of
           being
           fully
           known
           and
           proved
           ,
           are
           distinct
           and
           proper
           ,
           where
           the
           understanding
           is
           sound
           and
           clear
           ,
           and
           where
           the
           operations
           of
           the
           mind
           are
           free
           ,
           and
           undisturbed
           ,
           either
           by
           irregular
           passion
           ,
           or
           by
           foolish
           or
           irrational
           prejudice
           ,
           truth
           is
           readily
           discerned
           and
           entertained
           ,
           and
           makes
           its
           way
           into
           the
           mind
           ,
           with
           the
           same
           easiness
           and
           quickness
           ,
           as
           the
           streams
           of
           light
           flow
           upon
           the
           eye
           ,
           which
           is
           open
           ,
           and
           not
           otherwise
           indisposed
           to
           receive
           them
           :
           by
           the
           help
           of
           which
           it
           may
           see
           all
           those
           glorious
           and
           astonishing
           objects
           ,
           that
           from
           every
           part
           of
           the
           visible
           creation
           present
           themselves
           .
        
         
           For
           want
           of
           this
           rightful
           method
           and
           just
           principle
           in
           examining
           the
           truth
           of
           things
           ,
           many
           are
           very
           apt
           and
           very
           willing
           to
           cheat
           themselves
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           a
           lazy
           kind
           of
           ignorance
           ,
           and
           a
           foolish
           belief
           ,
           that
           all
           things
           are
           ,
           and
           must
           be
           ,
           as
           they
           phansie
           ,
           take
           up
           idle
           and
           false
           opinions
           ,
           and
           that
           not
           only
           concerning
           things
           of
           nature
           ,
           (
           of
           which
           be
           our
           perceptions
           true
           or
           false
           ,
           it
           matters
           not
           much
           in
           things
           purely
           speculative
           ,
           if
           they
           have
           no
           influence
           upon
           life
           ,
           manners
           ,
           or
           government
           ;
           and
           a
           latitude
           of
           opinion
           is
           justly
           allowable
           in
           such
           things
           also
           ,
           as
           are
           not
           capable
           of
           a
           clear
           and
           satisfactory
           decision
           ,
           either
           by
           sense
           ,
           experiment
           ,
           or
           demonstration
           )
           but
           also
           concerning
           religion
           :
           opinions
           ,
           which
           contradict
           its
           holy
           designs
           ,
           and
           directions
           ,
           and
           commands
           :
           such
           too
           ,
           as
           are
           derogatory
           to
           the
           nature
           and
           attributes
           of
           God
           ;
           such
           ,
           as
           are
           altogether
           dishonourable
           and
           unworthy
           of
           him
           ,
           and
           inconsistent
           with
           his
           divine
           perfections
           .
        
         
           That
           God
           is
           a
           being
           absolutely
           perfect
           ,
           and
           consequently
           of
           infinite
           power
           ,
           nature
           and
           right
           reason
           ,
           even
           abstracted
           from
           revelation
           ,
           suggest
           to
           every
           considering
           man
           to
           admit
           and
           assent
           unto
           :
           and
           no
           one
           ,
           who
           hath
           any
           just
           or
           true
           notion
           of
           God
           ,
           can
           possibly
           deny
           it
           ,
           
           without
           great
           violence
           done
           to
           his
           faculties
           :
           and
           yet
           when
           any
           difficulty
           presents
           it self
           ,
           which
           we
           cannot
           master
           ,
           and
           when
           we
           are
           puzled
           and
           dissatisfied
           in
           our
           search
           of
           things
           ,
           we
           presently
           fly
           off
           ,
           and
           whatever
           is
           above
           the
           reach
           of
           our
           nature
           ,
           or
           above
           the
           comprehension
           of
           our
           knowledge
           ,
           or
           above
           our
           contrivance
           ,
           or
           above
           our
           power
           ,
           must
           be
           denied
           to
           be
           possible
           even
           to
           God
           himself
           ,
           because
           we
           cannot
           conceive
           it
           ,
           or
           rather
           will
           not
           conceive
           it
           a
           right
           :
           thus
           bringing
           all
           things
           down
           to
           our
           narrow
           and
           scanty
           model
           ,
           and
           levelling
           ,
           not
           onely
           the
           highest
           mysteries
           of
           revealed
           religion
           ,
           but
           the
           essential
           perfections
           of
           the
           Godhead
           ,
           knowable
           by
           the
           light
           of
           nature
           ,
           and
           the
           principles
           of
           natural
           religion
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           such
           ,
           and
           necessarily
           must
           be
           so
           ,
           with
           our
           low
           ,
           dull
           ,
           and
           earthy
           phansies
           .
        
         
           To
           obviate
           these
           mistakes
           therefore
           ,
           which
           may
           arise
           from
           a
           misapprehension
           of
           this
           divine
           Attribute
           ,
           I
           shall
           endeavour
           to
           settle
           the
           true
           notion
           of
           it
           :
           upon
           the
           clearing
           up
           of
           which
           ,
           all
           those
           doubts
           and
           scruples
           ,
           and
           objections
           ,
           which
           some
           bold
           and
           presumptuous
           men
           ,
           as
           void
           for
           the
           most
           part
           of
           all
           honest
           and
           sober
           morals
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           of
           sound
           learning
           and
           philosophy
           ,
           being
           equally
           debauched
           and
           corrupted
           in
           their
           understanding
           ,
           and
           in
           their
           behaviour
           and
           practise
           ,
           are
           wont
           as
           it
           were
           triumphantly
           to
           propose
           even
           in
           places
           of
           publick
           resort
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           in
           their
           ordinary
           conversation
           ,
           in
           this
           Sceptical
           and
           Atheistical
           age
           ,
           against
           a
           creation
           ,
           against
           the
           miracles
           recorded
           in
           the
           holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           against
           the
           doctrine
           of
           the
           ever
           blessed
           and
           adorable
           Trinity
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           incarnation
           of
           the
           Son
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           lastly
           against
           the
           belief
           of
           a
           resurrection
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           ,
           will
           vanish
           and
           disappear
           ;
           and
           all
           those
           truths
           ,
           whether
           natural
           or
           revealed
           ,
           which
           they
           with
           equal
           rashness
           and
           impiety
           have
           pronounced
           impossible
           ,
           will
           be
           found
           just
           objects
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           former
           ,
           of
           our
           knowledge
           and
           understanding
           ,
           and
           
           as
           to
           the
           latter
           ,
           of
           faith
           and
           of
           a
           wise
           and
           rational
           assent
           .
        
         
           In
           order
           hereento
           I
           will
           shew
           these
           three
           things
           :
        
         
           
             I.
             What
             is
             the
             true
             and
             proper
             notion
             of
             the
             divine
             power
             ;
             and
             in
             what
             respect
             it
             is
             said
             ,
             that
             nothing
             is
             impossible
             to
             God
             :
             that
          
           
             II.
             The
             attribute
             of
             infinite
             power
             is
             necessarily
             included
             in
             the
             notion
             and
             idea
             of
             God
             :
             and
             that
          
           
             III.
             It
             is
             altogether
             unreasonable
             to
             limit
             the
             power
             of
             God
             in
             things
             possible
             ,
             or
             deny
             any
             doctrine
             of
             religion
             ,
             whether
             revealed
             in
             Scripture
             ,
             or
             flowing
             from
             the
             principles
             of
             natural
             reason
             ,
             because
             it
             transcends
             either
             our
             power
             or
             our
             understanding
             .
          
        
         
           I.
           What
           concerns
           the
           first
           particular
           ,
           
             viz.
          
           what
           is
           the
           true
           and
           proper
           notion
           of
           the
           divine
           power
           ,
           and
           in
           what
           respect
           it
           is
           affirmed
           both
           by
           the
           voice
           of
           nature
           and
           Scripture
           ,
           that
           nothing
           is
           impossible
           to
           God
           ,
           may
           be
           comprized
           in
           these
           two
           following
           propositions
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           first
           proposition
           is
           ,
           that
           God
           can
           readily
           and
           easily
           effect
           and
           do
           whatever
           is
           absolutely
           possible
           to
           be
           done
           .
        
         
           The
           world
           ,
           it
           is
           certain
           ,
           from
           the
           beginning
           has
           been
           subject
           to
           the
           laws
           of
           Providence
           ,
           and
           all
           things
           run
           the
           course
           ,
           which
           was
           at
           first
           set
           them
           ,
           and
           are
           directed
           and
           carried
           on
           to
           the
           several
           ends
           of
           their
           creation
           by
           an
           unerring
           hand
           :
           and
           notwithstanding
           their
           several
           tendencies
           ,
           all
           concur
           to
           accomplish
           the
           great
           design
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           without
           prejudice
           to
           their
           respective
           natures
           .
           Thus
           the
           celestial
           orbs
           and
           vortices
           have
           their
           fixt
           periods
           and
           revolutions
           :
           the
           sun
           ,
           and
           moon
           ,
           and
           stars
           are
           regular
           in
           their
           motion
           ,
           and
           take
           their
           rounds
           day
           and
           night
           about
           the
           earth
           :
           and
           the
           great
           ocean
           in
           its
           ebbs
           and
           flows
           follows
           the
           laws
           of
           motion
           and
           statick
           
           principles
           .
           And
           so
           for
           all
           other
           natural
           Agents
           :
           they
           have
           their
           limits
           set
           them
           ,
           which
           they
           cannot
           pass
           :
           they
           only
           do
           what
           is
           agreeable
           to
           their
           nature
           ;
           and
           they
           can
           do
           no
           more
           :
           the
           powers
           ,
           whereby
           they
           act
           ,
           being
           necessary
           ,
           but
           withal
           confined
           .
           Yet
           though
           this
           order
           and
           course
           of
           things
           be
           fixt
           and
           settled
           ,
           and
           seldom
           interrupted
           by
           God
           ,
           unless
           to
           alarm
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           for
           some
           great
           end
           ,
           and
           to
           shew
           ,
           that
           nature
           depends
           upon
           him
           ,
           and
           that
           all
           things
           subsist
           by
           his
           power
           ,
           which
           is
           onely
           able
           to
           preserve
           what
           it
           first
           made
           :
           yet
           there
           is
           no
           repugnance
           ,
           that
           things
           might
           have
           been
           made
           otherwise
           ,
           than
           they
           are
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           pleased
           him
           .
           We
           cannot
           but
           acknowledge
           several
           possibilities
           of
           things
           ,
           lying
           in
           their
           causes
           ,
           which
           we
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           our
           weakness
           ,
           cannot
           draw
           forth
           into
           effect
           :
           for
           want
           of
           such
           and
           such
           combinations
           ,
           and
           by
           reason
           of
           several
           impediments
           and
           accidents
           ,
           which
           it
           is
           not
           in
           our
           power
           to
           remove
           ,
           or
           through
           some
           indisposition
           in
           the
           matter
           to
           be
           wrought
           upon
           ,
           it
           happens
           ,
           that
           those
           possibilities
           are
           not
           clothed
           with
           actual
           existence
           :
           there
           being
           no
           repugnancy
           in
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           thing
           it self
           ,
           and
           the
           defect
           wholly
           arising
           from
           some
           other
           cause
           .
           Whatsoever
           effects
           there
           are
           then
           of
           the
           divine
           power
           now
           existing
           ,
           more
           may
           be
           produced
           :
           new
           species
           of
           things
           may
           be
           added
           ,
           and
           new
           worlds
           made
           ,
           whatever
           becomes
           of
           the
           hypothesis
           of
           the
           habitableness
           of
           the
           planets
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           opinion
           ,
           that
           every
           fixed
           Star
           is
           a
           Sun
           ,
           at
           an
           almost
           immense
           distance
           from
           the
           earth
           ,
           and
           from
           one
           another
           :
           and
           those
           things
           ,
           which
           are
           ,
           might
           have
           been
           endowed
           with
           different
           powers
           ,
           activities
           ,
           qualities
           ,
           impressions
           ,
           motions
           ,
           and
           operations
           ;
           and
           matter
           made
           capable
           of
           other
           far
           different
           modifications
           ,
           and
           determinations
           of
           particular
           motions
           ,
           from
           which
           might
           have
           been
           derived
           inconceivably
           great
           variety
           of
           other
           natural
           productions
           .
        
         
         
           And
           here
           it
           may
           be
           necessary
           to
           interpose
           ,
           that
           God
           does
           no
           more
           ,
           than
           what
           he
           first
           wills
           :
           his
           power
           is
           directed
           by
           his
           wisdom
           and
           divine
           pleasure
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           rule
           and
           measure
           of
           it
           :
           which
           consideration
           should
           justly
           satisfie
           us
           about
           the
           late
           creation
           of
           this
           visible
           world
           ,
           in
           which
           we
           breath
           .
           To
           call
           in
           question
           therefore
           the
           accompts
           given
           of
           it
           by
           Moses
           ,
           who
           fixes
           its
           beginning
           not
           many
           thousand
           years
           ago
           ,
           as
           our
           modern
           Atheists
           and
           Deists
           do
           ,
           and
           to
           object
           idle
           ,
           foolish
           ,
           unlearned
           ,
           and
           groundless
           phansies
           against
           those
           authentick
           Registers
           ,
           acknowledged
           in
           all
           ages
           since
           his
           time
           ,
           and
           which
           the
           more
           grave
           and
           judicious
           sort
           of
           Heathen
           Writers
           have
           revered
           ,
           and
           from
           whence
           they
           have
           borrowed
           several
           of
           their
           tenents
           both
           of
           philosophy
           and
           religion
           ,
           though
           oftentimes
           artificially
           disguised
           ,
           or
           corrupted
           with
           their
           fabulous
           additions
           ,
           is
           altogether
           irrational
           .
           For
           let
           these
           men
           of
           high-flown
           wit
           and
           phansie
           deny
           ,
           if
           they
           can
           or
           dare
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           same
           time
           pretend
           to
           reason
           like
           Philosophers
           and
           Scholars
           ,
           whether
           this
           is
           not
           to
           prescribe
           to
           the
           almighty
           and
           alwise
           God
           ,
           what
           he
           should
           have
           done
           ,
           and
           with
           equal
           impudence
           and
           impiety
           limit
           his
           will.
           For
           suppose
           ,
           for
           arguments
           sake
           ,
           that
           the
           world
           had
           been
           created
           forty
           or
           fifty
           thousand
           years
           before
           ,
           or
           if
           they
           will
           ,
           so
           many
           myriads
           and
           millions
           of
           years
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           chronology
           of
           the
           Chineses
           ,
           Chaldeans
           ,
           and
           Egyptians
           ,
           which
           latter
           is
           preserved
           out
           of
           the
           writings
           of
           Manetho
           ,
           a
           Priest
           of
           that
           country
           ,
           who
           lived
           in
           the
           time
           of
           Prolemaeus
           Philadelphus
           ,
           by
           Julius
           Africanus
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           him
           by
           Eusebius
           and
           Georgius
           Syncellus
           ,
           were
           not
           fabulous
           ,
           and
           proceeded
           not
           from
           a
           vain
           affectation
           of
           Antiquity
           ,
           but
           had
           some
           ground
           in
           nature
           and
           history
           :
           yet
           considering
           the
           eternal
           power
           of
           the
           Godhead
           ,
           the
           same
           question
           might
           as
           well
           be
           put
           ,
           (
           and
           it
           may
           be
           put
           thousands
           of
           years
           hence
           ,
           if
           the
           present
           constitution
           of
           the
           world
           should
           continue
           so
           long
           undissolved
           )
           
           why
           was
           it
           not
           produced
           sooner
           :
           this
           mighty
           space
           ,
           as
           it
           seems
           to
           us
           ,
           poor
           ,
           frail
           ,
           and
           mortal
           creatures
           ,
           who
           are
           permitted
           by
           the
           great
           God
           ,
           who
           made
           us
           ,
           to
           live
           here
           upon
           earth
           three
           or
           fourscore
           years
           at
           furthest
           ,
           being
           comparatively
           inconsiderable
           ,
           and
           holding
           no
           proportion
           to
           a
           duration
           ,
           which
           had
           no
           beginning
           .
           Thus
           ,
           at
           last
           ,
           these
           conceitedly
           inquisitive
           men
           lose
           themselves
           in
           the
           rambling
           and
           unbounded
           flights
           of
           their
           phansie
           ,
           or
           else
           run
           themselves
           upon
           this
           gross
           absurdity
           ,
           that
           dull
           and
           unactive
           matter
           is
           eternal
           ,
           and
           take
           upon
           them
           to
           direct
           an
           alwise
           and
           infinite
           being
           ,
           when
           ,
           and
           what
           worlds
           he
           should
           make
           :
           not
           considering
           ,
           that
           the
           mind
           of
           God
           is
           unsearchable
           ,
           and
           past
           the
           comprehension
           of
           finite
           understanding
           ,
           and
           that
           no
           reason
           ought
           to
           be
           demanded
           of
           his
           divine
           will
           and
           pleasure
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           actions
           
             ad
             extra
             ,
          
           as
           the
           School-phrase
           is
           .
        
         
           For
           want
           of
           this
           consideration
           also
           ,
           others
           there
           are
           ,
           and
           the
           Platonists
           especially
           ,
           who
           under
           a
           pretense
           of
           advancing
           the
           divine
           goodness
           ,
           do
           really
           ,
           and
           in
           effect
           ,
           destroy
           it
           ;
           whilst
           they
           make
           the
           emanations
           of
           it
           physical
           and
           necessary
           ,
           which
           are
           most
           arbitrary
           and
           free
           ,
           and
           the
           pure
           results
           of
           his
           will.
           
        
         
           The
           powers
           of
           moral
           Agents
           are
           at
           their
           own
           disposal
           ,
           to
           use
           when
           and
           how
           they
           please
           :
           and
           by
           this
           they
           are
           discriminated
           from
           natural
           ;
           who
           act
           according
           to
           their
           utmost
           strength
           and
           vigour
           ,
           unless
           their
           activity
           be
           hindred
           by
           a
           miracle
           ,
           and
           from
           brutes
           ,
           birds
           ,
           and
           other
           animals
           ,
           who
           are
           devoy'd
           of
           reason
           ,
           and
           follow
           their
           innate
           instincts
           ,
           motions
           ,
           and
           appetites
           .
           Where
           there
           is
           a
           principle
           of
           knowledge
           and
           liberty
           in
           the
           mind
           to
           guide
           and
           direct
           it
           ,
           as
           in
           men
           ,
           who
           have
           thereby
           a
           power
           over
           themselves
           and
           their
           actions
           ,
           it
           is
           far
           otherwise
           :
           and
           it
           is
           not
           necessary
           ,
           that
           they
           do
           all
           which
           they
           can
           do
           .
           Nor
           is
           this
           power
           therefore
           to
           be
           accounted
           idle
           ,
           and
           to
           no
           purpose
           :
           because
           they
           can
           make
           use
           of
           it
           ,
           whensoever
           
           it
           shall
           make
           for
           their
           interest
           and
           advantage
           ,
           or
           whensoever
           their
           reason
           ,
           or
           even
           their
           phansie
           ,
           shall
           judge
           it
           fit
           and
           proper
           to
           reduce
           it
           into
           act
           .
           Much
           more
           is
           this
           to
           be
           allowed
           to
           God
           ,
           whose
           other
           attributes
           are
           as
           infinite
           ,
           as
           his
           power
           :
           Psalm
           cxv
           .
           3.
           
           
             Our
             God
             is
             in
             the
             heavens
             ;
             he
             hath
             done
             whatsoever
             he
             pleased
             .
          
           Psalm
           cxxxv
           .
           6.
           
           a
           
             Whatsoever
             the
             Lord
             pleased
             ,
             that
             did
             he
             in
             heaven
             and
             in
             earth
             ,
             in
             the
             seas
             ,
             and
             in
             all
             deep
             places
             .
          
           And
           if
           his
           wisdom
           had
           thought
           fit
           ,
           and
           if
           he
           had
           once
           willed
           the
           same
           ,
           instead
           of
           creating
           one
           world
           ,
           he
           might
           have
           created
           a
           thousand
           .
        
         
           However
           ,
           the
           object
           of
           the
           divine
           power
           in
           its
           fullest
           
           latitude
           and
           comprehension
           ,
           abstractedly
           considered
           ,
           is
           ,
           whatsoever
           is
           absolutely
           and
           simply
           possible
           .
           By
           which
           terms
           we
           are
           to
           exclude
           
             (
             b
             )
          
        
         
         
           1.
           
           Whatever
           is
           contrary
           to
           the
           nature
           and
           essential
           perfections
           of
           the
           Godhead
           .
           
             Thus
             it
             is
             impossible
             for
             God
             to
             lye
             :
          
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           Ebr.
           vi
           .
           18
           :
           to
           which
           passage
           ,
           as
           to
           many
           others
           in
           that
           Epistle
           ,
           *
           S.
           Clement
           alludes
           :
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           :
           because
           he
           is
           a
           God
           of
           infinite
           veracity
           .
           
             God
             cannot
             deny
             himself
             :
          
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           2
           Tim.
           ii
           .
           13.
           
           God
           cannot
           but
           make
           good
           his
           word
           ,
           whether
           we
           will
           believe
           ,
           or
           no
           :
           if
           we
           are
           resolved
           to
           be
           Infidels
           and
           Scepticks
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           so
           much
           conviction
           ,
           which
           Christianity
           affords
           concerning
           the
           truth
           of
           its
           mysteries
           and
           doctrine
           ,
           and
           the
           truth
           of
           its
           promises
           :
           if
           we
           throw
           in
           our
           scruples
           and
           doubts
           ,
           and
           distrust
           his
           word
           ,
           we
           shall
           one
           day
           be
           convinced
           and
           ashamed
           of
           such
           irrational
           infidelity
           :
           his
           word
           shall
           infallibly
           be
           effected
           ;
           veracity
           being
           as
           essential
           to
           God
           ,
           as
           necessary
           existence
           :
           and
           if
           God
           cannot
           but
           be
           ,
           he
           cannot
           be
           otherwise
           ,
           than
           just
           and
           true
           .
           
             If
             we
             believe
             not
             ,
             yet
             he
             abideth
             faithful
             ;
             he
             cannot
             deny
             himself
             .
          
           And
           for
           the
           same
           reason
           we
           remove
           from
           God
           whatsoever
           savours
           of
           imperfection
           ,
           as
           being
           repugnant
           to
           the
           idea
           ,
           which
           we
           have
           of
           him
           ,
           who
           is
           a
           being
           infinitely
           and
           absolutely
           perfect
           .
           And
           in
           strictness
           of
           speech
           ,
           if
           such
           things
           could
           be
           done
           ,
           he
           would
           not
           be
           omnipotent
           ;
           because
           they
           are
           arguments
           and
           demonstrations
           of
           weakness
           .
           For
           what
           is
           a
           lye
           ,
           but
           a
           plain
           confession
           of
           guilt
           ,
           and
           of
           fear
           ,
           that
           we
           dare
           not
           tell
           and
           own
           the
           truth
           ,
           when
           we
           are
           demanded
           it
           ?
           Unfaithfulness
           is
           a
           breach
           of
           that
           moral
           honesty
           and
           integrity
           ,
           which
           humane
           nature
           and
           the
           civil
           laws
           and
           rules
           of
           government
           require
           between
           man
           
           and
           man.
           God
           is
           alsufficient
           ,
           and
           therefore
           cannot
           stand
           in
           need
           of
           the
           assistence
           of
           his
           creatures
           :
           whereas
           we
           want
           ,
           because
           we
           have
           not
           an
           absolute
           and
           full
           power
           and
           command
           over
           things
           ,
           and
           cannot
           dispose
           of
           them
           ,
           as
           and
           when
           we
           will
           ,
           to
           supply
           our selves
           .
           Our
           being
           deceived
           proceeds
           from
           our
           ignorance
           :
           but
           God
           cannot
           be
           deceived
           ,
           because
           he
           is
           omniscient
           ,
           and
           knows
           the
           secret
           thoughts
           and
           intentions
           of
           the
           heart
           ,
           and
           
             all
             things
             are
             naked
             and
             open
             before
             him
             :
          
           there
           being
           an
           utter
           impossibility
           of
           error
           in
           the
           divine
           understanding
           .
           Our
           sickness
           flows
           from
           ilness
           of
           temper
           ,
           natural
           decays
           of
           animal
           and
           vital
           spirits
           ,
           and
           tainted
           and
           vitiated
           bloud
           and
           other
           humors
           ;
           and
           death
           is
           the
           punishment
           of
           sin
           ,
           and
           the
           effect
           and
           consequence
           of
           a
           frail
           and
           brittle
           constitution
           :
           the
           curious
           machine
           of
           the
           body
           ,
           being
           quite
           worn
           out
           by
           age
           ,
           at
           last
           falling
           into
           pieces
           ,
           tho'
           otherwise
           never
           so
           carefully
           preserved
           from
           the
           disorders
           of
           intemperance
           ,
           or
           the
           mischiefs
           of
           chance
           ,
           or
           the
           assaults
           of
           violence
           .
           All
           which
           imperfections
           the
           very
           notion
           of
           a
           God
           does
           wholly
           exclude
           and
           remove
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           By
           this
           we
           are
           to
           exclude
           whatever
           implies
           a
           contradiction
           or
           a
           repugnancy
           in
           its
           nature
           ;
           as
           that
           the
           same
           thing
           should
           be
           and
           not
           be
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           same
           manner
           and
           respect
           :
           and
           that
           things
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           ,
           should
           now
           be
           made
           not
           to
           have
           been
           .
           Things
           might
           not
           have
           been
           ,
           before
           they
           were
           :
           but
           when
           once
           they
           have
           been
           ,
           they
           cannot
           but
           be
           :
           which
           onely
           is
           a
           necessity
           by
           way
           of
           supposition
           .
           Whatever
           then
           is
           repugnant
           to
           the
           nature
           and
           essence
           of
           a
           thing
           is
           therefore
           impossible
           ,
           because
           otherwise
           the
           thing
           would
           be
           the
           same
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           same
           :
           the
           essence
           would
           remain
           entire
           ,
           and
           yet
           be
           destroyed
           at
           the
           same
           time
           :
           which
           is
           a
           clear
           and
           manifest
           contradiction
           .
           Power
           therefore
           ,
           in
           the
           essential
           notion
           of
           it
           ,
           is
           no
           way
           extensible
           either
           to
           the
           doing
           or
           reconciling
           real
           and
           perfect
           contradictions
           :
           because
           the
           
           opposite
           terms
           destroy
           each
           other
           ,
           and
           consequently
           there
           is
           an
           utter
           impossibility
           of
           their
           subsisting
           together
           :
           and
           if
           we
           examine
           the
           contradiction
           thoroughly
           ,
           we
           shall
           find
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           always
           in
           one
           of
           the
           terms
           a
           plain
           and
           manifest
           denial
           of
           being
           .
           Thus
           to
           imagine
           ,
           that
           the
           humane
           nature
           of
           our
           B.
           Saviour
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           its
           union
           with
           the
           word
           ,
           should
           become
           in
           a
           manner
           immense
           ,
           and
           fill
           all
           places
           ,
           because
           the
           Godhead
           does
           ;
           what
           is
           it
           ,
           but
           to
           confound
           essential
           properties
           of
           things
           ,
           which
           are
           altogether
           irreconcileable
           ?
           or
           to
           assert
           ,
           that
           a
           body
           ,
           continuing
           one
           and
           the
           same
           ,
           should
           yet
           be
           multiplied
           into
           several
           entire
           wholes
           :
           that
           the
           entire
           body
           of
           Christ
           should
           be
           in
           the
           least
           crum
           of
           a
           wafer
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           parts
           of
           it
           be
           distinct
           ,
           and
           retain
           the
           same
           figure
           and
           order
           ,
           and
           be
           extended
           at
           their
           full
           length
           ,
           as
           they
           lye
           unconfused
           as
           it
           were
           in
           an
           indivisible
           point
           :
           be
           in
           heaven
           and
           upon
           earth
           at
           the
           same
           time
           :
           be
           upon
           a
           thousand
           altars
           together
           in
           the
           most
           distant
           parts
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           without
           any
           discontinuity
           ,
           and
           be
           brought
           thither
           by
           the
           pronunciation
           of
           five
           words
           ,
           not
           to
           urge
           the
           ugly
           and
           horrid
           consequences
           ,
           which
           flow
           from
           the
           admittance
           of
           such
           a
           grosly
           absurd
           opinion
           ;
           what
           is
           it
           ,
           but
           to
           impose
           ,
           under
           the
           pretense
           of
           an
           infallible
           authority
           ,
           upon
           the
           faith
           ,
           understanding
           ,
           and
           reason
           of
           all
           mankind
           ,
           and
           peremptorily
           lay
           down
           contradictory
           and
           self-destroying
           notions
           ,
           as
           necessary
           terms
           and
           conditions
           of
           Catholick
           communion
           ?
           If
           in
           things
           ,
           which
           are
           plainly
           and
           confessedly
           possible
           in
           themselves
           ,
           we
           are
           not
           to
           engage
           the
           infinite
           power
           of
           God
           without
           a
           just
           cause
           ,
           nor
           to
           think
           God
           almighty
           obliged
           to
           make
           good
           our
           groundless
           and
           extravagant
           phansies
           :
           much
           less
           are
           we
           to
           destroy
           the
           nature
           of
           things
           ,
           and
           swallow
           down
           and
           maintain
           real
           and
           manifest
           contradictions
           ,
           and
           make
           that
           ,
           which
           would
           be
           one
           of
           the
           greatest
           wonders
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           supposing
           ,
           that
           it
           were
           possible
           ,
           to
           be
           done
           ordinarily
           ,
           and
           every
           where
           ,
           and
           every
           day
           ,
           a
           
           thousand
           times
           ,
           without
           any
           other
           proof
           ,
           than
           our
           bare
           phansying
           so
           :
           as
           they
           do
           ,
           who
           maintain
           the
           doctrine
           of
           Transsubstantiation
           in
           all
           the
           School-niceties
           of
           it
           ,
           against
           Scripture
           and
           reason
           ,
           against
           the
           principles
           of
           nature
           and
           philosophy
           ,
           against
           the
           attestation
           of
           sense
           ,
           and
           the
           judgment
           of
           antiquity
           ,
           and
           against
           the
           experience
           of
           all
           mankind
           :
           and
           do
           all
           this
           ,
           rather
           than
           admit
           of
           a
           figurative
           expression
           in
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Institution
           .
        
         
           In
           favour
           of
           this
           monstrous
           tenent
           ,
           the
           Romanists
           object
           to
           us
           the
           incomprehensibility
           of
           the
           mysteries
           of
           faith
           ;
           and
           hence
           think
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           elude
           all
           those
           unanswerable
           difficulties
           ,
           which
           this
           new
           doctrine
           is
           charged
           with
           ,
           and
           that
           there
           is
           argument
           enough
           to
           satisfie
           their
           doubts
           in
           that
           misapplyed
           saying
           ,
           the
           effect
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           of
           rapture
           and
           indiscreet
           devotion
           ,
           
             Ideo
             credo
             ,
             quia
             est
             impossibile
             .
          
           But
           the
           great
           disparity
           ,
           which
           is
           between
           them
           ,
           is
           easily
           obvious
           to
           any
           one
           ,
           who
           will
           give
           himself
           leave
           to
           consider
           things
           calmly
           and
           fairly
           ,
           and
           not
           suffer
           himself
           to
           be
           imposed
           upon
           by
           a
           pretense
           of
           an
           authority
           ,
           absolutely
           to
           be
           obeyed
           and
           submitted
           to
           ,
           as
           well
           in
           doctrine
           ,
           as
           in
           matters
           and
           decrees
           of
           discipline
           ,
           without
           the
           least
           scruple
           and
           hesitation
           .
           As
           ,
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           there
           is
           the
           highest
           reason
           in
           the
           world
           to
           believe
           the
           mysteries
           of
           faith
           ,
           tho'
           they
           transcend
           our
           utmost
           capacity
           ;
           because
           they
           are
           expresly
           and
           clearly
           revealed
           in
           the
           writings
           of
           the
           new
           Testament
           .
           It
           is
           the
           greatest
           security
           of
           our
           faith
           imaginable
           ,
           that
           God
           has
           said
           it
           ;
           and
           therefore
           let
           the
           thing
           revealed
           seem
           never
           so
           unlikely
           and
           harsh
           to
           my
           understanding
           ,
           I
           have
           as
           much
           reason
           to
           believe
           it
           ,
           as
           any
           thing
           ,
           which
           happens
           ordinarily
           every
           day
           ,
           and
           presents
           it self
           to
           my
           senses
           ;
           nay
           more
           :
           for
           there
           is
           a
           possibility
           ,
           that
           a
           particular
           person
           may
           be
           deceived
           sometimes
           ,
           not
           to
           say
           all
           mankind
           ,
           even
           in
           a
           matter
           of
           sense
           :
           but
           there
           is
           an
           utter
           impossibility
           ,
           that
           God
           should
           be
           deceived
           in
           any
           proposition
           he
           has
           
           thought
           fit
           to
           reveal
           .
           But
           this
           they
           will
           not
           pretend
           to
           say
           for
           their
           Transsubstantiation
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           the
           same
           evidence
           of
           Scripture
           for
           it
           ,
           or
           indeed
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           any
           evidence
           at
           all
           ,
           as
           many
           of
           their
           own
           party
           have
           confessed
           ;
           and
           for
           want
           of
           which
           they
           have
           recourse
           to
           the
           authority
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           Besides
           ,
           their
           greatest
           stress
           for
           the
           proof
           of
           it
           wholly
           lyes
           upon
           a
           gross
           and
           unnatural
           sense
           of
           words
           ,
           which
           are
           capable
           of
           a
           far
           easier
           and
           more
           agreeable
           interpretation
           ,
           especially
           when
           the
           other
           words
           ,
           used
           by
           our
           B.
           Saviour
           in
           the
           blessing
           and
           consecration
           of
           the
           wine
           ,
           are
           most
           certainly
           and
           undeniably
           figurative
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           These
           articles
           are
           essential
           to
           the
           Christian
           faith
           :
           the
           doctrine
           of
           it
           cannot
           be
           entire
           without
           them
           :
           and
           besides
           ,
           they
           were
           explicitely
           believed
           and
           assented
           to
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           matter
           of
           them
           ,
           from
           the
           first
           ages
           of
           Christanity
           ,
           tho'
           there
           were
           some
           disputes
           raised
           about
           the
           terms
           ,
           by
           which
           they
           were
           expressed
           ,
           and
           a
           latitude
           used
           in
           the
           explication
           of
           them
           :
           and
           the
           disbelief
           or
           denial
           of
           them
           was
           justly
           branded
           with
           the
           odious
           name
           of
           heresie
           in
           general
           Councils
           :
           and
           the
           dissenters
           anathematized
           and
           thrust
           out
           of
           the
           communion
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           true
           doctrine
           of
           the
           Christian
           religion
           ,
           as
           delivered
           by
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           secured
           and
           established
           against
           the
           corruptions
           and
           innovations
           in
           after-times
           by
           publick
           Creeds
           universally
           received
           .
           Whereas
           this
           is
           a
           meer
           novel
           doctrine
           ,
           first
           brought
           into
           the
           Church
           the
           better
           to
           establish
           the
           gross
           errors
           and
           superstitions
           relating
           both
           to
           the
           opinions
           and
           practises
           of
           Image-worship
           ,
           and
           advancing
           by
           degrees
           in
           times
           of
           horrible
           ignorance
           and
           corruption
           of
           manners
           ,
           till
           it
           came
           first
           to
           be
           decreed
           and
           established
           an
           article
           of
           faith
           by
           the
           Assessors
           of
           the
           Lateran
           Council
           :
           besides
           ,
           it
           does
           no
           way
           serve
           or
           promote
           the
           interests
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           but
           does
           very
           much
           prejudice
           
           it
           ,
           and
           expose
           it
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           to
           the
           contempt
           of
           the
           enemies
           of
           it
           ,
           both
           Turks
           and
           Jews
           ,
           who
           choose
           rather
           to
           continue
           in
           their
           infidelity
           ,
           than
           submit
           to
           it
           upon
           their
           first
           disbelieving
           their
           very
           senses
           .
        
         
           3.
           
           There
           is
           a
           vast
           difference
           between
           them
           in
           respect
           of
           their
           subject-manner
           .
           Things
           relating
           to
           God
           are
           above
           the
           level
           of
           our
           understanding
           ;
           most
           of
           our
           little
           knowledge
           being
           derived
           from
           sense
           ,
           which
           cannot
           reach
           those
           objects
           ,
           that
           are
           altogether
           abstracted
           from
           it
           :
           whereas
           this
           falls
           under
           the
           examination
           of
           our
           senses
           and
           reason
           :
           they
           are
           things
           we
           every
           day
           converse
           with
           :
           things
           we
           may
           safely
           pretend
           to
           judge
           of
           ,
           as
           being
           every
           way
           proportionable
           to
           our
           faculties
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           These
           articles
           of
           faith
           involve
           in
           them
           no
           true
           and
           real
           contradiction
           ,
           as
           the
           doctrine
           of
           Transsubstantiation
           does
           .
           The
           Christian
           religion
           proposes
           nothing
           to
           our
           belief
           ,
           but
           what
           is
           possible
           ,
           and
           therefore
           credible
           ;
           as
           has
           been
           proved
           by
           several
           learned
           men
           of
           our
           Church
           against
           the
           heterodoxies
           and
           blasphemies
           of
           the
           Socinians
           :
           nothing
           ,
           which
           contradicts
           or
           thwarts
           the
           common
           and
           established
           notions
           of
           nature
           :
           I
           say
           ,
           the
           doctrine
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           contained
           in
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           the
           ancient
           tradition
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           ,
           and
           the
           explications
           of
           the
           first
           oecumenical
           Councils
           :
           to
           both
           which
           ,
           tradition
           and
           authority
           ,
           next
           to
           the
           sacred
           Scripture
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           rule
           of
           faith
           ,
           we
           ought
           to
           have
           regard
           even
           in
           controversies
           of
           faith
           ;
           and
           not
           as
           it
           is
           perplext
           and
           entangled
           by
           the
           bold
           niceties
           of
           the
           School-men
           ,
           who
           have
           corrupted
           the
           truth
           and
           simplicity
           of
           the
           Christian
           religion
           by
           the
           mixtures
           of
           the
           philosophy
           of
           Plato
           and
           Aristotle
           .
           So
           that
           we
           do
           not
           limit
           the
           divine
           power
           ,
           or
           deny
           it
           to
           be
           infinite
           ,
           as
           the
           bigotted
           Romanists
           pretend
           ,
           because
           we
           reject
           this
           figment
           of
           Transsubstantiation
           ,
           as
           a
           false
           ,
           absurd
           ,
           and
           contradictory
           doctrine
           ,
           (
           besides
           the
           other
           above-mentioned
           exceptions
           ,
           which
           no
           sophistry
           or
           cavil
           can
           honestly
           and
           truly
           put
           by
           ,
           
           or
           justly
           satisfie
           )
           which
           they
           ought
           to
           prove
           to
           be
           in
           the
           number
           of
           things
           possible
           .
           All
           which
           we
           believe
           from
           the
           nature
           of
           this
           attribute
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           obliged
           ,
           that
           God
           can
           do
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           second
           proposition
           is
           this
           ,
           that
           nothing
           can
           hinder
           the
           effects
           of
           God's
           power
           ,
           if
           once
           he
           has
           willed
           and
           determined
           the
           same
           *
           .
           And
           of
           this
           truth
           ,
           both
           of
           nature
           and
           religion
           ,
           the
           very
           Heathen
           had
           a
           fixt
           belief
           and
           apprehension
           ,
           
             viz.
          
           that
           all
           opposition
           made
           against
           God
           was
           vain
           and
           ineffectual
           :
           and
           that
           though
           some
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           fictions
           of
           their
           Poets
           ,
           were
           so
           foolish
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           impious
           ,
           to
           make
           a
           war
           upon
           the
           Gods
           ,
           and
           attempted
           to
           pluck
           Jupiter
           out
           of
           his
           throne
           ;
           yet
           they
           always
           came
           by
           the
           worst
           ,
           and
           were
           cast
           down
           from
           their
           hopes
           ,
           and
           from
           those
           mountains
           ,
           which
           they
           had
           laid
           one
           upon
           another
           to
           scale
           heaven
           with
           ,
           to
           feel
           the
           revenging
           effects
           of
           that
           power
           ,
           which
           before
           they
           had
           so
           much
           slighted
           .
           Here
           below
           power
           may
           be
           either
           balanced
           and
           resisted
           with
           success
           ,
           or
           else
           it
           may
           be
           undermined
           or
           baffled
           by
           wit
           ,
           and
           policy
           ,
           and
           stratagems
           of
           war
           :
           and
           great
           armies
           have
           sometimes
           been
           routed
           and
           vanquished
           by
           inconsiderable
           numbers
           ,
           and
           have
           met
           with
           shameful
           defeats
           and
           overthrows
           .
           But
           the
           divine
           power
           is
           irresistible
           :
           there
           is
           no
           withstanding
           it
           :
           the
           whole
           creation
           must
           needs
           tremble
           and
           sink
           at
           the
           presence
           of
           God
           :
           and
           this
           the
           proud
           Assyrian
           King
           was
           forced
           to
           confess
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           recovered
           from
           his
           phrensie
           :
           Dan.
           iv
           .
           35.
           
           
             That
             the
             inhabitants
             of
             the
             earth
             are
             reputed
             as
             nothing
             ,
             and
             that
             God
             doth
             according
             to
             his
             will
             in
             the
             army
             of
             heaven
             ,
             and
             among
             the
             inhabitants
             of
             the
             earth
             ,
             and
             none
             can
             stay
             his
             hand
             ,
             and
             say
             unto
             him
             ,
             what
             dost
             thou
             ?
          
           So
           that
           we
           see
           ,
           that
           the
           credibility
           of
           this
           article
           is
           founded
           not
           onely
           upon
           Scripture
           and
           revelation
           ,
           but
           upon
           nature
           and
           right
           reason
           :
           which
           I
           shall
           more
           fully
           prove
           ,
           by
           making
           good
           .
        
         
         
           II.
           The
           second
           general
           head
           ,
           that
           the
           attribute
           of
           infinite
           power
           is
           essentially
           involved
           in
           the
           notion
           and
           idea
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           Power
           in
           it self
           is
           an
           excellence
           and
           perfection
           :
           and
           things
           are
           more
           or
           less
           valued
           according
           to
           the
           greater
           or
           lesser
           degrees
           ,
           which
           they
           have
           of
           it
           .
           I
           do
           not
           mean
           that
           force
           and
           energy
           onely
           ,
           such
           as
           is
           found
           in
           inanimate
           beings
           ,
           arising
           from
           the
           several
           dispositions
           of
           matter
           ,
           whereby
           they
           are
           apt
           to
           make
           those
           great
           alterations
           ,
           that
           are
           in
           the
           world
           :
           because
           their
           operations
           are
           necessary
           ,
           but
           withal
           limited
           to
           a
           few
           particular
           effects
           :
           nor
           such
           a
           power
           ,
           as
           is
           in
           brute
           creatures
           ,
           arising
           from
           the
           strength
           and
           quantity
           of
           animal
           spirits
           ,
           from
           the
           temper
           of
           bloud
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           make
           and
           constitution
           of
           their
           bodies
           :
           but
           such
           a
           power
           ,
           as
           is
           directed
           by
           reason
           ,
           and
           is
           arbitrary
           and
           free
           ,
           and
           may
           be
           used
           or
           not
           used
           ,
           according
           as
           upon
           debate
           and
           deliberation
           shall
           be
           judged
           most
           convenient
           :
           such
           a
           power
           ,
           as
           extends
           it self
           to
           various
           objects
           ,
           and
           effectually
           brings
           to
           pass
           ,
           what
           is
           designed
           in
           the
           mind
           ,
           and
           contrived
           in
           the
           brain
           :
           a
           power
           ,
           whereby
           a
           man
           has
           a
           full
           command
           over
           things
           ,
           and
           can
           subject
           them
           to
           his
           will
           and
           disposal
           ,
           and
           make
           use
           of
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           advance
           himself
           ,
           and
           get
           the
           mastery
           over
           others
           ,
           and
           make
           himself
           be
           dreaded
           every
           where
           .
           Yet
           however
           such
           a
           one
           ,
           who
           has
           attained
           a
           despotick
           power
           ,
           whether
           rightfully
           by
           succession
           ,
           or
           by
           force
           of
           arms
           and
           cruelty
           ,
           or
           by
           the
           arts
           ,
           whether
           of
           lawful
           or
           wicked
           ,
           policy
           ,
           may
           please
           himself
           with
           the
           success
           of
           his
           councils
           and
           stratagems
           and
           dextrous
           management
           of
           affairs
           ,
           both
           in
           peace
           and
           war
           ,
           and
           phansie
           great
           matters
           of
           himself
           ,
           and
           swell
           with
           the
           thoughts
           of
           his
           acquired
           greatness
           :
           he
           is
           not
           able
           to
           withstand
           the
           least
           sickness
           :
           this
           can
           soon
           mortifie
           him
           ,
           and
           bring
           him
           upon
           his
           knees
           ,
           and
           make
           him
           sensible
           of
           his
           weakness
           ,
           and
           the
           folly
           of
           his
           pride
           .
           When
           God
           does
           but
           arm
           the
           most
           despicable
           creatures
           against
           him
           ,
           and
           
           gives
           them
           a
           commission
           to
           assault
           and
           invade
           him
           ,
           the
           least
           infliction
           baffles
           and
           routs
           his
           hopes
           and
           confidences
           ,
           gives
           him
           a
           fair
           prospect
           of
           himself
           and
           of
           his
           defects
           ,
           and
           shews
           him
           ,
           what
           a
           miserable
           creature
           man
           is
           at
           the
           best
           ,
           who
           cannot
           secure
           himself
           of
           health
           ,
           of
           happiness
           ,
           of
           life
           for
           one
           moment
           .
           By
           this
           he
           is
           made
           to
           see
           and
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           something
           above
           him
           ,
           to
           whom
           he
           is
           accountable
           ,
           that
           orders
           and
           disposes
           of
           all
           things
           at
           his
           pleasure
           :
           that
           all
           that
           power
           ,
           which
           is
           distributed
           among
           so
           many
           creatures
           ,
           in
           such
           a
           strange
           variety
           and
           subordination
           ,
           is
           derived
           from
           some
           supreme
           being
           ,
           in
           whom
           it
           is
           united
           ,
           and
           infinitely
           much
           more
           :
           and
           if
           that
           he
           withdraw
           his
           influence
           ,
           or
           blows
           upon
           any
           counsel
           ,
           it
           comes
           to
           nothing
           ,
           and
           the
           designs
           of
           these
           mighty
           men
           ,
           who
           have
           got
           the
           empire
           of
           the
           world
           into
           their
           hands
           ,
           are
           soon
           at
           an
           end
           together
           with
           their
           lives
           ,
           and
           they
           faint
           away
           ,
           and
           drop
           into
           their
           graves
           ,
           and
           all
           their
           thoughts
           perish
           ;
           because
           all
           the
           power
           they
           have
           is
           but
           the
           communication
           of
           his
           will
           ,
           an
           emanation
           of
           his
           providence
           ,
           and
           an
           imperfect
           shadow
           of
           that
           power
           ,
           by
           which
           he
           governs
           the
           world
           :
           all
           second
           causes
           being
           influenced
           by
           him
           ,
           and
           acting
           onely
           by
           virtue
           of
           what
           they
           have
           received
           .
           For
           it
           is
           the
           plain
           and
           unconstrained
           collection
           of
           reason
           ,
           that
           nothing
           has
           of
           it self
           a
           power
           to
           act
           ,
           whereby
           it
           contributes
           to
           make
           up
           the
           harmony
           of
           the
           world
           :
           that
           their
           essences
           and
           the
           operations
           ,
           flowing
           from
           them
           ,
           are
           both
           limited
           ,
           and
           are
           easily
           dissolvible
           by
           that
           power
           ,
           which
           first
           made
           them
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           have
           a
           dependence
           upon
           a
           being
           ,
           which
           is
           infinite
           ,
           and
           almighty
           ,
           and
           independent
           .
           What
           a
           blot
           and
           stain
           would
           it
           be
           to
           that
           fair
           idea
           of
           a
           God
           ,
           to
           imagine
           ,
           that
           any
           thing
           possible
           could
           be
           above
           his
           power
           ,
           or
           too
           hard
           for
           his
           omnipotence
           ?
           what
           were
           this
           but
           to
           cloath
           him
           with
           the
           infirmities
           of
           a
           man
           ,
           to
           level
           him
           with
           his
           creatures
           ,
           and
           to
           take
           off
           that
           essential
           and
           necessary
           distinction
           
           between
           them
           ?
           This
           power
           then
           must
           be
           infinite
           :
           for
           what
           can
           limit
           or
           restrain
           it
           ?
           who
           can
           put
           a
           force
           upon
           him
           ,
           or
           stop
           his
           procedures
           ,
           when
           there
           is
           nothing
           equal
           and
           co-ordinate
           ?
           can
           man
           ,
           whose
           breath
           is
           in
           his
           nostrils
           ,
           who
           a
           few
           years
           since
           had
           no
           being
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           he
           has
           ,
           he
           owes
           wholly
           to
           another
           ,
           born
           an
           infant
           into
           the
           world
           ,
           made
           to
           his
           hands
           :
           he
           ,
           as
           soon
           as
           he
           comes
           to
           years
           ,
           and
           can
           use
           his
           reason
           ,
           and
           discern
           things
           ,
           quickly
           perceives
           his
           weaknesses
           and
           wants
           ,
           and
           cannot
           help
           himself
           .
           Can
           the
           united
           strength
           of
           other
           creatures
           ?
           They
           act
           onely
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           directed
           :
           all
           that
           they
           have
           is
           plainly
           borrowed
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           disposal
           of
           him
           ,
           who
           made
           them
           .
           They
           may
           be
           traced
           to
           their
           originals
           ,
           and
           are
           perishable
           in
           their
           natures
           :
           it
           is
           the
           power
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           ,
           as
           at
           first
           gave
           ,
           still
           continues
           to
           them
           their
           being
           .
        
         
           Now
           to
           demand
           ,
           why
           is
           there
           then
           no
           infinite
           effect
           of
           an
           infinite
           power
           ?
           is
           to
           forget
           ,
           that
           this
           implies
           a
           contradiction
           :
           infinity
           being
           an
           incommunicable
           attribute
           ,
           and
           onely
           peculiar
           to
           God
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           distance
           will
           ever
           remain
           infinite
           between
           the
           opposite
           terms
           of
           such
           a
           relation
           ,
           as
           that
           of
           the
           Creator
           to
           the
           creature
           .
           But
           God
           has
           given
           sufficient
           displays
           of
           his
           power
           ,
           and
           the
           effects
           of
           it
           are
           so
           various
           and
           innumerable
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           convincing
           and
           demonstrative
           arguments
           of
           its
           being
           infinite
           ,
           and
           that
           no
           power
           less
           than
           such
           could
           ever
           have
           produced
           them
           .
           
             The
             invisible
             things
             of
             God
             from
             the
             creation
             of
             the
             world
             are
             clearly
             seen
             ,
             being
             understood
             by
             the
             things
             ,
             that
             are
             made
             ,
             even
             his
             eternal
             power
             and
             Godhead
             .
          
           i
           Rom.
           20.
           
           We
           judge
           of
           worldly
           productive
           power
           by
           vast
           piles
           of
           building
           :
           but
           what
           is
           a
           Pyramid
           ,
           or
           an
           Aquaeduct
           ,
           or
           a
           Colossus
           ,
           or
           an
           Amphitheater
           ,
           to
           the
           orderly
           and
           glorious
           frame
           of
           things
           ?
           how
           pitiful
           and
           mean
           in
           comparison
           of
           the
           heavens
           ?
           Let
           us
           cast
           up
           our
           eyes
           thither
           ,
           and
           there
           behold
           *
           the
           several
           orbs
           moving
           on
           in
           an
           uninterrupted
           order
           ,
           the
           swiftness
           of
           their
           motion
           ,
           
           and
           withall
           the
           greatness
           of
           their
           bodies
           ,
           that
           the
           earth
           ,
           about
           which
           poor
           mortals
           contend
           so
           much
           ,
           and
           to
           get
           a
           little
           part
           and
           share
           of
           ,
           which
           they
           cannot
           possess
           long
           ,
           venture
           their
           quiet
           and
           their
           lives
           ,
           and
           oftentimes
           their
           very
           souls
           ,
           is
           but
           a
           point
           in
           respect
           of
           them
           :
           the
           vast
           distance
           between
           us
           and
           the
           heavens
           :
           the
           glorious
           and
           inexhaustible
           brightness
           of
           the
           sun
           and
           the
           stars
           ,
           and
           the
           kind
           influences
           of
           them
           upon
           all
           things
           here
           below
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           :
           and
           we
           cannot
           but
           be
           filled
           with
           the
           admiration
           of
           God
           ,
           who
           made
           them
           .
           
             The
             heavens
             declare
             the
             glory
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             the
             firmament
             sheweth
             his
             handy
             work
             .
          
           Let
           us
           reflect
           upon
           the
           situation
           of
           the
           earth
           ,
           how
           it
           is
           hung
           upon
           nothing
           in
           the
           middle
           of
           the
           heavens
           ,
           having
           no
           foundation
           to
           rest
           upon
           ,
           but
           a
           magnetical
           vigour
           ,
           imprinted
           by
           the
           hand
           of
           God
           ,
           whereby
           the
           parts
           of
           it
           are
           so
           firmly
           united
           ,
           all
           of
           them
           tending
           toward
           the
           center
           by
           an
           innate
           principle
           of
           gravity
           ,
           that
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           possible
           for
           it
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           phansy
           of
           Archimedes
           ,
           to
           be
           moved
           out
           of
           its
           place
           by
           any
           engine
           ,
           it
           would
           return
           speedily
           to
           it
           again
           :
           the
           virtue
           and
           fruitfulness
           of
           it
           in
           producing
           those
           various
           sorts
           of
           plants
           ,
           flowers
           ,
           and
           trees
           ,
           with
           those
           several
           minerals
           and
           metals
           ,
           and
           other
           fossils
           ,
           which
           lye
           hid
           in
           the
           bowels
           of
           it
           :
           the
           great
           variety
           of
           living
           creatures
           ,
           which
           serve
           for
           the
           ornament
           and
           beauty
           of
           the
           creation
           :
           and
           above
           all
           ,
           let
           us
           contemplate
           man
           :
           the
           curious
           make
           and
           frame
           of
           his
           body
           ,
           and
           the
           uses
           of
           each
           part
           :
           but
           chiefly
           the
           faculties
           of
           his
           mind
           ,
           whereby
           he
           is
           able
           to
           govern
           himself
           and
           the
           other
           creatures
           subject
           to
           him
           ,
           and
           even
           make
           use
           of
           those
           things
           ,
           which
           he
           cannot
           alter
           and
           change
           ,
           and
           derive
           a
           benefit
           from
           them
           to
           himself
           .
        
         
           Now
           the
           conclusions
           ,
           naturally
           arising
           hence
           ,
           are
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           
             the
             builder
             and
             maker
             of
             all
             is
             God
             :
          
           because
           this
           frame
           and
           constitution
           of
           the
           world
           is
           above
           all
           created
           strength
           and
           power
           ,
           and
           things
           could
           not
           make
           themselves
           ,
           
           but
           owe
           their
           being
           and
           original
           to
           his
           divine
           will
           ,
           and
           to
           his
           infinite
           power
           and
           wisdom
           :
           and
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           he
           ,
           who
           made
           the
           heavens
           ,
           and
           the
           earth
           ,
           and
           all
           things
           therein
           ,
           who
           has
           hung
           up
           those
           lights
           in
           the
           sky
           ,
           which
           flame
           so
           brightly
           :
           who
           has
           imprinted
           such
           a
           swift
           and
           unwearied
           motion
           in
           the
           stars
           :
           who
           has
           filled
           that
           vast
           distance
           of
           space
           between
           us
           and
           them
           with
           so
           subtil
           and
           perspicuous
           a
           body
           :
           who
           has
           cast
           the
           earth
           into
           such
           a
           figure
           ,
           that
           every
           part
           of
           it
           might
           enjoy
           the
           influences
           of
           the
           heavens
           with
           the
           greater
           advantage
           ,
           and
           as
           it
           were
           interchangeably
           and
           by
           turns
           :
           who
           has
           caused
           those
           deep
           channels
           for
           the
           waters
           ,
           upon
           which
           Ships
           may
           pass
           from
           one
           extreme
           part
           of
           the
           world
           to
           the
           other
           ,
           and
           keep
           up
           and
           maintain
           a
           commerce
           with
           all
           mankind
           ;
           and
           the
           like
           :
           He
           can
           do
           much
           more
           :
           his
           power
           is
           not
           confined
           to
           any
           one
           effect
           :
           if
           he
           does
           but
           once
           will
           the
           same
           ,
           presently
           a
           new
           world
           shall
           start
           up
           out
           of
           nothing
           .
           For
           what
           shall
           hinder
           ?
           it
           being
           equally
           easie
           to
           an
           infinite
           and
           inexhaustible
           power
           to
           make
           more
           ,
           as
           one
           .
           Who
           questions
           an
           Artists
           power
           ,
           who
           has
           brought
           some
           curious
           piece
           to
           perfection
           ,
           whether
           a
           statue
           ,
           or
           a
           picture
           ,
           or
           a
           watch
           ,
           or
           a
           medal
           ;
           but
           that
           supposing
           the
           same
           conveniences
           ,
           he
           can
           make
           more
           according
           to
           the
           first
           model
           ,
           and
           vary
           and
           alter
           it
           according
           to
           the
           several
           workings
           and
           movings
           of
           his
           phansie
           ?
           and
           if
           this
           be
           so
           easily
           conceivable
           ,
           and
           withal
           so
           agreeable
           to
           reason
           ,
           who
           can
           doubt
           of
           those
           lesser
           things
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           brought
           to
           pass
           in
           the
           several
           ages
           of
           the
           world
           :
           such
           ,
           as
           are
           the
           alterations
           of
           the
           course
           of
           nature
           for
           a
           time
           ,
           as
           
             the
             standing
             still
             of
             the
             sun
             and
             moon
             ,
          
           (
           that
           disorder
           in
           the
           heavens
           ,
           which
           this
           interruption
           might
           cause
           ,
           being
           soon
           after
           removed
           ,
           and
           the
           former
           regular
           motion
           restored
           )
           the
           
             dividing
             of
             the
             red
             sea
             into
             two
             parts
             :
          
           the
           waters
           of
           it
           rising
           up
           and
           standing
           on
           an
           heap
           ,
           
             the
             wonders
             of
             Aegypt
             ,
          
           and
           
             all
             those
             stupendious
             miracles
             ,
             wrought
             by
             our
             blessed
             Saviour
             
             and
             his
             Apostles
             ?
          
           for
           if
           we
           consider
           things
           thoroughly
           ,
           as
           great
           things
           are
           done
           every
           day
           :
           but
           the
           commonness
           of
           them
           takes
           away
           the
           wonder
           ,
           and
           makes
           us
           slight
           and
           neglect
           them
           .
           Let
           us
           embrace
           either
           of
           the
           two
           Hypotheses
           ,
           it
           matters
           not
           .
           One
           would
           judge
           it
           more
           incredible
           ,
           that
           so
           great
           a
           body
           ,
           as
           the
           sun
           ,
           or
           earth
           ,
           should
           move
           at
           all
           ,
           than
           that
           the
           motion
           of
           the
           one
           or
           other
           should
           be
           interrupted
           and
           stopt
           for
           some
           hours
           ,
           but
           that
           our
           senses
           and
           the
           interchanges
           and
           vicissitudes
           of
           day
           and
           night
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           seasons
           of
           the
           year
           ,
           assure
           us
           of
           it
           :
           and
           it
           is
           as
           great
           ,
           if
           not
           a
           greater
           ,
           wonder
           ,
           that
           the
           tides
           should
           be
           so
           regular
           and
           periodical
           according
           to
           the
           course
           of
           the
           moon
           ,
           and
           that
           this
           flux
           and
           reflux
           should
           be
           made
           twice
           almost
           in
           five
           and
           twenty
           hours
           ,
           than
           that
           the
           waters
           in
           a
           small
           gulph
           ,
           as
           is
           the
           Arabian
           ,
           should
           rise
           and
           swell
           as
           it
           were
           into
           a
           mountain
           ,
           and
           leave
           part
           of
           the
           channel
           dry
           and
           bare
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           passed
           over
           on
           foot
           .
           They
           will
           say
           ,
           that
           these
           admirable
           effects
           are
           according
           to
           
             nature
             :
          
           a
           word
           used
           by
           these
           men
           ,
           who
           are
           afraid
           to
           own
           a
           Deity
           ,
           to
           very
           ill
           purposes
           .
           But
           what
           do
           they
           mean
           by
           
             nature
             ?
          
           Do
           they
           mean
           a
           principle
           of
           things
           ,
           void
           of
           life
           and
           understanding
           ?
           but
           can
           the
           stately
           ,
           and
           curious
           ,
           and
           regular
           frame
           of
           things
           flow
           from
           such
           a
           principle
           ?
           Can
           that
           ,
           which
           has
           no
           sense
           ,
           or
           understanding
           ,
           or
           life
           ,
           or
           skill
           ,
           be
           the
           author
           of
           such
           beings
           ,
           which
           are
           endowed
           with
           all
           ?
           How
           comes
           it
           to
           confer
           that
           upon
           others
           ,
           which
           it
           has
           not
           in
           it self
           ?
           If
           they
           say
           ,
           that
           they
           mean
           by
           
             nature
          
           that
           order
           of
           things
           ,
           which
           was
           fixt
           and
           established
           by
           God
           ,
           the
           supreme
           cause
           ,
           in
           the
           beginning
           ,
           by
           which
           the
           world
           is
           ordinarily
           governed
           :
           why
           then
           will
           they
           deny
           the
           God
           of
           nature
           to
           be
           able
           to
           alter
           it
           ,
           when
           it
           shall
           make
           for
           his
           glory
           ?
           A
           serious
           reflexion
           upon
           the
           ordinary
           works
           of
           nature
           will
           quickly
           silence
           all
           those
           doubts
           and
           scruples
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           raised
           by
           a
           company
           of
           ignorant
           ,
           illiterate
           ,
           and
           debauched
           
           Atheists
           and
           Deists
           against
           the
           belief
           of
           the
           miracles
           recorded
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           confirmed
           by
           unquestionable
           evidence
           of
           thousands
           ,
           who
           have
           seen
           them
           done
           ,
           and
           were
           actually
           present
           at
           the
           doing
           of
           them
           ,
           upon
           this
           foolish
           pretence
           ,
           because
           they
           seem
           to
           contradict
           the
           present
           state
           of
           things
           ,
           as
           if
           that
           could
           not
           be
           altered
           ,
           changed
           ,
           and
           exceeded
           :
           which
           is
           nothing
           less
           ,
           than
           to
           limit
           and
           tye
           up
           as
           it
           were
           the
           hands
           of
           an
           almighty
           Agent
           .
           Thus
           nature
           and
           reason
           fully
           and
           unconstrainedly
           give
           in
           their
           suffrages
           to
           the
           truth
           of
           this
           article
           :
           and
           certainly
           ,
           tho'
           some
           shallow
           wits
           may
           acquiesce
           in
           second
           causes
           ,
           and
           think
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           attained
           their
           end
           ,
           if
           they
           can
           find
           out
           some
           of
           the
           nighest
           and
           most
           immediate
           ,
           and
           relying
           very
           vainly
           and
           presumptuously
           upon
           the
           supposed
           strength
           of
           the
           Atomical
           or
           Mechanical
           philosophy
           ,
           go
           about
           with
           great
           impiety
           to
           exclude
           God
           from
           having
           any
           thing
           to
           do
           either
           in
           the
           making
           or
           governing
           the
           world
           :
           yet
           whosoever
           ,
           like
           a
           wise
           and
           true
           Philosopher
           ,
           and
           sober
           rational
           man
           ,
           will
           search
           further
           into
           the
           originals
           of
           those
           immediate
           and
           fundamental
           causes
           of
           things
           ,
           and
           carefully
           observe
           ,
           how
           they
           are
           linked
           and
           tyed
           together
           ;
           in
           what
           excellent
           order
           ;
           and
           to
           what
           wise
           ends
           and
           purposes
           ;
           he
           will
           find
           himself
           under
           a
           necessity
           of
           having
           speedy
           recourse
           to
           the
           infinite
           wisdom
           and
           power
           of
           God
           :
           and
           therefore
           ,
           as
           that
           excellent
           person
           ,
           the
           Lord
           Verulam
           ,
           observes
           in
           his
           Essays
           ;
           
             God
             never
             wrought
             a
             miracle
             to
             convince
             Atheism
             :
             because
             his
             ordinary
             works
             sufficiently
             convince
             it
             .
          
        
         
           Now
           as
           it
           is
           altogether
           absurd
           to
           proceed
           upon
           slight
           and
           narrow
           principles
           ,
           taken
           up
           from
           the
           observation
           of
           the
           present
           and
           usual
           state
           of
           nature
           ,
           to
           the
           prejudice
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           miracles
           ,
           which
           suppose
           it
           alterable
           ,
           and
           actually
           at
           that
           time
           altered
           :
           so
           it
           argues
           the
           same
           presumption
           and
           folly
           to
           doubt
           of
           the
           possibility
           of
           a
           thing
           ,
           and
           deny
           the
           great
           truths
           and
           principles
           of
           religion
           ,
           whether
           
           natural
           or
           revealed
           ,
           meerly
           because
           they
           are
           above
           our
           faculties
           ,
           and
           are
           not
           proportionable
           to
           those
           ideas
           and
           conceptions
           ,
           which
           we
           derive
           from
           sense
           and
           the
           impressions
           of
           outward
           objects
           .
           Which
           is
        
         
           The
           third
           general
           head
           of
           this
           discourse
           ,
           which
           I
           undertook
           to
           make
           good
           :
           namely
           that
        
         
           III.
           It
           is
           altogether
           unreasonable
           to
           deny
           the
           verity
           of
           the
           divine
           attributes
           ,
           and
           limit
           the
           power
           of
           God
           in
           things
           possible
           ,
           or
           refuse
           to
           submit
           to
           the
           belief
           and
           acknowledgment
           of
           the
           mysteries
           of
           faith
           ,
           because
           they
           transcend
           either
           our
           power
           ,
           or
           our
           understanding
           and
           comprehension
           .
           Which
           proposition
           I
           shall
           consider
           in
           its
           particular
           branches
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           It
           is
           most
           unreasonable
           to
           lay
           a
           restraint
           upon
           God
           almighty
           ,
           and
           limit
           his
           power
           ,
           and
           deny
           any
           thing
           to
           be
           possible
           ,
           which
           is
           no
           way
           repugnant
           to
           the
           essential
           perfections
           of
           the
           Godhead
           ,
           and
           does
           not
           involve
           in
           it self
           a
           real
           and
           manifest
           contradiction
           ,
           upon
           this
           pretense
           ,
           because
           it
           transcends
           our
           power
           ,
           or
           the
           whole
           power
           of
           created
           nature
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           indeed
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           intimated
           above
           ,
           we
           have
           the
           advantage
           of
           all
           other
           creatures
           here
           below
           ,
           that
           they
           act
           either
           necessarily
           ,
           or
           else
           spontaneously
           onely
           *
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           according
           to
           natural
           instincts
           ,
           and
           are
           hurried
           on
           to
           their
           several
           objects
           by
           the
           force
           and
           sway
           of
           their
           appetites
           ,
           and
           consequently
           do
           nothing
           by
           deliberation
           and
           choice
           .
           Thus
           the
           birds
           build
           their
           nests
           spherically
           ,
           and
           the
           bees
           are
           very
           artificial
           and
           curious
           in
           making
           the
           hony-comb
           ,
           and
           the
           silk-worm
           and
           the
           spider
           spin
           a
           very
           fine
           and
           subtil
           thread
           :
           they
           perform
           the
           task
           ,
           which
           the
           wisdom
           of
           the
           great
           Creator
           has
           set
           them
           ,
           and
           are
           directed
           to
           those
           ends
           by
           his
           omniscience
           ,
           and
           to
           those
           onely
           :
           for
           they
           cannot
           vary
           these
           actions
           ,
           peculiar
           to
           each
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           different
           powers
           .
           It
           is
           man
           onely
           in
           this
           visible
           world
           ,
           tho'
           sent
           into
           it
           weak
           ,
           and
           helpless
           ,
           and
           unarmed
           ,
           
           who
           ,
           when
           grown
           up
           to
           maturity
           of
           years
           and
           judgment
           ,
           by
           the
           help
           of
           his
           wit
           and
           reason
           ,
           can
           conquer
           the
           other
           creatures
           ,
           and
           make
           them
           serviceable
           to
           his
           uses
           ,
           and
           easily
           master
           them
           ,
           notwithstanding
           their
           wildness
           and
           fierceness
           ,
           and
           hereby
           exercise
           an
           entire
           dominion
           over
           them
           ,
           as
           being
           constituted
           Lord
           of
           the
           creation
           :
           who
           can
           first
           design
           and
           contrive
           ,
           and
           then
           perform
           and
           execute
           ,
           what
           lyes
           within
           his
           reach
           and
           within
           his
           view
           .
           It
           is
           by
           this
           ,
           that
           he
           has
           invented
           that
           great
           number
           of
           instruments
           and
           engines
           ,
           whereby
           he
           reaches
           heaven
           ,
           and
           takes
           an
           accompt
           of
           the
           order
           and
           motion
           of
           the
           stars
           ,
           and
           of
           their
           several
           periods
           and
           revolutions
           ,
           tho'
           at
           that
           vast
           distance
           from
           them
           ,
           and
           makes
           them
           serviceable
           to
           the
           measuring
           of
           his
           time
           ,
           and
           directing
           him
           in
           his
           travels
           and
           voyages
           .
           It
           is
           by
           this
           ,
           that
           he
           dares
           commit
           himself
           to
           that
           inconstant
           element
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           directive
           virtue
           of
           a
           contemptible
           stone
           ,
           as
           it
           appears
           to
           be
           ,
           tho'
           more
           valuable
           for
           this
           admirable
           use
           ,
           than
           all
           the
           diamonds
           of
           India
           ,
           can
           find
           his
           way
           in
           the
           great
           ocean
           ,
           where
           there
           is
           no
           track
           ,
           and
           encompass
           the
           world
           from
           one
           pole
           to
           the
           other
           ,
           and
           keep
           pace
           as
           it
           were
           with
           the
           sun
           in
           its
           eastern
           and
           western
           course
           .
           It
           is
           by
           this
           ,
           that
           he
           raises
           stately
           mansions
           and
           fortifications
           ,
           for
           his
           pleasure
           and
           defense
           ,
           cuts
           through
           rocks
           ,
           and
           joyns
           distant
           rivers
           and
           seas
           by
           artificial
           channels
           ,
           and
           invents
           those
           curious
           manufactures
           ,
           together
           with
           that
           great
           variety
           of
           other
           artificial
           productions
           ,
           which
           serve
           both
           for
           ornament
           and
           convenience
           .
           And
           all
           this
           is
           done
           by
           a
           dextrous
           and
           skilful
           application
           of
           actives
           to
           passives
           :
           by
           framing
           and
           shaping
           the
           materials
           ,
           which
           are
           made
           to
           his
           hands
           :
           by
           putting
           different
           things
           together
           ,
           by
           enquiring
           into
           their
           nature
           and
           use
           :
           by
           study
           ,
           and
           experience
           ,
           and
           observation
           :
           by
           often
           repeated
           and
           adventurous
           tryals
           :
           by
           casting
           about
           in
           his
           thoughts
           ,
           how
           to
           secure
           himself
           of
           success
           :
           by
           proceeding
           slowly
           and
           by
           degrees
           ,
           according
           to
           method
           and
           order
           :
           
           and
           the
           success
           has
           been
           glorious
           and
           admirable
           ,
           and
           a
           new
           world
           of
           things
           has
           been
           added
           ;
           and
           every
           where
           ,
           except
           in
           sandy
           deserts
           and
           uncultivated
           plaines
           and
           forrests
           ,
           and
           in
           such
           countries
           ,
           where
           the
           wild
           people
           are
           not
           reduced
           to
           gentleness
           and
           civility
           of
           manners
           ,
           are
           erected
           monuments
           of
           mans
           wit
           and
           power
           .
           But
           how
           great
           soever
           this
           may
           seem
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           very
           little
           ,
           and
           pitiful
           ,
           and
           inconsiderable
           in
           comparison
           of
           what
           he
           does
           not
           know
           ,
           and
           what
           he
           cannot
           do
           :
           thousands
           of
           things
           there
           are
           above
           his
           power
           ,
           which
           neither
           his
           wit
           nor
           his
           arm
           can
           reach
           :
           it
           is
           not
           in
           his
           power
           to
           create
           one
           atome
           of
           matter
           :
           he
           does
           but
           disguise
           things
           all
           this
           while
           ,
           and
           put
           them
           into
           new
           shapes
           .
           All
           that
           he
           can
           pretend
           to
           ,
           is
           but
           to
           know
           nature
           ;
           and
           that
           very
           imperfectly
           ,
           and
           to
           imitate
           it
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           he
           can
           ,
           and
           draw
           rough
           copies
           of
           that
           perfect
           original
           .
           For
           how
           rude
           ,
           and
           homely
           ,
           and
           inartificial
           are
           the
           best
           pieces
           of
           the
           ablest
           Artists
           ,
           if
           compared
           with
           the
           curiousness
           ,
           with
           the
           neatness
           ,
           with
           the
           beauty
           of
           natural
           compositions
           !
           These
           are
           so
           curious
           and
           admirable
           ,
           wrought
           with
           such
           excellent
           and
           extraordinary
           skill
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           sagacious
           and
           inquisitive
           cannot
           fully
           comprehend
           them
           .
           All
           things
           are
           so
           exactly
           and
           geometrically
           fitted
           to
           their
           proper
           uses
           ,
           even
           the
           least
           fibre
           ,
           and
           the
           minutest
           particle
           ,
           tho'
           imperceptible
           to
           the
           naked
           eye
           :
           there
           being
           nothing
           idle
           and
           useless
           in
           nature
           .
           There
           is
           so
           much
           accuracy
           and
           perfection
           in
           the
           meanest
           and
           most
           contemptible
           pieces
           of
           the
           creation
           ,
           that
           the
           more
           a
           wise
           man
           ,
           a
           Philosopher
           ,
           considers
           ,
           the
           more
           he
           is
           at
           a
           loss
           :
           and
           the
           result
           of
           his
           serious
           thoughts
           ,
           after
           they
           have
           been
           long
           busied
           and
           tired
           out
           in
           the
           search
           ,
           is
           this
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           all
           the
           works
           of
           a
           divine
           hand
           ,
           guided
           by
           an
           infinite
           wisdome
           .
           Thus
           every
           considering
           man
           ,
           even
           by
           a
           slight
           ,
           much
           more
           serious
           and
           deliberate
           ,
           contemplation
           of
           nature
           ,
           cannot
           but
           be
           fully
           satisfied
           and
           convinced
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           an
           all-powerful
           being
           ,
           which
           has
           wrought
           all
           
           these
           glorious
           effects
           :
           or
           else
           such
           a
           one
           ,
           if
           yet
           such
           a
           silly
           creature
           ,
           which
           has
           the
           shape
           ,
           and
           pretends
           to
           the
           reason
           of
           a
           man
           ,
           can
           be
           found
           ,
           must
           fall
           into
           this
           prodigious
           and
           irrational
           error
           ,
           which
           no
           one
           can
           be
           guilty
           of
           without
           the
           just
           imputation
           of
           phrensie
           ,
           that
           all
           that
           he
           sees
           ,
           is
           not
           the
           production
           of
           contrivance
           and
           design
           ,
           but
           meerly
           of
           accidental
           hits
           ,
           strugglings
           ,
           and
           conjunctions
           of
           little
           particles
           of
           matter
           ,
           floating
           up
           and
           down
           in
           an
           infinite
           empty
           space
           :
           that
           things
           fell
           into
           this
           admirable
           order
           and
           frame
           ,
           which
           has
           distracted
           and
           confounded
           the
           wits
           of
           all
           ages
           fully
           to
           understand
           and
           make
           out
           satisfactorily
           ,
           at
           first
           as
           it
           were
           of
           their
           own
           accord
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           had
           life
           ,
           and
           sense
           ,
           and
           power
           to
           determine
           their
           own
           motions
           ,
           and
           mutually
           agreed
           to
           do
           this
           ,
           having
           first
           made
           themselves
           :
           or
           which
           is
           as
           gross
           and
           foolish
           a
           phantasie
           ,
           (
           though
           herein
           the
           Aristotelean
           Atheist
           thinks
           himself
           a
           fine
           wit
           and
           a
           subtil
           arguer
           in
           comparison
           of
           the
           Atheists
           of
           the
           Epicurean
           sect
           )
           that
           they
           are
           improduced
           and
           eternal
           :
           that
           the
           sun
           moves
           in
           the
           Ecliptic
           to
           the
           great
           advantage
           and
           benefit
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           the
           Aequator
           ,
           or
           in
           any
           of
           the
           Parallel
           Circles
           ,
           meerly
           because
           it
           happened
           so
           after
           long
           shiftings
           and
           infinite
           irregularities
           of
           motion
           :
           and
           that
           it
           still
           keeps
           the
           same
           course
           as
           it
           were
           out
           of
           choise
           ,
           and
           sympathy
           ,
           and
           good
           nature
           .
           But
           now
           how
           difficult
           ,
           how
           false
           ,
           how
           ridiculous
           ,
           to
           say
           nothing
           of
           the
           impiety
           of
           it
           ,
           must
           such
           a
           way
           of
           arguing
           and
           proceedure
           be
           ,
           to
           judge
           of
           God
           by
           our
           narrow
           scantlings
           of
           wit
           and
           strength
           ,
           to
           measure
           his
           power
           by
           our
           weakness
           ,
           and
           the
           good
           or
           ill
           success
           of
           our
           endeavours
           and
           undertakings
           :
           when
           we
           are
           ignorant
           of
           the
           utmost
           strength
           of
           nature
           ;
           what
           may
           be
           done
           by
           the
           conjunction
           and
           combination
           of
           several
           beings
           ;
           how
           and
           in
           what
           manner
           they
           may
           operate
           one
           upon
           another
           ;
           and
           what
           effects
           they
           may
           produce
           :
           and
           especially
           ,
           if
           we
           reflect
           ,
           that
           many
           things
           have
           been
           
           pronounced
           impossible
           ,
           and
           given
           over
           as
           such
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           in
           respect
           of
           us
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           the
           nature
           of
           the
           things
           themselves
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           wit
           and
           art
           of
           man
           to
           effect
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           discovered
           by
           the
           industry
           of
           after-times
           .
           Why
           then
           should
           any
           man
           pronounce
           a
           thing
           impossible
           ,
           which
           involves
           in
           it
           no
           repugnancy
           to
           actual
           existence
           ,
           and
           hereby
           pretend
           to
           overthrow
           the
           doctrine
           and
           faith
           of
           miracles
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           above
           the
           strength
           of
           nature
           ?
           when
           the
           power
           of
           God
           ,
           as
           has
           been
           proved
           ,
           is
           immense
           and
           infinite
           :
           and
           by
           the
           same
           argument
           he
           may
           as
           madly
           conclude
           ,
           notwithstanding
           his
           high-flown
           pretensions
           of
           arguing
           according
           to
           the
           principles
           of
           strict
           reason
           ,
           several
           things
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           nay
           the
           world
           it self
           ,
           not
           to
           be
           made
           ,
           and
           maintain
           dull
           and
           stupid
           matter
           to
           have
           been
           eternal
           :
           which
           is
           a
           manifest
           gross
           absurdity
           :
           meerly
           upon
           this
           supposal
           ,
           because
           if
           they
           were
           made
           ,
           they
           must
           be
           made
           by
           a
           power
           above
           natural
           and
           humane
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           It
           is
           most
           unreasonable
           to
           reject
           the
           articles
           of
           revealed
           religion
           and
           the
           mysteries
           of
           faith
           ,
           because
           we
           cannot
           fully
           comprehend
           them
           .
           Before
           these
           men
           ,
           whether
           Deists
           ,
           or
           Socinians
           ,
           renounce
           the
           belief
           of
           such
           articles
           and
           mysteries
           ,
           let
           them
           try
           their
           reason
           in
           explaining
           the
           difficulties
           of
           nature
           :
           let
           them
           resolve
           all
           those
           Problemes
           ,
           if
           they
           can
           ,
           which
           have
           exercised
           the
           Philosophers
           of
           all
           ages
           :
           and
           if
           upon
           trial
           they
           cannot
           satisfie
           themselves
           or
           others
           in
           those
           ordinary
           phaenomena
           ,
           where
           they
           have
           their
           senses
           to
           assist
           them
           :
           if
           they
           cannot
           tell
           ,
           how
           things
           are
           done
           ,
           which
           are
           done
           daily
           :
           if
           many
           of
           the
           ordinary
           operations
           of
           nature
           be
           abstruse
           and
           unintelligible
           :
           if
           they
           cannot
           trace
           her
           in
           all
           her
           labyrinths
           and
           windings
           ,
           and
           are
           quite
           tired
           ,
           and
           forced
           at
           last
           to
           give
           over
           the
           pursuit
           :
           if
           plain
           matters
           of
           sense
           cannot
           be
           fully
           accompted
           for
           :
           why
           should
           they
           presume
           upon
           the
           strength
           of
           their
           little
           knowledge
           ,
           and
           make
           their
           reason
           the
           measure
           and
           standard
           of
           divine
           truth
           ,
           allowing
           that
           
           onely
           to
           be
           true
           and
           certain
           which
           suits
           with
           it
           ?
           He
           is
           very
           unfit
           to
           judge
           of
           any
           piece
           of
           art
           ,
           suppose
           a
           picture
           or
           a
           watch
           ,
           who
           knows
           nothing
           of
           design
           or
           clock-work
           ;
           and
           especially
           at
           first
           view
           ,
           without
           taking
           notice
           of
           the
           several
           shokes
           and
           lines
           ,
           and
           the
           proportion
           of
           the
           parts
           of
           the
           one
           ,
           or
           the
           hidden
           springs
           and
           wheels
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           which
           give
           it
           that
           orderly
           and
           regular
           motion
           .
           And
           if
           an
           Artist
           reject
           their
           judgment
           ,
           as
           foolish
           and
           incompetent
           ,
           because
           grounded
           on
           no
           principles
           of
           knowledge
           and
           skill
           :
           shall
           we
           not
           much
           more
           reject
           these
           mens
           either
           bold
           determination
           or
           peremptory
           denial
           of
           things
           ,
           which
           they
           neither
           understand
           ,
           nor
           have
           throughly
           considered
           ?
           such
           ,
           as
           pretend
           ,
           that
           they
           cannot
           believe
           either
           a
           creation
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           tell
           how
           to
           admit
           of
           a
           vast
           empty
           space
           ,
           before
           the
           world
           was
           made
           ,
           or
           how
           it
           should
           be
           made
           ,
           no
           matter
           praeexisting
           ;
           or
           a
           resurrection
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           see
           how
           the
           scattered
           atomes
           of
           dust
           shall
           rally
           and
           reunite
           ,
           and
           constitute
           the
           same
           man
           again
           :
           such
           ,
           as
           disbelieve
           the
           articles
           of
           the
           Christian
           faith
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           form
           clear
           ideas
           ,
           and
           full
           and
           comprehensive
           notions
           of
           them
           :
           and
           upon
           the
           same
           pretense
           these
           very
           men
           ,
           who
           will
           believe
           nothing
           ,
           but
           what
           they
           can
           make
           out
           and
           demonstrate
           by
           reason
           ,
           will
           ,
           if
           they
           follow
           their
           own
           principle
           ,
           quickly
           commence
           down-right
           Atheists
           ,
           and
           deny
           God
           to
           be
           infinite
           ,
           omniscient
           ,
           and
           eternal
           :
           of
           which
           necessary
           and
           essential
           attributes
           of
           the
           divine
           nature
           we
           cannot
           have
           complete
           and
           adequate
           conceptions
           ,
           our
           narrow
           faculties
           being
           no
           way
           capable
           of
           it
           .
           But
           if
           there
           be
           such
           a
           vast
           difference
           between
           man
           and
           man
           ,
           upon
           the
           accompt
           of
           education
           ,
           industry
           ,
           experience
           ,
           learning
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           ways
           of
           advancing
           and
           improving
           reason
           and
           the
           natural
           faculties
           of
           the
           mind
           :
           if
           the
           conceptions
           of
           things
           be
           clear
           ,
           easie
           ,
           and
           distinct
           in
           some
           ,
           without
           wracking
           or
           straining
           the
           phansie
           ,
           which
           are
           
           clouded
           ,
           perplext
           ,
           and
           confused
           in
           others
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           some
           natural
           or
           accidental
           hinderances
           and
           disadvantages
           ,
           through
           dulness
           and
           stupidity
           ,
           or
           settled
           prejudice
           :
           if
           we
           are
           ignorant
           of
           the
           possibilities
           of
           nature
           ,
           and
           cannot
           tell
           ,
           how
           far
           and
           in
           what
           manner
           natural
           causes
           may
           act
           :
           what
           can
           be
           more
           unreasonable
           and
           unjust
           ,
           than
           for
           a
           man
           ,
           whose
           knowledge
           is
           scanty
           ,
           and
           power
           confined
           within
           a
           narrow
           circle
           ,
           and
           who
           is
           so
           apt
           to
           mistake
           in
           his
           judgment
           of
           things
           ,
           to
           oppose
           his
           reason
           to
           God's
           infinite
           wisdom
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           were
           equally
           clear
           and
           comprehensive
           ;
           to
           pretend
           ,
           that
           his
           conceptions
           are
           the
           adequate
           measures
           of
           truth
           ;
           and
           that
           God
           can
           do
           no
           more
           ,
           than
           what
           he
           ,
           poor
           finite
           shallow
           creature
           ,
           is
           able
           to
           think
           ;
           and
           to
           reject
           clear
           and
           express
           revelations
           of
           God
           concerning
           himself
           ,
           upon
           the
           accompt
           of
           a
           phansied
           incongruity
           and
           a
           seeming
           repugnancy
           to
           his
           reason
           ?
           If
           the
           creatures
           ,
           which
           are
           of
           a
           different
           order
           of
           being
           from
           us
           ,
           cannot
           at
           all
           ,
           much
           less
           fully
           ,
           understand
           and
           comprehend
           what
           we
           do
           according
           to
           the
           dictates
           of
           reason
           and
           wisdom
           ,
           and
           the
           results
           of
           deliberate
           counsel
           and
           study
           :
           because
           life
           ,
           and
           sense
           ,
           and
           animal
           motion
           are
           not
           able
           to
           reach
           so
           far
           ,
           without
           the
           assistence
           of
           an
           higher
           and
           nobler
           faculty
           :
           what
           an
           unpardonable
           piece
           of
           arrogance
           is
           it
           for
           a
           man
           to
           think
           his
           reason
           able
           to
           comprehend
           the
           things
           of
           God
           ,
           when
           there
           is
           such
           an
           infinite
           disproportion
           between
           them
           ;
           and
           call
           in
           question
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           divine
           revelations
           ;
           and
           measure
           all
           by
           this
           crooked
           and
           deceitful
           rule
           ,
           whether
           it
           be
           agreeable
           to
           his
           phansie
           or
           not
           ?
           It
           is
           a
           most
           rational
           and
           infallible
           ground
           of
           faith
           ,
           that
           God
           ,
           who
           has
           revealed
           these
           mysteries
           ,
           cannot
           utter
           a
           falshood
           .
           It
           is
           more
           certain
           than
           demonstration
           ,
           if
           God
           has
           once
           said
           it
           .
           There
           are
           some
           monsters
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           whose
           lusts
           and
           debaucheries
           have
           suggested
           to
           them
           doubts
           about
           the
           being
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           truth
           of
           his
           attributes
           :
           and
           a
           consciousness
           of
           their
           guilt
           has
           made
           
           them
           wish
           ,
           that
           there
           were
           none
           .
           No
           one
           was
           ever
           found
           ,
           who
           acknowledged
           a
           God
           ,
           and
           did
           not
           at
           the
           same
           time
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           just
           and
           true
           .
           Pythagoras
           found
           no
           opposition
           ,
           when
           he
           taught
           ,
           that
           there
           were
           two
           things
           ,
           by
           which
           men
           became
           like
           to
           God
           ;
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           
             by
             speaking
             truth
             and
             doing
             good
             :
          
           both
           perfections
           naturally
           streaming
           from
           the
           divine
           nature
           .
           So
           that
           upon
           the
           whole
           matter
           it
           will
           appear
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           nothing
           but
           pride
           and
           a
           presumptuous
           conceit
           of
           mastering
           all
           the
           difficulties
           of
           religion
           by
           the
           strength
           of
           reason
           ,
           which
           put
           them
           upon
           the
           denial
           of
           these
           revealed
           truths
           ,
           and
           that
           this
           pride
           and
           presumption
           are
           altogether
           unjust
           and
           unreasonable
           .
           Which
           was
           the
           thing
           to
           be
           proved
           .
        
         
           From
           this
           necessary
           ,
           essential
           ,
           and
           fundamental
           notion
           of
           the
           divine
           power
           ,
           these
           following
           inferences
           ,
           relating
           to
           practise
           ,
           may
           most
           certainly
           be
           drawn
           :
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           we
           are
           to
           repose
           our
           whole
           trust
           and
           confidence
           in
           God
           ,
           whose
           power
           is
           infinite
           .
        
         
           We
           naturally
           fly
           in
           case
           of
           distress
           and
           danger
           to
           a
           power
           ,
           which
           is
           able
           to
           protect
           and
           relieve
           us
           .
           There
           is
           no
           man
           ,
           but
           needs
           a
           support
           some
           time
           or
           other
           .
           Men
           are
           not
           always
           able
           of
           themselves
           to
           resist
           successfully
           the
           assaults
           of
           envy
           and
           malice
           :
           but
           this
           way
           envy
           may
           be
           at
           last
           conquered
           ,
           and
           enemies
           brought
           over
           and
           reconciled
           ,
           or
           else
           defeated
           .
           Let
           this
           therefore
           be
           the
           great
           comfort
           of
           our
           minds
           ,
           that
           God
           is
           both
           able
           and
           ready
           to
           assist
           us
           in
           our
           utmost
           and
           greatest
           dangers
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           the
           particular
           difficulties
           and
           distresses
           of
           our
           lives
           ,
           which
           may
           befall
           us
           .
           It
           was
           a
           reflexion
           upon
           this
           ,
           which
           made
           David
           break
           out
           into
           those
           triumphant
           expressions
           :
           Psalm
           xlvi
           .
           1
           ,
           2
           ,
           3.
           
           
             God
             is
             our
             refuge
             and
             strength
             ,
             a
             very
             present
             help
             in
             trouble
             :
             therefore
             will
             we
             not
             fear
             ,
             tho'
             the
             earth
             be
             moved
             :
             and
             tho'
             the
             mountains
             be
             
             carried
             into
             the
             midst
             of
             the
             sea
             :
             tho'
             the
             waters
             roar
             and
             be
             troubled
             :
             tho'
             the
             mountains
             shake
             with
             the
             swelling
             thereof
             .
          
           And
           v.
           7.
           
           
             The
             Lord
             of
             hosts
             is
             with
             us
             :
             the
             God
             of
             Jacob
             is
             our
             refuge
             .
          
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           we
           are
           to
           stand
           in
           fear
           and
           awe
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           do
           nothing
           ,
           which
           may
           displease
           him
           .
        
         
           Fear
           is
           a
           passion
           ,
           which
           usually
           results
           from
           a
           reflexion
           upon
           power
           :
           and
           according
           to
           the
           nature
           and
           degrees
           of
           it
           ,
           the
           fear
           will
           rise
           and
           encrease
           proportionably
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           power
           of
           God
           ,
           who
           is
           able
           to
           punish
           us
           eternally
           ,
           is
           a
           most
           rational
           ground
           of
           fear
           .
           S.
           Luke
           xii
           .
           4
           ,
           5.
           says
           our
           B.
           Saviour
           to
           his
           disciples
           ;
           
             Be
             not
             afraid
             of
             them
             ,
             who
             kill
             the
             body
             ,
             and
             after
             that
             have
             no
             more
             ,
             that
             they
             can
             do
             :
             but
             I
             will
             forewarn
             you
             ,
             whom
             you
             shall
             fear
             ;
             fear
             him
             ,
             who
             ,
             after
             he
             hath
             killed
             ,
             hath
             power
             to
             cast
             into
             hell
             :
             yea
             ,
             I
             say
             unto
             you
             ,
             fear
             him
             .
          
           And
           with
           this
           argument
           the
           heroic
           woman
           encouraged
           her
           young
           son
           to
           endure
           the
           torments
           and
           cruelties
           of
           Antiochus
           ,
           as
           his
           six
           brothers
           had
           done
           before
           him
           ,
           rather
           than
           save
           his
           life
           by
           violation
           of
           the
           divine
           law
           :
           
             I
             beseech
             thee
             ,
             my
             son
             ,
             look
             upon
             the
             heaven
             ,
             and
             upon
             the
             earth
             ,
             and
             all
             that
             is
             therein
             :
             and
             consider
             ,
             that
             God
             has
             made
             them
             of
             things
             ,
             that
             were
             not
             ;
             and
             so
             was
             mankind
             made
             likewise
             .
             Fear
             not
             this
             tormentor
             ,
             but
             being
             worthy
             of
             thy
             brethren
             ,
             take
             thy
             death
             ,
             that
             I
             may
             receive
             thee
             again
             in
             mercy
             with
             thy
             brethren
             :
          
           as
           you
           may
           read
           the
           tragical
           history
           in
           the
           second
           book
           of
           Maccabees
           ,
           chap.
           vii
           .
           Whosoever
           reflects
           seriously
           *
           on
           God's
           infinite
           power
           ,
           will
           never
           presumptuously
           do
           such
           things
           ,
           as
           may
           draw
           on
           him
           his
           displeasure
           :
           and
           upon
           a
           true
           sense
           of
           his
           guilt
           ,
           will
           be
           restless
           ,
           till
           by
           repentance
           and
           a
           good
           life
           he
           is
           reinstated
           in
           the
           love
           and
           favour
           of
           God.
           
        
         
         
           3.
           
           That
           the
           sense
           of
           our
           weakness
           and
           defects
           should
           teach
           us
           humility
           and
           modesty
           in
           our
           enquiries
           into
           the
           great
           mysteries
           of
           religion
           :
           there
           being
           as
           great
           reason
           for
           us
           to
           submit
           our
           understanding
           to
           the
           revealed
           truths
           of
           Scripture
           ,
           as
           our
           will
           to
           its
           commands
           .
           He
           ,
           who
           religiously
           adores
           and
           believes
           a
           God
           ,
           and
           acknowledges
           him
           to
           be
           a
           being
           infinitely
           perfect
           ,
           will
           not
           dare
           to
           question
           the
           truth
           of
           his
           revelations
           :
           and
           as
           firmly
           will
           he
           believe
           ,
           that
           all
           those
           promises
           and
           threats
           ,
           which
           are
           contained
           in
           the
           holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           which
           have
           a
           reference
           to
           a
           future
           state
           ,
           shall
           one
           day
           be
           fulfilled
           .
           For
           with
           what
           pretense
           can
           any
           one
           doubt
           or
           disbelieve
           their
           fulfilling
           ,
           who
           reflects
           upon
           God's
           truth
           and
           power
           ?
           All
           doubt
           or
           distrust
           ariseth
           from
           a
           double
           cause
           ,
           either
           because
           men
           are
           not
           real
           in
           what
           they
           say
           ,
           and
           so
           intend
           it
           not
           :
           or
           else
           want
           power
           to
           make
           their
           words
           good
           :
           neither
           of
           which
           can
           possibly
           have
           any
           place
           here
           .
           For
           God
           is
           a
           God
           of
           infinite
           veracity
           ,
           and
           all
           his
           promises
           are
           infallibly
           real
           and
           firm
           :
           and
           he
           is
           able
           to
           perform
           them
           .
           We
           value
           not
           indeed
           those
           menaces
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           effects
           of
           an
           impotent
           passion
           ;
           when
           we
           are
           out
           of
           their
           power
           ,
           and
           when
           they
           cannot
           reach
           us
           :
           but
           there
           will
           be
           no
           flying
           from
           God
           :
           his
           eye
           and
           hand
           will
           find
           and
           lay
           hold
           on
           us
           ,
           wherever
           we
           are
           .
           He
           ,
           who
           made
           me
           at
           first
           ,
           and
           placed
           the
           several
           parts
           of
           my
           body
           in
           that
           comely
           order
           ,
           in
           which
           they
           stand
           ,
           and
           which
           from
           time
           to
           time
           in
           
             continuance
          
           and
           in
           the
           succession
           of
           a
           few
           months
           
             were
             fashioned
             ,
             when
             as
             yet
             there
             was
             none
             of
             them
             ,
          
           he
           can
           raise
           up
           this
           very
           body
           at
           the
           last
           day
           ,
           and
           will
           raise
           it
           up
           :
           and
           of
           this
           I
           cannot
           pretend
           to
           have
           the
           least
           rational
           doubt
           ,
           were
           it
           ten
           thousand
           times
           more
           difficult
           to
           conceive
           ,
           than
           it
           is
           :
           because
           he
           has
           absolutely
           promised
           it
           ,
           and
           his
           veracity
           is
           obliged
           for
           it
           ,
           and
           his
           infinite
           power
           can
           easily
           make
           it
           good
           .
           Does
           God
           threaten
           impenitent
           and
           incorrigible
           sinners
           with
           everlasting
           torment
           
           in
           hell
           ;
           I
           with
           trembling
           submit
           to
           the
           truth
           of
           this
           threatning
           :
           because
           he
           can
           easily
           continue
           a
           creature
           in
           a
           miserable
           being
           ,
           unconsumed
           ,
           and
           that
           for
           ever
           :
           and
           I
           know
           he
           will
           do
           it
           ,
           because
           he
           has
           said
           it
           .
           And
           upon
           this
           belief
           and
           assurance
           we
           are
           to
           provide
           accordingly
           ,
           that
           so
           we
           may
           avoid
           the
           strokes
           ,
           the
           fierceness
           ,
           the
           terribleness
           of
           his
           revenging
           hand
           ,
           and
           may
           partake
           of
           those
           most
           glorious
           promises
           ,
           which
           his
           goodness
           and
           mercy
           in
           Christ
           our
           Saviour
           has
           made
           over
           to
           us
           in
           this
           life
           ,
           and
           which
           his
           infinite
           power
           will
           make
           good
           to
           us
           for
           ever
           in
           the
           next
           .
        
      
       
         
         
         
           A
           DISCOURSE
           ABOUT
           THE
           CERTAINTY
           and
           EVIDENCE
           OF
           A
           Future
           State.
           
        
         
           HOW
           much
           it
           is
           below
           a
           man
           to
           busie
           himself
           wholly
           in
           the
           pursuit
           of
           earthly
           things
           ,
           whether
           honour
           ,
           wealth
           ,
           or
           pleasure
           ;
           and
           how
           contemptible
           a
           creature
           he
           is
           ,
           notwithstanding
           all
           his
           acquists
           of
           outward
           greatness
           ,
           unless
           he
           does
           raise
           his
           mind
           to
           the
           contemplation
           of
           better
           and
           nobler
           objects
           ,
           whosoever
           will
           reflect
           seriously
           upon
           the
           nature
           and
           faculties
           of
           the
           mind
           ,
           by
           which
           he
           is
           enabled
           to
           discourse
           ,
           and
           reason
           ,
           and
           judge
           of
           things
           and
           of
           their
           consequences
           ,
           unless
           he
           is
           utterly
           forsaken
           by
           his
           reason
           ,
           and
           governed
           by
           brutal
           appetite
           ,
           will
           be
           forced
           to
           acknowledge
           .
           Besides
           ,
           there
           are
           such
           continual
           changes
           and
           vicissitudes
           of
           things
           here
           below
           ,
           so
           much
           uncertainty
           in
           them
           ,
           and
           withal
           ,
           so
           little
           satisfaction
           to
           the
           rational
           desires
           of
           the
           soul
           ,
           such
           intermixtures
           of
           good
           and
           evil
           ,
           ebbs
           and
           flows
           of
           prosperity
           ,
           
           sickness
           ,
           and
           discontent
           ,
           and
           disappointments
           ,
           and
           various
           anxieties
           ,
           arising
           from
           irregular
           passion
           and
           distemper
           of
           bloud
           and
           humours
           ,
           and
           a
           thousand
           evil
           accidents
           ,
           which
           no
           wisdom
           or
           care
           can
           prevent
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           flattering
           intervals
           of
           health
           ,
           and
           ease
           ,
           and
           pleasurable
           self-enjoyment
           ,
           taking
           up
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           our
           lives
           ,
           and
           death
           at
           last
           ,
           after
           three
           or
           fourscore
           years
           at
           most
           ,
           seizing
           upon
           us
           ,
           that
           ,
           even
           according
           to
           the
           judgment
           of
           natural
           reason
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           refined
           Heathen
           have
           acknowledged
           it
           ,
           the
           condition
           of
           humane
           life
           would
           be
           very
           miserable
           ,
           and
           all
           things
           considered
           ,
           inferior
           to
           that
           of
           other
           creatures
           ,
           if
           there
           were
           no
           life
           hereafter
           in
           another
           world
           .
           Nay
           ,
           amidst
           those
           corrupt
           principles
           ,
           which
           barbarousness
           and
           sensuality
           had
           super-induced
           among
           the
           wilder
           sort
           of
           Heathen
           ,
           immersed
           in
           blind
           and
           stupid
           ignorance
           ,
           and
           destitute
           of
           all
           helps
           and
           methods
           of
           knowledge
           and
           learning
           ,
           they
           yet
           retained
           a
           belief
           and
           exspectation
           of
           another
           state
           after
           this
           life
           :
           this
           could
           not
           be
           wholly
           effaced
           out
           of
           their
           minds
           and
           memories
           :
           these
           thoughts
           pursued
           them
           ,
           wherever
           they
           went
           :
           and
           when
           they
           met
           with
           violence
           and
           hardship
           ,
           and
           were
           oppressed
           by
           the
           irresistible
           strength
           of
           invaders
           ,
           and
           suffered
           unjustly
           ,
           in
           all
           these
           straits
           and
           difficulties
           ,
           they
           comforted
           themselves
           with
           faint
           hopes
           of
           it
           :
           and
           tho'
           they
           could
           not
           by
           reason
           of
           fatal
           prejudices
           and
           prepossessions
           ,
           taken
           up
           from
           sense
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           want
           of
           the
           true
           knowledge
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           his
           attributes
           ,
           have
           any
           just
           apprehension
           or
           notion
           of
           the
           resurrection
           of
           the
           body
           ,
           yet
           they
           all
           concluded
           unanimously
           for
           the
           life
           ,
           and
           being
           ,
           and
           subsistence
           of
           the
           soul.
           
        
         
           So
           that
           the
           wild
           and
           savage
           people
           of
           Afric
           and
           America
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           more
           civilized
           ,
           and
           cultivated
           by
           philosophy
           and
           the
           discipline
           of
           laws
           ,
           give
           in
           full
           evidence
           against
           the
           Atheistical
           wits
           of
           the
           age
           ,
           who
           with
           an
           unparallel'd
           boldness
           maintain
           ,
           that
           when
           a
           man
           has
           acted
           his
           part
           in
           this
           life
           ,
           he
           goes
           off
           the
           stage
           ,
           and
           disappears
           for
           
           ever
           ,
           that
           the
           soul
           like
           a
           flame
           ,
           when
           the
           matter
           ,
           which
           fed
           it
           ,
           is
           spent
           ,
           is
           wholly
           extinguished
           ,
           and
           
             vanishes
             into
             soft
             air
             ;
             that
             we
             came
             into
             the
             world
             by
             meer
             chance
             ,
             and
             shall
             be
             hereafter
             ,
             as
             tho'
             we
             had
             never
             been
             :
          
           as
           the
           Author
           of
           the
           book
           of
           Wisdom
           elegantly
           brings
           in
           the
           Gallants
           of
           his
           time
           triumphing
           and
           entertaining
           themselves
           with
           such
           idle
           ,
           phantastick
           ,
           and
           irrational
           hopes
           ;
           chap.
           ii
           .
           2.
           and
           that
           when
           a
           man
           dyes
           ,
           there
           is
           an
           utter
           end
           of
           him
           ,
           a
           dissolution
           of
           soul
           as
           well
           as
           body
           ,
           every
           element
           taking
           its
           own
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           swallowed
           up
           in
           the
           universal
           mass
           of
           matter
           ,
           out
           of
           which
           it
           was
           at
           first
           made
           :
           singing
           out
           with
           the
           chorus
           in
           Seneca's
           Troas
           :
        
         
           
             Quaeris
             quo
             jaceas
             post
             obitum
             loco
             ?
          
           
             Quo
             non
             nata
             jacent
             .
          
        
         
           and
           ,
        
         
           
             Post
             mortem
             nihil
             est
             ,
             ipsaque
             mors
             nihil
             .
          
        
         
           But
           it
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           exspected
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Heathen
           ,
           that
           they
           ,
           whose
           eyes
           were
           dim
           and
           weak
           ,
           and
           who
           were
           involved
           in
           thick
           clouds
           and
           mists
           of
           ignorance
           ,
           should
           have
           a
           clear
           view
           and
           prospect
           of
           another
           world
           ,
           and
           that
           those
           heavenly
           objects
           should
           appear
           to
           them
           ,
           whose
           understandings
           were
           darkned
           with
           false
           notions
           and
           principles
           ,
           in
           their
           full
           brightness
           .
           However
           ,
           it
           is
           most
           certain
           ,
           that
           they
           did
           believe
           a
           life
           after
           this
           :
           and
           made
           it
           the
           great
           incentive
           and
           encouragement
           of
           virtue
           and
           courage
           in
           dying
           for
           their
           country
           :
           and
           when
           they
           did
           ill
           ,
           and
           that
           in
           the
           dark
           ,
           with
           all
           possible
           secrecy
           and
           undisturbance
           ,
           and
           with
           all
           security
           ,
           under
           no
           restraint
           of
           law
           ,
           or
           fear
           of
           punishment
           ;
           yet
           their
           hearts
           misgave
           them
           ,
           and
           in
           private
           and
           alone
           they
           dreaded
           the
           evil
           effects
           and
           consequences
           of
           their
           guilt
           .
           I
           am
           not
           backward
           to
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           this
           opinion
           ,
           belief
           ,
           and
           exspectation
           of
           another
           life
           ,
           might
           be
           oftentimes
           clogg'd
           in
           
           the
           best
           of
           them
           with
           mixtures
           of
           doubts
           :
           the
           prepossessions
           of
           sense
           stifling
           the
           dictates
           of
           right
           reason
           and
           the
           suggestions
           of
           natural
           conscience
           .
           Even
           that
           excellent
           person
           ,
           Socrates
           ,
           who
           was
           one
           of
           the
           first
           among
           the
           Greeks
           ,
           who
           freed
           his
           reason
           from
           the
           entanglement
           of
           vulgar
           opinions
           in
           matters
           of
           religion
           and
           moral
           philosophy
           ,
           which
           the
           corrupt
           Theology
           of
           their
           Poets
           had
           introduced
           ,
           and
           who
           died
           as
           it
           were
           a
           Martyr
           for
           the
           unity
           of
           the
           Godhead
           ,
           spake
           somewhat
           doubtfully
           of
           it
           in
           the
           discourse
           he
           had
           with
           his
           friends
           ,
           the
           very
           day
           of
           his
           death
           :
           the
           sum
           of
           which
           is
           preserved
           by
           Plato
           in
           his
           dialogue
           ,
           
           entitled
           
             Phoedo
             ,
          
           or
           
             of
             the
             soul.
          
           He
           said
           ,
           
             he
             would
             not
             be
             positive
             and
             dogmatical
             :
          
           but
           however
           he
           profest
           his
           hope
           ,
           that
           he
           should
           pass
           immediately
           to
           the
           company
           of
           those
           good
           men
           ,
           who
           died
           before
           him
           ,
           whose
           souls
           survived
           in
           some
           happy
           place
           he
           knew
           not
           where
           .
           This
           was
           far
           from
           the
           heroick
           and
           steady
           assurance
           of
           S.
           
             Paul
             ,
          
           who
           after
           his
           second
           appearance
           before
           Nero
           ,
           when
           he
           saw
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           nothing
           but
           death
           to
           be
           exspected
           from
           the
           Tyrant
           and
           his
           bloudy
           Officers
           ,
           triumphs
           in
           his
           neer
           approaches
           to
           it
           ,
           as
           the
           entrance
           to
           a
           blessed
           immortality
           .
           2
           Tim.
           ii
           .
           6
           ,
           7
           ,
           8.
           
           
             I
             am
             now
             ready
             to
             be
             offered
             ,
             and
             the
             time
             of
             my
             departure
             is
             at
             hand
             .
             I
             have
             fought
             a
             good
             fight
             :
             I
             have
             finished
             my
             course
             :
             I
             have
             kept
             the
             faith
             :
             henceforth
             is
             laid
             up
             for
             me
             a
             crown
             of
             righteousness
             ,
             which
             the
             Lord
             ,
             the
             righteous
             judge
             ,
             shall
             give
             me
             at
             that
             day
             .
          
           He
           seemed
           as
           sure
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           had
           had
           the
           crown
           upon
           his
           head
           ,
           and
           had
           been
           actually
           in
           heaven
           .
           What
           Philosophy
           can
           scarce
           reach
           ,
           being
           at
           that
           vast
           distance
           from
           it
           ,
           that
           Christianity
           easily
           discovers
           .
           Reason
           is
           the
           same
           in
           all
           mankind
           ;
           but
           reason
           ,
           assisted
           by
           revelation
           ,
           is
           like
           the
           eye
           armed
           with
           a
           Telescope
           :
           it
           not
           only
           sees
           things
           clearer
           and
           better
           ,
           but
           discovers
           new
           objects
           ;
           such
           as
           before
           lay
           hid
           ,
           and
           were
           indiscernible
           to
           the
           naked
           sight
           .
           A
           Christian
           man
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           if
           he
           be
           more
           so
           ,
           than
           in
           profession
           ,
           and
           if
           his
           immoralities
           
           have
           not
           altogether
           corrupted
           his
           mind
           ,
           and
           plunged
           him
           into
           the
           very
           dregs
           of
           infidelity
           ,
           cannot
           at
           all
           doubt
           of
           a
           future
           state
           .
           He
           looks
           upon
           himself
           as
           a
           pilgrime
           ,
           and
           is
           travelling
           toward
           a
           better
           country
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           a
           heavenly
           :
           
             here
             he
             has
             no
             continuing
             city
             ,
             but
             looks
             for
             one
             to
             come
             .
          
           His
           hopes
           are
           fixed
           elsewhere
           :
           and
           the
           doctrine
           of
           faith
           assures
           him
           of
           the
           certainty
           and
           reality
           of
           his
           hopes
           ,
           and
           plentifully
           affords
           him
           good
           and
           well
           settled
           and
           unmoveable
           grounds
           ,
           upon
           which
           his
           expectation
           is
           founded
           .
        
         
           But
           setting
           aside
           the
           proofs
           from
           the
           clear
           ,
           and
           full
           ,
           and
           uncontrollable
           revelations
           of
           Scripture
           concerning
           the
           different
           states
           and
           conditions
           of
           happiness
           and
           misery
           in
           the
           other
           world
           :
           as
           having
           now
           to
           do
           with
           men
           ,
           who
           throw
           off
           all
           belief
           of
           the
           sacred
           writings
           of
           the
           Prophets
           and
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           reject
           their
           authority
           ;
           in
           order
           to
           their
           conviction
           I
           will
           only
           make
           use
           of
           arguments
           drawn
           from
           the
           principles
           of
           reason
           and
           of
           natural
           religion
           ,
           which
           they
           pretend
           to
           admit
           and
           embrace
           ,
           in
           proving
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           things
           to
           be
           hoped
           for
           and
           feared
           in
           another
           world
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           rewards
           and
           punishments
           to
           be
           distributed
           hereafter
           according
           to
           our
           good
           or
           ill
           behaviour
           in
           this
           life
           :
           and
           that
           a
           full
           ,
           and
           positive
           ,
           and
           satisfactory
           proof
           of
           this
           is
           derivable
           from
           the
           nature
           of
           things
           ,
           and
           that
           such
           evidence
           is
           sufficient
           ,
           and
           cannot
           with
           any
           shew
           or
           pretense
           of
           reason
           be
           rejected
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           only
           by
           way
           of
           preliminary
           lay
           down
           this
           following
           proposition
           ,
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           which
           these
           men
           cannot
           but
           be
           fully
           sensible
           ;
           
             viz.
          
           that
           the
           belief
           of
           this
           natural
           truth
           ,
           so
           universally
           received
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           in
           all
           ages
           and
           among
           all
           nations
           ,
           is
           very
           conducive
           to
           ,
           and
           has
           a
           mighty
           influence
           upon
           ,
           the
           well-being
           of
           the
           world
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           indeed
           one
           of
           the
           grand
           bases
           and
           principles
           of
           all
           religion
           ,
           whether
           natural
           ,
           or
           prescribed
           by
           positive
           institution
           .
           If
           all
           things
           were
           to
           end
           here
           ,
           and
           no
           exspectation
           
           of
           any
           thing
           future
           ,
           men
           would
           little
           care
           to
           be
           virtuous
           or
           religious
           for
           virtues
           or
           religions
           sake
           .
           For
           tho'
           to
           live
           virtuously
           and
           religiously
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           law
           of
           nature
           and
           the
           law
           of
           God
           ,
           be
           agreeable
           to
           our
           rational
           faculties
           ,
           and
           creates
           a
           greater
           joy
           and
           serenity
           in
           the
           mind
           ,
           than
           what
           all
           earthly
           ,
           sensual
           ,
           and
           brutal
           pleasures
           ,
           enjoyed
           to
           their
           full
           height
           ,
           can
           afford
           ,
           and
           consequently
           does
           carry
           along
           with
           it
           its
           own
           reward
           :
           yet
           it
           is
           justly
           to
           be
           feared
           ,
           that
           the
           satisfaction
           of
           having
           done
           ones
           duty
           would
           be
           judged
           meager
           and
           empty
           in
           respect
           of
           those
           gross
           delights
           of
           the
           senses
           ,
           and
           be
           lookt
           upon
           as
           the
           effect
           of
           melancholy
           and
           chagrin
           ,
           and
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           of
           mistake
           and
           folly
           ;
           and
           that
           religion
           would
           have
           but
           few
           votaries
           upon
           this
           noble
           and
           generous
           principle
           .
           The
           only
           business
           then
           of
           life
           would
           be
           how
           to
           be
           rich
           and
           great
           :
           strength
           would
           be
           the
           law
           of
           justice
           ,
           and
           right
           and
           title
           measured
           out
           by
           the
           longest
           sword
           .
           Innocence
           would
           be
           no
           security
           against
           oppression
           and
           violence
           ;
           but
           rather
           their
           sport
           and
           prey
           .
           Luxury
           would
           go
           hand
           in
           hand
           with
           ambition
           :
           pleasures
           ,
           tho'
           never
           so
           unmanly
           and
           impure
           ,
           should
           be
           wanting
           to
           no
           sense
           :
           the
           appetite
           should
           be
           sated
           with
           wine
           and
           lust
           ,
           and
           then
           raised
           again
           with
           charming
           incentives
           and
           provocatives
           .
           Men
           would
           play
           the
           beasts
           more
           solemnly
           ,
           make
           the
           whole
           creation
           administer
           to
           their
           wantonness
           and
           riot
           ,
           and
           spend
           their
           whole
           time
           in
           the
           excesses
           of
           extravagant
           mirth
           and
           jollity
           .
           Conscience
           ,
           alas
           ,
           and
           honesty
           would
           be
           accompted
           meer
           empty
           names
           :
           corrupt
           interest
           and
           policy
           would
           raise
           themselves
           upon
           the
           ruines
           of
           religion
           and
           morality
           .
           Deceit
           and
           evil
           arts
           should
           soon
           take
           place
           ,
           where
           there
           was
           no
           hope
           of
           prevailing
           by
           open
           force
           .
           A
           mans
           own
           will
           ,
           were
           it
           never
           so
           unreasonable
           ,
           should
           be
           the
           onely
           rule
           of
           his
           life
           :
           and
           the
           gratification
           of
           an
           irregular
           appetite
           should
           be
           the
           onely
           law
           of
           his
           mind
           .
        
         
         
           Next
           ,
           the
           belief
           of
           this
           fundamental
           truth
           is
           the
           great
           and
           necessary
           support
           of
           government
           .
           It
           is
           like
           the
           middle
           stone
           of
           an
           arch
           ,
           which
           sustains
           the
           whole
           building
           :
           it
           keeps
           the
           world
           from
           falling
           into
           confusion
           ,
           and
           relapsing
           into
           its
           original
           chaos
           .
           All
           government
           would
           quickly
           be
           at
           an
           end
           :
           laws
           would
           not
           have
           sufficient
           strength
           to
           hold
           men
           in
           to
           their
           duty
           ;
           at
           least
           ,
           they
           would
           be
           like
           spiders
           webbs
           ,
           onely
           proper
           to
           entangle
           petty
           offenders
           ,
           who
           could
           not
           break
           through
           them
           .
           They
           would
           no
           longer
           obey
           ,
           than
           they
           were
           forced
           :
           they
           would
           be
           impatient
           of
           living
           under
           such
           restraints
           ,
           which
           ,
           as
           some
           of
           our
           modern
           Virtuosi
           pretend
           ,
           abridge
           them
           of
           their
           natural
           liberty
           :
           and
           if
           so
           ,
           they
           were
           to
           be
           treated
           like
           wild
           beasts
           ,
           and
           pent
           up
           in
           dens
           and
           caves
           from
           doing
           mischief
           .
           Every
           man
           would
           pretend
           to
           have
           a
           right
           to
           every
           thing
           :
           and
           Mr.
           Hobbs's
           absurd
           and
           phantastic
           hypothesis
           about
           the
           state
           of
           nature
           would
           be
           really
           introduced
           into
           the
           world
           by
           innumerable
           instances
           and
           examples
           of
           cruelty
           and
           injustice
           ,
           to
           the
           shame
           of
           humane
           nature
           ,
           and
           utter
           overthrow
           of
           humane
           race
           .
           Such
           continued
           clashings
           and
           fightings
           would
           be
           more
           fatal
           and
           pernicious
           ,
           than
           plagues
           ,
           hurricanes
           ,
           earthquakes
           ,
           and
           inundations
           ,
           and
           would
           quickly
           dispeople
           the
           earth
           of
           all
           its
           inhabitants
           .
           It
           is
           the
           belief
           of
           another
           world
           ,
           which
           secures
           government
           ,
           preserves
           authority
           ,
           and
           gives
           strength
           to
           laws
           .
        
         
           Fear
           and
           hope
           have
           a
           great
           influence
           upon
           our
           lives
           :
           they
           are
           very
           imperious
           passions
           ,
           and
           shew
           their
           power
           sufficiently
           in
           all
           the
           great
           transactions
           of
           mankind
           ,
           which
           are
           done
           with
           reason
           and
           design
           .
           They
           are
           natural
           to
           us
           ,
           and
           will
           never
           forsake
           us
           :
           and
           their
           strength
           increaseth
           proportionably
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           nature
           ,
           and
           quality
           ,
           and
           degrees
           of
           those
           rewards
           and
           punishments
           ,
           on
           which
           they
           are
           fixt
           .
           Now
           if
           these
           rewards
           and
           punishments
           
           were
           only
           ,
           temporary
           ,
           if
           after
           death
           there
           were
           nothing
           further
           to
           be
           feared
           or
           hoped
           for
           ,
           men
           would
           not
           value
           the
           utmost
           severity
           of
           law
           ,
           to
           gratifie
           a
           passion
           ,
           suppose
           lust
           or
           revenge
           :
           they
           would
           willingly
           run
           the
           hazard
           of
           dying
           ,
           so
           as
           that
           they
           might
           either
           enjoy
           their
           extravagant
           phansies
           ,
           or
           ruine
           and
           dispatch
           their
           enemy
           :
           death
           in
           it self
           being
           not
           so
           terrible
           ,
           (
           the
           fear
           of
           which
           several
           passions
           can
           easily
           overcome
           )
           but
           as
           it
           is
           a
           passage
           to
           eternity
           .
           He
           ,
           who
           is
           grown
           so
           desperate
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           value
           his
           own
           life
           ,
           is
           easily
           master
           of
           another
           mans
           :
           and
           nothing
           could
           deter
           such
           an
           one
           from
           acting
           the
           greatest
           villany
           imaginable
           .
        
         
           But
           now
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           rewards
           and
           punishments
           after
           this
           life
           ended
           ,
           if
           these
           rewards
           and
           punishments
           be
           everlasting
           ,
           if
           these
           everlasting
           rewards
           and
           punishments
           be
           dispensed
           and
           proportioned
           according
           to
           the
           actions
           and
           behaviours
           of
           men
           here
           in
           this
           world
           ,
           if
           this
           be
           certain
           ,
           and
           if
           it
           be
           believed
           and
           exspected
           as
           certain
           ,
           the
           just
           and
           well
           grounded
           hope
           of
           future
           happiness
           will
           powerfully
           perswade
           and
           incite
           us
           to
           the
           practises
           of
           a
           virtuous
           and
           holy
           life
           ;
           and
           the
           fear
           and
           dreadful
           exspectation
           of
           future
           endless
           misery
           will
           as
           powerfully
           deter
           us
           from
           the
           commission
           of
           those
           wickednesses
           ,
           which
           render
           us
           justly
           obnoxious
           to
           such
           punishments
           .
           For
           who
           would
           not
           be
           happy
           for
           ever
           ,
           if
           he
           either
           might
           or
           could
           ?
           who
           in
           his
           right
           wits
           and
           calm
           thoughts
           would
           be
           content
           to
           be
           miserable
           to
           eternal
           ages
           ?
           who
           would
           make
           it
           his
           choice
           to
           be
           damned
           ,
           if
           he
           might
           avoid
           it
           ?
        
         
           Now
           as
           to
           the
           proof
           of
           a
           future
           state
           from
           the
           principles
           of
           natural
           religion
           ,
           the
           certainty
           and
           evidence
           of
           it
           are
           founded
           on
           the
           justice
           of
           God
           and
           his
           governing
           power
           :
           which
           render
           it
           undeniably
           necessary
           .
        
         
           Nothing
           perplext
           the
           minds
           of
           the
           ancient
           Philosophers
           more
           ,
           than
           to
           see
           righteous
           and
           virtuous
           men
           oftentimes
           
           afflicted
           and
           opprest
           ,
           and
           the
           wicked
           and
           dissolute
           prosperous
           and
           triumphant
           .
           No
           phaenomenon
           whatever
           ,
           which
           they
           pretended
           might
           be
           solved
           and
           accompted
           for
           by
           their
           several
           hypotheses
           ,
           without
           interesting
           a
           Deity
           at
           all
           in
           their
           solutions
           ,
           troubled
           them
           so
           much
           ,
           as
           this
           :
           these
           difficulties
           were
           great
           and
           perplext
           ,
           and
           disagreeable
           ,
           as
           they
           thought
           ,
           to
           the
           common
           notions
           of
           reason
           ,
           equity
           ,
           and
           justice
           ,
           imprinted
           upon
           their
           minds
           :
           so
           that
           in
           the
           tumultuous
           workings
           of
           their
           thoughts
           ,
           they
           began
           to
           question
           ,
           whether
           God
           (
           for
           such
           a
           supreme
           being
           they
           could
           not
           ,
           they
           durst
           not
           deny
           )
           had
           any
           thing
           to
           do
           in
           the
           government
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           who
           permitted
           such
           disorders
           ,
           and
           seemed
           so
           unconcerned
           .
           But
           upon
           wise
           thoughts
           and
           sedate
           deliberation
           they
           quickly
           recovered
           ,
           and
           generally
           condemned
           the
           doctrine
           of
           Epicurus
           ,
           and
           readily
           acknowledged
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           great
           revolutions
           ,
           that
           were
           in
           the
           world
           ,
           all
           the
           odd
           and
           strange
           events
           of
           things
           ,
           and
           the
           different
           conditions
           of
           life
           ,
           as
           to
           good
           and
           evil
           ,
           so
           seemingly
           repugnant
           to
           the
           rules
           of
           right
           and
           wrong
           ,
           were
           for
           wise
           ends
           and
           purposes
           permitted
           to
           come
           to
           pass
           :
           that
           there
           was
           a
           soveraign
           infinite
           being
           ,
           who
           governs
           the
           world
           according
           to
           his
           will
           and
           pleasure
           ;
           and
           that
           all
           things
           are
           subject
           to
           the
           rules
           and
           laws
           of
           his
           wisdom
           and
           providence
           .
           This
           ,
           after
           all
           their
           researches
           into
           the
           causes
           and
           reasons
           of
           things
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           great
           difficulties
           ,
           wherewith
           they
           had
           been
           entangled
           ,
           was
           generally
           acknowledged
           by
           them
           ,
           as
           the
           voice
           and
           dictate
           of
           universal
           nature
           and
           clear
           and
           right
           reason
           .
           The
           Schools
           of
           all
           the
           sober
           Masters
           and
           Professors
           of
           Philosophy
           ,
           both
           at
           Athens
           and
           Rome
           ,
           sounded
           with
           this
           doctrine
           :
           and
           all
           ,
           who
           pretended
           to
           virtue
           ,
           and
           honour
           ,
           and
           understanding
           ,
           very
           few
           excepted
           ,
           embraced
           it
           .
           It
           was
           to
           the
           belief
           of
           this
           prime
           truth
           ,
           and
           the
           practises
           of
           religion
           grounded
           upon
           it
           ,
           that
           the
           wise
           
           and
           judicious
           *
           
             Cicero
          
           ascribed
           the
           astonishing
           success
           of
           the
           Roman
           Arms
           in
           the
           several
           distant
           parts
           of
           the
           then
           known
           world
           ,
           where
           their
           victorious
           eagles
           percht
           ;
           that
           it
           was
           not
           ,
           because
           they
           were
           more
           numerous
           ,
           or
           excelled
           either
           in
           the
           arts
           of
           policy
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           art
           of
           war
           ,
           (
           as
           if
           the
           Galls
           or
           the
           Carthaginians
           had
           been
           inferiour
           to
           them
           in
           valour
           and
           discipline
           ,
           for
           they
           had
           had
           frequent
           experience
           of
           the
           contrary
           ,
           and
           had
           been
           sadly
           distrest
           by
           both
           ;
           and
           Brennus
           and
           Hannibal
           were
           names
           ,
           which
           had
           made
           Rome
           to
           tremble
           ,
           or
           as
           if
           the
           other
           nations
           ,
           as
           the
           Greeks
           ,
           or
           the
           Spaniards
           ,
           or
           even
           their
           own
           neighbours
           and
           countrymen
           ,
           the
           Italians
           and
           Latines
           themselves
           ,
           whom
           they
           conquered
           ,
           and
           brought
           under
           the
           jurisdiction
           of
           their
           imperial
           City
           ,
           were
           not
           so
           numerous
           ,
           or
           not
           so
           cunning
           and
           ingenious
           ,
           and
           excellent
           in
           discipline
           and
           civil
           arts
           and
           accomplishments
           of
           life
           )
           
             sed
             pietate
             atque
             religione
             ,
             atque
             hac
             una
             sapientia
             ,
             quod
             Deorum
             immortalium
             numine
             omnia
             regi
             gubernarique
             perspeximus
             :
             but
             in
             piety
             and
             religion
             ,
             and
             in
             this
             peculiar
             wisdom
             ,
             that
             they
             acknowledged
             ,
             that
             the
             great
             affairs
             of
             the
             world
             ,
             and
             all
             things
             in
             it
             ,
             were
             governed
             and
             over-ruled
             by
             a
             Deity
             .
          
           This
           truth
           they
           retained
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           grievous
           errors
           ,
           which
           they
           had
           taken
           up
           concerning
           the
           multiplicity
           of
           inferior
           Gods
           ,
           and
           the
           horrible
           and
           shameful
           scandals
           of
           their
           idolatrous
           worship
           .
           But
           our
           improved
           reason
           ,
           enlightned
           with
           the
           knowledge
           of
           the
           true
           God
           ,
           does
           more
           fully
           and
           clearly
           ,
           upon
           just
           and
           easie
           reflexions
           ,
           prove
           and
           make
           manifest
           to
           us
           ,
           that
           God
           ,
           who
           created
           the
           universe
           ,
           is
           an
           alwise
           God
           ,
           holy
           ,
           just
           ,
           and
           true
           ;
           that
           righteousness
           is
           essential
           to
           his
           nature
           ;
           that
           nothing
           comes
           to
           pass
           ,
           or
           can
           
           come
           to
           pass
           without
           his
           appointment
           ,
           at
           least
           without
           his
           permission
           ;
           that
           what
           now
           seems
           disorder
           and
           chance
           ,
           is
           wise
           contrivance
           and
           design
           ;
           and
           that
           all
           the
           confusions
           brought
           upon
           the
           world
           ,
           tend
           to
           illustrate
           God's
           wisdom
           and
           power
           ,
           who
           can
           and
           will
           bring
           beauty
           and
           order
           out
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           If
           all
           things
           then
           in
           the
           world
           are
           under
           a
           law
           ,
           the
           law
           of
           their
           respective
           natures
           ,
           and
           act
           according
           to
           the
           established
           laws
           of
           their
           creation
           ;
           and
           if
           there
           be
           an
           over-ruling
           providence
           seen
           every
           where
           :
           man
           certainly
           ,
           who
           is
           capable
           of
           a
           law
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           his
           intellectual
           faculties
           and
           liberty
           of
           will
           ,
           cannot
           be
           supposed
           left
           to
           himself
           ,
           to
           act
           ,
           as
           he
           wantonly
           pleaseth
           ,
           without
           being
           accomptable
           to
           a
           superior
           power
           .
           He
           ,
           who
           made
           him
           ,
           and
           continues
           his
           being
           to
           him
           ,
           has
           a
           right
           to
           govern
           him
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           may
           ,
           if
           he
           will
           ,
           lay
           down
           laws
           and
           rules
           for
           the
           right
           ordering
           of
           his
           life
           :
           and
           he
           has
           actually
           done
           so
           :
           and
           every
           man
           is
           conscious
           to
           himself
           ,
           that
           he
           is
           obliged
           by
           virtue
           of
           his
           creation
           and
           dependence
           upon
           God
           to
           obey
           that
           law
           .
           Now
           it
           is
           not
           so
           much
           the
           equity
           ,
           the
           agreeableness
           ,
           the
           advantage
           ,
           or
           necessity
           of
           a
           law
           ,
           as
           the
           sanction
           ,
           which
           makes
           it
           to
           be
           obeyed
           ,
           and
           preserves
           it
           inviolable
           .
           If
           God
           then
           be
           the
           governour
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           and
           particularly
           of
           mankind
           ,
           and
           if
           he
           governs
           man
           according
           to
           the
           laws
           and
           rules
           of
           justice
           ,
           the
           necessary
           and
           fundamental
           maximes
           of
           government
           will
           oblige
           us
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           he
           will
           accordingly
           reward
           and
           punish
           .
           
             There
             is
             one
             Law-giver
             ,
             who
             is
             able
             to
             save
             ,
             and
             to
             destroy
             .
          
           But
           we
           see
           daily
           ,
           how
           the
           laws
           of
           God
           are
           violated
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           violators
           of
           them
           oftentimes
           escape
           unpunished
           in
           this
           life
           :
           and
           we
           know
           ,
           what
           ill
           use
           impatient
           and
           inconsiderate
           men
           have
           made
           of
           this
           forbearance
           and
           long-suffering
           of
           God.
           Is
           not
           bloud-thirsty
           cruelty
           ,
           for
           instance
           ,
           a
           manifest
           breach
           of
           the
           law
           natural
           
           and
           divine
           ?
           that
           multitudes
           of
           innocent
           persons
           should
           be
           sacrificed
           to
           the
           revengeful
           and
           wanton
           humour
           of
           a
           Tyrant
           ;
           which
           was
           the
           case
           of
           the
           primitive
           Christians
           during
           the
           reigns
           of
           the
           heathen
           Roman
           Emperours
           :
           who
           does
           not
           detest
           as
           impious
           and
           inhumane
           ?
           yet
           how
           many
           of
           them
           ,
           who
           have
           been
           guilty
           of
           this
           barbarity
           ,
           have
           left
           the
           world
           without
           any
           mark
           of
           the
           divine
           vengeance
           upon
           them
           ?
           they
           having
           had
           whole
           armies
           to
           defend
           them
           ,
           and
           assist
           them
           in
           their
           outragious
           and
           bloudy
           massacres
           .
           Who
           is
           not
           concerned
           for
           the
           sufferings
           of
           good
           men
           in
           all
           ages
           ?
           when
           they
           are
           dead
           ,
           they
           are
           pitied
           perchance
           ,
           and
           men
           weep
           over
           their
           graves
           ,
           and
           celebrate
           their
           memories
           with
           anniversary
           orations
           ,
           and
           speak
           great
           things
           in
           praise
           of
           their
           courage
           and
           virtue
           ,
           which
           no
           opposition
           ,
           no
           trouble
           whatever
           ,
           no
           not
           death
           it self
           ,
           could
           tire
           out
           and
           overcome
           .
           This
           is
           all
           the
           reward
           ,
           which
           they
           have
           in
           this
           world
           :
           and
           certainly
           in
           it self
           a
           very
           poor
           one
           ,
           tho'
           justly
           due
           to
           their
           name
           and
           memory
           .
           But
           while
           they
           lived
           ,
           oftentimes
           they
           were
           
             destitute
             ,
             afflicted
             ,
             tormented
             ,
          
           wanting
           the
           conveniencies
           of
           life
           ,
           exposed
           to
           extreme
           poverty
           ,
           and
           
             to
             cruel
             mockings
             and
             scourgings
             ,
             wandring
             about
             in
             deserts
             and
             mountains
             ,
          
           and
           retiring
           to
           dens
           and
           caves
           for
           shelter
           ;
           and
           outlawed
           by
           sanguinary
           edicts
           from
           the
           society
           of
           mankind
           :
           and
           at
           other
           times
           condemned
           to
           the
           flames
           ,
           or
           to
           wild
           beasts
           in
           their
           Amphitheatres
           ,
           or
           to
           gibbets
           and
           crosses
           ,
           or
           to
           wracks
           and
           wheels
           ,
           and
           such
           like
           cruel
           deaths
           ,
           with
           all
           possible
           ignominy
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           torment
           .
           Does
           not
           the
           justice
           of
           God
           make
           it
           necessary
           ,
           that
           there
           be
           a
           distribution
           of
           rewards
           and
           punishments
           hereafter
           ,
           according
           as
           every
           one
           deserves
           ?
           Can
           the
           government
           of
           a
           most
           holy
           and
           alwise
           God
           be
           supposed
           imperfect
           and
           defective
           in
           so
           necessary
           a
           part
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           is
           distributive
           justice
           ?
           Can
           God
           be
           thought
           to
           give
           laws
           on
           purpose
           ,
           
           that
           they
           might
           be
           broken
           ,
           and
           to
           reward
           the
           breakers
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           to
           have
           no
           regard
           to
           those
           ,
           who
           conscientiously
           obey
           them
           ?
           This
           most
           certainly
           evinceth
           ,
           that
           there
           must
           be
           another
           life
           after
           this
           ,
           wherein
           God
           will
           vindicate
           the
           honour
           of
           his
           justice
           and
           providence
           ,
           which
           now
           seemingly
           suffer
           ,
           and
           do
           himself
           right
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           all
           mankind
           .
           If
           there
           be
           a
           God
           ,
           there
           will
           be
           a
           future
           state
           ,
           because
           God
           cannot
           be
           otherwise
           than
           just
           .
           For
           tho'
           he
           hath
           an
           absolute
           power
           over
           his
           creatures
           ,
           yet
           he
           governs
           them
           according
           to
           rules
           of
           eternal
           rectitude
           and
           justice
           ,
           and
           has
           declared
           from
           heaven
           his
           wrath
           and
           indignation
           against
           all
           unrighteousness
           of
           men
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           transgression
           of
           those
           rules
           ,
           and
           his
           veracity
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           his
           justice
           ,
           will
           oblige
           him
           to
           make
           it
           good
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           said
           ,
           that
           this
           evidence
           of
           reason
           is
           not
           so
           clear
           and
           convincing
           ,
           as
           that
           ,
           which
           ariseth
           from
           Mathematical
           demonstration
           ,
           or
           the
           attestation
           of
           sense
           ,
           tho'
           it
           should
           be
           granted
           ,
           nothing
           can
           be
           gained
           by
           it
           to
           the
           prejudice
           of
           the
           truth
           and
           certainty
           of
           this
           doctrine
           :
           which
           I
           shall
           shew
           in
           these
           two
           particulars
           :
        
         
           
             I.
             That
             this
             evidence
             of
             reason
             is
             fully
             satisfactory
             of
             it self
             .
          
           
             II.
             That
             in
             a
             matter
             of
             this
             nature
             no
             other
             evidence
             can
             or
             ought
             to
             be
             exspected
             .
          
        
         
           I.
           That
           this
           evidence
           of
           reason
           is
           fully
           satisfactory
           of
           it self
           ,
           will
           appear
           hence
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           highly
           irrational
           to
           doubt
           or
           deny
           such
           proofs
           ,
           as
           are
           grounded
           upon
           the
           evidence
           of
           reason
           ,
           meerly
           upon
           this
           pretense
           ,
           that
           the
           evidence
           of
           Mathematical
           demonstration
           and
           of
           sense
           is
           clearer
           .
           For
           tho'
           all
           the
           maximes
           and
           postulata
           of
           Geometry
           ,
           with
           the
           several
           Theoremes
           and
           Problemes
           built
           upon
           them
           ,
           be
           in
           themselves
           so
           clear
           and
           evident
           ,
           as
           that
           
           upon
           a
           right
           perception
           either
           of
           the
           terms
           ,
           or
           of
           the
           manner
           of
           construction
           ,
           we
           readily
           and
           easily
           yield
           our
           assent
           to
           them
           without
           the
           least
           demur
           :
           and
           tho'
           the
           judgment
           of
           sense
           be
           certain
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           when
           nothing
           ,
           requisite
           to
           make
           the
           sensation
           perfect
           ,
           is
           wanting
           :
           yet
           the
           Sceptick
           has
           called
           in
           question
           the
           truth
           of
           both
           ,
           upon
           this
           foolish
           pretense
           ,
           that
           for
           ought
           he
           knows
           ,
           and
           can
           be
           throughly
           convinced
           of
           ,
           all
           this
           Mathematical
           evidence
           may
           be
           a
           fatal
           and
           settled
           delusion
           :
           that
           it
           is
           possible
           ,
           that
           a
           man
           may
           be
           most
           deceived
           ,
           when
           he
           thinks
           himself
           most
           assured
           :
           that
           the
           collections
           and
           inferences
           of
           what
           we
           call
           reason
           may
           be
           false
           and
           deceitful
           :
           that
           the
           impressions
           ,
           which
           material
           objects
           make
           upon
           the
           phansie
           ,
           may
           be
           onely
           chimerical
           :
           that
           when
           we
           see
           and
           hear
           ,
           and
           discourse
           ,
           we
           may
           but
           onely
           think
           so
           :
           that
           we
           have
           as
           little
           certainty
           of
           things
           ,
           when
           we
           are
           awake
           ,
           and
           are
           very
           attentive
           and
           serious
           ,
           as
           when
           we
           are
           asleep
           and
           dream
           :
           and
           that
           our
           whole
           life
           may
           be
           but
           one
           continued
           scene
           of
           phansie
           and
           imagination
           .
           So
           that
           the
           most
           common
           ,
           and
           universal
           ,
           and
           establisht
           truths
           of
           nature
           may
           be
           ,
           and
           have
           been
           called
           in
           question
           by
           subtil
           Sophisters
           ,
           who
           have
           a
           mind
           to
           cavil
           .
           But
           who
           does
           not
           deride
           and
           condemn
           such
           scepticism
           as
           very
           silly
           and
           irrational
           ?
           Men
           are
           not
           to
           be
           perswaded
           or
           disputed
           out
           of
           their
           senses
           ,
           and
           their
           belief
           of
           first
           notions
           ,
           by
           such
           idle
           and
           phantastick
           suppositions
           :
           the
           possibility
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           which
           is
           overthrown
           several
           ways
           ,
           as
           ,
           by
           the
           reflexions
           ,
           which
           the
           understanding
           makes
           upon
           it self
           ,
           whereby
           we
           clearly
           know
           what
           we
           know
           :
           by
           our
           acting
           according
           to
           deliberation
           and
           fixt
           principles
           :
           by
           our
           being
           conscious
           to
           our selves
           of
           the
           continued
           and
           repeated
           actions
           of
           our
           lives
           :
           by
           confirmed
           and
           undoubted
           experience
           ,
           that
           ,
           tho'
           we
           are
           deceived
           ,
           when
           our
           outward
           senses
           are
           suspended
           by
           sleep
           ,
           
           and
           the
           phansie
           takes
           a
           liberty
           to
           amuse
           us
           with
           a
           thousand
           various
           shapes
           and
           figures
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           with
           strange
           conjunctions
           of
           things
           ,
           which
           neither
           exist
           ,
           nor
           can
           possibly
           exist
           ,
           we
           make
           certain
           conclusions
           from
           our
           awakened
           senses
           ,
           when
           we
           have
           the
           full
           and
           entire
           use
           and
           exercise
           of
           them
           :
           and
           because
           it
           is
           inconceivable
           ,
           either
           how
           such
           a
           delusion
           should
           arise
           of
           it self
           ,
           and
           be
           essential
           to
           the
           nature
           of
           man
           ;
           or
           how
           that
           God
           should
           suffer
           it
           ;
           that
           is
           ,
           that
           he
           ,
           who
           is
           of
           infinite
           truth
           ,
           and
           wisdom
           ,
           and
           justice
           ,
           should
           force
           us
           by
           the
           very
           constitution
           of
           our
           nature
           to
           believe
           a
           lye
           ,
           and
           embrace
           error
           under
           the
           semblance
           of
           truth
           :
           and
           that
           too
           without
           any
           help
           or
           means
           of
           discovering
           our
           being
           convinced
           of
           our
           mistake
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           should
           leave
           us
           to
           such
           great
           incertainties
           ,
           that
           we
           should
           have
           no
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           or
           rule
           to
           distinguish
           between
           ,
           and
           discern
           truth
           from
           falsehood
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           should
           give
           us
           reason
           and
           sense
           for
           no
           other
           end
           or
           use
           ,
           but
           to
           deceive
           us
           ,
           at
           least
           to
           perplex
           and
           distract
           us
           with
           doubts
           and
           scruples
           ,
           whether
           we
           understand
           and
           see
           ,
           when
           we
           both
           understand
           and
           see
           .
        
         
           The
           certainty
           and
           clearness
           of
           Mathematical
           demonstration
           (
           as
           also
           of
           such
           propositions
           ,
           as
           are
           said
           to
           be
           
             aeternae
             veritatis
             )
          
           ariseth
           hence
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           conversant
           about
           things
           abstracted
           from
           matter
           ,
           or
           ,
           rather
           to
           speak
           more
           clearly
           and
           distinctly
           ,
           it
           is
           founded
           in
           the
           essential
           notions
           and
           properties
           of
           things
           ,
           which
           have
           an
           inseparable
           dependence
           upon
           and
           connexion
           one
           with
           another
           ,
           without
           any
           regard
           to
           their
           actual
           existence
           ;
           as
           that
           all
           the
           lines
           drawn
           from
           the
           center
           of
           a
           circle
           to
           the
           circumference
           are
           equal
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           whole
           is
           greater
           than
           any
           of
           its
           parts
           :
           which
           is
           infallibly
           and
           universally
           certain
           ;
           it
           being
           essential
           to
           the
           nature
           of
           a
           thing
           ,
           considered
           as
           entire
           and
           whole
           ,
           to
           be
           made
           up
           of
           many
           parts
           united
           and
           connected
           together
           ,
           and
           therefore
           necessarily
           
           greater
           than
           any
           one
           of
           those
           parts
           actually
           divided
           or
           conceived
           divided
           from
           it
           .
           And
           the
           like
           is
           to
           be
           said
           of
           all
           the
           essential
           attributes
           and
           properties
           of
           a
           sphere
           ,
           cylinder
           ,
           ellipsis
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Geometrical
           figure
           whatever
           :
           tho'
           there
           were
           no
           exactly
           spherical
           ,
           cylindrical
           ,
           or
           elliptical
           body
           in
           nature
           ,
           or
           could
           be
           framed
           such
           by
           the
           power
           of
           art
           .
           Such
           speculative
           truths
           carry
           in
           themselves
           their
           own
           evidence
           :
           and
           the
           understanding
           very
           readily
           assents
           to
           them
           :
           and
           let
           me
           add
           ,
           the
           more
           readily
           ,
           not
           only
           ,
           because
           it
           would
           be
           the
           effect
           either
           of
           a
           natural
           or
           shamefully
           absurd
           stupidity
           to
           deny
           such
           evidence
           ,
           which
           would
           be
           the
           same
           thing
           ,
           as
           to
           maintain
           gross
           and
           palpable
           contradictions
           ;
           but
           also
           because
           it
           is
           no
           mans
           interest
           to
           do
           so
           .
           For
           nothing
           is
           more
           certain
           ,
           than
           that
           interest
           oftentimes
           rejects
           the
           clear
           results
           of
           reason
           ;
           than
           that
           the
           judgment
           is
           oftentimes
           enclined
           to
           pass
           a
           wrong
           sentence
           ,
           even
           against
           knowledge
           and
           just
           proof
           of
           the
           contrary
           ,
           in
           favour
           of
           a
           false
           opinion
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           advantagious
           ;
           that
           what
           we
           do
           not
           like
           ,
           and
           is
           disagreeable
           to
           our
           designs
           ,
           does
           not
           easily
           get
           admittance
           within
           us
           :
           we
           demur
           upon
           it
           ,
           and
           raise
           difficulties
           and
           doubts
           ,
           and
           pretend
           ,
           that
           we
           cannot
           understand
           it
           ;
           when
           the
           true
           reason
           is
           ,
           it
           makes
           against
           us
           ,
           and
           therefore
           we
           will
           not
           .
           And
           this
           is
           one
           great
           reason
           ,
           why
           the
           Atheists
           and
           Deists
           set
           themselves
           against
           the
           fundamental
           truths
           of
           religion
           ,
           and
           labour
           so
           much
           to
           confirm
           themselves
           in
           their
           infidelity
           ,
           by
           making
           use
           of
           their
           wit
           and
           the
           little
           reason
           ,
           that
           is
           left
           them
           ,
           to
           find
           out
           new
           difficulties
           ,
           and
           raise
           objections
           ,
           to
           justifie
           and
           defend
           themselves
           in
           their
           unbelief
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           the
           rational
           ,
           wise
           ,
           and
           just
           sentiments
           of
           good
           men
           ,
           whom
           they
           most
           absurdly
           represent
           under
           the
           nickname
           of
           
             Believers
             ,
          
           that
           is
           ,
           credulous
           .
           For
           these
           men
           are
           fully
           convinced
           ,
           that
           their
           practises
           are
           altogether
           inconsistent
           with
           such
           professions
           :
           that
           if
           they
           admit
           these
           
           truths
           ,
           they
           must
           quit
           their
           present
           course
           of
           life
           ,
           unless
           they
           could
           have
           the
           patience
           to
           live
           under
           the
           anguish
           of
           self-condemnation
           ,
           which
           would
           turn
           all
           their
           luscious
           enjoyments
           into
           gall
           and
           wormwood
           :
           that
           if
           there
           be
           a
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           his
           power
           and
           justice
           are
           equally
           infinite
           ,
           he
           is
           to
           be
           feared
           and
           adored
           :
           (
           for
           who
           would
           dare
           to
           live
           in
           open
           defiance
           of
           his
           laws
           ,
           and
           blaspheme
           him
           daily
           ,
           who
           believes
           ,
           that
           he
           can
           punish
           him
           eternally
           for
           such
           defiance
           and
           blasphemy
           ?
           )
           and
           that
           if
           there
           be
           a
           future
           state
           ,
           they
           must
           not
           then
           live
           like
           the
           beasts
           ,
           which
           perish
           ,
           and
           which
           are
           altogether
           unconcerned
           in
           it
           .
           But
           the
           pleasures
           of
           the
           animal
           life
           have
           corrupted
           their
           minds
           :
           they
           are
           immersed
           in
           sensuality
           :
           they
           have
           given
           up
           themselves
           to
           be
           governed
           by
           their
           appetite
           :
           to
           gratifie
           that
           is
           their
           only
           study
           and
           business
           :
           it
           is
           death
           to
           them
           to
           think
           of
           a
           sober
           ,
           restrained
           ,
           and
           mortified
           kind
           of
           life
           :
           it
           is
           not
           their
           interest
           ,
           they
           know
           ,
           as
           the
           case
           stands
           with
           them
           ,
           to
           believe
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           a
           heaven
           or
           an
           hell
           :
           and
           therefore
           we
           need
           not
           wonder
           ,
           if
           they
           cry
           out
           ,
           that
           they
           see
           no
           force
           in
           this
           or
           that
           argument
           ,
           in
           which
           the
           whole
           world
           has
           hitherto
           acquiesced
           ,
           as
           just
           and
           satisfactory
           ,
           to
           convince
           their
           judgment
           .
           Nothing
           will
           content
           them
           ,
           but
           Mathematical
           evidence
           and
           demonstration
           :
           tho'
           it
           may
           very
           justly
           be
           feared
           ,
           that
           if
           the
           evidence
           ,
           they
           so
           foolishly
           call
           for
           ,
           were
           prejudicial
           to
           the
           end
           and
           purposes
           of
           life
           ,
           which
           they
           pursue
           ,
           they
           would
           deny
           even
           that
           too
           .
        
         
           II.
           No
           other
           kind
           of
           evidence
           in
           the
           case
           of
           a
           future
           state
           can
           or
           ought
           to
           be
           exspected
           or
           demanded
           .
           And
           the
           reason
           is
           ,
           because
           the
           subject-matter
           is
           not
           capable
           of
           it
           .
           There
           are
           different
           ways
           of
           proving
           things
           agreeable
           to
           their
           respective
           natures
           ,
           both
           in
           Metaphysics
           ,
           Natural
           Philosophy
           ,
           Ethics
           ,
           and
           the
           like
           ;
           of
           the
           conclusions
           of
           
           which
           ,
           fairly
           deduced
           according
           to
           the
           laws
           of
           method
           ,
           there
           can
           be
           no
           just
           doubt
           :
           every
           science
           being
           built
           upon
           certain
           general
           principles
           and
           rules
           ,
           taken
           up
           ,
           either
           from
           experience
           and
           observation
           ,
           or
           else
           drawn
           from
           the
           common
           notices
           and
           consent
           of
           mankind
           .
           Often
           repeated
           trials
           and
           experiments
           ,
           which
           have
           succeeded
           well
           ,
           sufficiently
           convince
           us
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           several
           things
           ,
           which
           we
           will
           not
           pretend
           to
           demonstrate
           .
           If
           a
           matter
           of
           fact
           ,
           in
           it self
           not
           unlikely
           ,
           much
           less
           impossible
           ,
           be
           confirmed
           by
           credible
           witnesses
           ,
           or
           by
           authentic
           records
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           a
           very
           strange
           piece
           of
           niceness
           in
           us
           ,
           to
           deny
           the
           truth
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           call
           for
           demonstration
           :
           because
           we
           have
           all
           the
           assurance
           ,
           which
           relation
           and
           history
           can
           give
           us
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           so
           .
           To
           perswade
           a
           man
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           his
           duty
           to
           be
           just
           ,
           and
           honest
           ,
           and
           sober
           ,
           and
           chast
           ,
           I
           am
           onely
           to
           make
           use
           of
           moral
           arguments
           .
           To
           prove
           to
           him
           ,
           that
           he
           has
           a
           command
           over
           himself
           ,
           as
           to
           his
           actions
           ,
           I
           shew
           him
           the
           absurdities
           of
           the
           doctrine
           of
           fatal
           necessity
           :
           and
           if
           he
           should
           persist
           and
           demand
           further
           satisfaction
           ,
           I
           can
           do
           no
           more
           ,
           than
           make
           an
           appeal
           to
           himself
           ,
           whether
           he
           does
           not
           find
           a
           power
           within
           him
           of
           acting
           or
           not
           acting
           ,
           as
           he
           pleaseth
           :
           whether
           he
           does
           not
           deliberate
           with
           himself
           ,
           whether
           he
           had
           best
           do
           it
           or
           no
           :
           and
           when
           after
           some
           demurs
           and
           debates
           he
           hath
           determined
           his
           will
           ,
           of
           his
           own
           accord
           ,
           which
           before
           was
           indifferent
           either
           to
           this
           or
           that
           ,
           whether
           he
           doth
           not
           consult
           about
           the
           means
           to
           bring
           about
           his
           design
           :
           and
           upon
           a
           survey
           of
           several
           ,
           make
           choice
           of
           such
           ,
           as
           he
           judgeth
           most
           proper
           and
           effectual
           .
           In
           these
           and
           the
           like
           cases
           ,
           we
           can
           have
           no
           Mathematical
           evidence
           and
           demonstration
           :
           yet
           we
           cannot
           rationally
           doubt
           of
           the
           verity
           of
           their
           proofs
           :
           tho'
           the
           evidence
           and
           assurance
           be
           onely
           moral
           ,
           yet
           it
           is
           such
           ,
           as
           will
           perswade
           any
           man
           ,
           who
           is
           free
           from
           unjust
           and
           irrational
           prejudice
           .
        
         
         
           Besides
           ,
           upon
           this
           kind
           of
           assurance
           a
           depends
           all
           the
           actions
           of
           our
           lives
           .
           No
           man
           can
           demonstrate
           to
           another
           ,
           who
           has
           not
           been
           there
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           such
           countries
           ,
           as
           India
           ,
           Persia
           ,
           and
           Turkey
           ,
           or
           such
           great
           cities
           ,
           as
           Delhi
           ,
           Agra
           ,
           Ispahân
           ,
           and
           Constantinople
           ;
           and
           yet
           men
           send
           their
           estates
           thither
           ,
           tho'
           they
           have
           onely
           the
           reports
           of
           others
           for
           their
           assurance
           ,
           and
           the
           ability
           and
           integrity
           of
           the
           persons
           ,
           whom
           they
           employ
           and
           trust
           in
           the
           management
           of
           their
           rich
           trade
           .
           That
           they
           are
           the
           sons
           of
           such
           and
           such
           persons
           ,
           they
           are
           onely
           assured
           by
           the
           testimony
           of
           others
           ,
           and
           chiefly
           of
           their
           Parents
           ,
           who
           have
           taken
           care
           of
           their
           education
           .
           It
           would
           be
           idle
           ,
           monstrous
           ,
           and
           unnatural
           to
           deny
           to
           pay
           them
           the
           respect
           and
           reverence
           ,
           due
           to
           them
           ,
           both
           by
           the
           laws
           of
           God
           and
           nature
           ,
           upon
           a
           pretense
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           some
           scruples
           upon
           their
           minds
           ,
           whether
           they
           be
           their
           parents
           or
           no
           :
           and
           that
           it
           cannot
           be
           made
           out
           demonstratively
           to
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           so
           .
           What
           other
           assurance
           have
           they
           ,
           that
           the
           deeds
           and
           conveyances
           ,
           whereby
           they
           hold
           their
           estates
           ,
           derived
           down
           to
           them
           from
           their
           ancestors
           ,
           at
           the
           sealing
           and
           delivering
           of
           which
           they
           were
           not
           present
           ,
           are
           not
           counterfeit
           ;
           and
           would
           they
           be
           contented
           to
           have
           them
           called
           in
           question
           upon
           such
           a
           phantastick
           supposition
           ?
           No
           one
           can
           demonstrate
           to
           himself
           out
           of
           Euclide
           and
           Archimedes
           ,
           that
           the
           house
           ,
           wherein
           he
           lyes
           ,
           will
           not
           fall
           upon
           his
           head
           :
           and
           yet
           for
           all
           this
           bare
           possibility
           he
           sleeps
           securely
           and
           without
           any
           disturbance
           ,
           and
           will
           not
           lye
           in
           the
           open
           air
           .
           Not
           to
           heap
           up
           more
           instances
           in
           a
           thing
           so
           common
           ,
           and
           every
           where
           to
           be
           met
           with
           .
        
         
         
           All
           satisfaction
           concerning
           the
           certainty
           of
           a
           future
           state
           is
           offered
           ,
           that
           can
           be
           justly
           demanded
           .
           We
           have
           the
           evidence
           of
           reason
           ,
           and
           the
           evidence
           of
           religion
           ,
           which
           is
           founded
           upon
           the
           belief
           of
           it
           :
           the
           justice
           of
           God
           makes
           it
           necessary
           :
           and
           the
           doctrine
           of
           providence
           and
           of
           the
           government
           of
           the
           world
           by
           the
           alwise
           and
           omnipotent
           Creator
           suppose
           it
           .
           Things
           future
           are
           not
           triable
           by
           b
           sense
           :
           they
           are
           the
           objects
           of
           our
           hopes
           ,
           and
           of
           our
           fears
           ,
           and
           of
           our
           belief
           ,
           and
           of
           our
           exspectation
           ;
           and
           therefore
           cannot
           be
           proved
           to
           exist
           the
           same
           way
           ,
           as
           things
           ,
           which
           every
           day
           present
           themselves
           to
           our
           sight
           .
           But
           how
           are
           these
           men
           assured
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           future
           state
           ?
           what
           demonstration
           can
           these
           great
           Masters
           of
           reason
           ,
           as
           they
           think
           themselves
           ,
           whom
           nothing
           less
           will
           content
           and
           satisfie
           ,
           bring
           to
           the
           contrary
           ?
           It
           is
           but
           just
           and
           reasonable
           ,
           that
           they
           who
           deny
           ,
           or
           so
           much
           as
           call
           in
           question
           ,
           the
           truth
           of
           any
           opinion
           ,
           tho'
           built
           upon
           probable
           arguments
           ,
           should
           produce
           arguments
           ,
           if
           not
           of
           greater
           ,
           yet
           at
           least
           of
           equal
           probability
           .
           To
           deny
           a
           thing
           boldly
           at
           first
           ,
           without
           giving
           any
           reason
           for
           the
           denial
           ,
           and
           then
           to
           be
           very
           peremptory
           in
           the
           affirmation
           of
           a
           contrary
           proposition
           ,
           is
           against
           all
           the
           laws
           and
           rules
           of
           wise
           discoursing
           and
           arguing
           ,
           and
           is
           not
           the
           effect
           of
           judgment
           ,
           but
           of
           meer
           trifling
           and
           foolish
           conceitedness
           :
           much
           more
           when
           they
           pluck
           up
           the
           very
           foundations
           of
           a
           science
           ;
           when
           they
           destroy
           the
           principles
           of
           nature
           ;
           when
           they
           condemn
           a
           truth
           ,
           as
           is
           this
           of
           a
           future
           state
           ,
           which
           all
           mankind
           in
           all
           ages
           has
           received
           and
           embraced
           ,
           except
           an
           inconsiderable
           number
           of
           wretches
           like
           themselves
           ,
           they
           should
           be
           throughly
           convinced
           before
           hand
           ,
           that
           their
           proofs
           are
           just
           and
           good
           ,
           and
           little
           less
           than
           infallible
           .
           But
           all
           which
           they
           alledge
           in
           behalf
           of
           their
           infidelity
           ,
           
           is
           either
           ,
           that
           they
           cannot
           frame
           a
           just
           and
           clear
           idea
           of
           such
           a
           state
           :
           or
           else
           they
           make
           some
           little
           and
           unphilosophical
           exceptions
           and
           cavils
           at
           terms
           ,
           as
           
             Spirit
             ,
             incorporeal
             substance
             ,
          
           and
           the
           like
           :
           which
           is
           the
           way
           of
           Mr.
           Hobbes
           ;
           (
           tho'
           the
           notion
           of
           an
           incorporeal
           substance
           and
           of
           thought
           is
           as
           easie
           to
           conceive
           ,
           and
           as
           little
           liable
           to
           just
           exceptions
           ,
           as
           of
           substance
           in
           general
           ,
           or
           of
           substance
           in
           extended
           matter
           )
           pleasing
           themselves
           onely
           with
           the
           gross
           images
           of
           sensible
           beings
           .
           They
           cannot
           pretend
           to
           any
           direct
           and
           positive
           proofs
           :
           they
           neither
           can
           nor
           dare
           say
           ,
           that
           what
           they
           imagine
           is
           certain
           and
           infallible
           .
           They
           only
           think
           so
           ,
           and
           wish
           so
           :
           and
           indeed
           for
           their
           wishes
           they
           have
           some
           reason
           ,
           tho'
           none
           for
           their
           opinion
           .
           For
           what
           malefactor
           can
           think
           of
           his
           trial
           and
           the
           consequences
           of
           it
           with
           any
           kind
           of
           patience
           ,
           and
           not
           wish
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           that
           there
           were
           no
           such
           things
           ,
           as
           a
           law
           and
           a
           judge
           to
           execute
           that
           law
           in
           their
           deserved
           punishment
           ?
           And
           besides
           this
           ,
           they
           very
           foolishly
           and
           idly
           alledge
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           not
           spoken
           with
           any
           ,
           who
           have
           arisen
           from
           the
           dead
           to
           give
           them
           an
           accompt
           of
           it
           :
           as
           if
           before
           they
           would
           be
           convinced
           ,
           whether
           there
           be
           such
           places
           ,
           as
           a
           heaven
           or
           an
           hell
           ,
           they
           would
           have
           an
           exact
           survey
           taken
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           several
           chorographical
           schemes
           and
           maps
           made
           to
           describe
           them
           the
           better
           to
           them
           .
           But
           is
           not
           this
           a
           most
           irrational
           and
           senseless
           ground
           of
           their
           infidelity
           ?
           Have
           we
           not
           in
           the
           sacred
           writings
           undoubted
           testimonies
           of
           several
           raised
           from
           the
           dead
           ,
           beyond
           all
           possibility
           of
           denial
           ,
           of
           which
           faithful
           and
           authentic
           registers
           have
           been
           made
           to
           inform
           posterity
           ?
           But
           may
           it
           not
           also
           be
           justly
           supposed
           ,
           that
           these
           very
           men
           ,
           if
           the
           most
           real
           and
           certain
           apparition
           possible
           were
           made
           to
           them
           ,
           after
           they
           had
           recovered
           themselves
           from
           the
           surprize
           and
           affrightment
           ,
           into
           which
           such
           a
           gastly
           sight
           might
           cast
           them
           ,
           
           would
           look
           upon
           it
           onely
           ,
           as
           a
           meer
           phantome
           ?
           as
           Cassius
           ,
           one
           of
           the
           sect
           of
           Epicurus
           ,
           told
           his
           friend
           Brutus
           ,
           as
           Plutarch
           writes
           in
           his
           life
           ,
           that
           the
           evil
           genius
           ,
           which
           appeared
           to
           him
           ,
           was
           the
           effect
           of
           his
           melancholy
           ;
           no
           other
           than
           a
           dream
           and
           the
           roving
           of
           his
           disturbed
           imagination
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           between
           sleeping
           and
           waking
           :
           or
           if
           a
           dead
           person
           ,
           raised
           again
           to
           life
           ,
           should
           appear
           to
           them
           ,
           they
           would
           cavil
           ,
           and
           say
           ,
           that
           he
           had
           not
           been
           really
           dead
           :
           they
           would
           find
           out
           some
           such
           foolish
           and
           idle
           pretense
           and
           excuse
           ,
           and
           still
           hold
           fast
           their
           beloved
           conclusion
           .
           The
           rich
           man
           in
           the
           Parable
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           in
           hell
           ,
           was
           very
           sollicitous
           for
           his
           surviving
           brethren
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           not
           come
           into
           that
           place
           of
           torment
           :
           and
           therefore
           made
           it
           his
           request
           ,
           that
           a
           messenger
           might
           be
           sent
           thence
           express
           to
           forewarn
           them
           ;
           but
           the
           proposal
           was
           rejected
           ,
           as
           unjust
           and
           unnecessary
           .
           They
           were
           sufficiently
           instructed
           out
           of
           the
           divine
           writings
           ,
           that
           there
           was
           such
           a
           place
           :
           the
           Law
           and
           the
           Prophets
           were
           continually
           read
           ,
           and
           sounded
           in
           their
           ears
           ,
           that
           they
           could
           not
           pretend
           ignorance
           .
           Besides
           ,
           
             if
             they
             hear
             not
             Moses
             and
             the
             Prophets
             :
             neither
             will
             they
             be
             perswaded
             ,
             tho'
             one
             arose
             from
             the
             dead
             .
          
        
         
           But
           let
           us
           suppose
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           the
           conviction
           of
           these
           men
           ,
           if
           any
           of
           them
           should
           chance
           to
           cast
           their
           eyes
           upon
           these
           papers
           ,
           that
           there
           were
           an
           equal
           probability
           on
           both
           sides
           :
           that
           as
           much
           might
           be
           said
           against
           the
           certainty
           of
           a
           future
           state
           ,
           as
           for
           it
           :
           that
           God
           had
           not
           so
           clearly
           and
           expresly
           revealed
           his
           will
           in
           the
           holy
           Scriptures
           about
           it
           :
           and
           that
           the
           case
           had
           not
           been
           so
           fully
           determined
           ,
           but
           yet
           hung
           as
           it
           were
           
             in
             aequilibrio
             :
          
           yet
           because
           it
           is
           of
           an
           eternal
           consequence
           c
           ,
           right
           reason
           
           and
           common
           prudence
           should
           teach
           a
           man
           to
           make
           choice
           of
           the
           surer
           side
           :
           nay
           ,
           if
           there
           were
           less
           degrees
           of
           probability
           for
           it
           ,
           we
           should
           make
           provision
           however
           ,
           for
           fear
           ,
           that
           it
           should
           prove
           so
           .
           If
           in
           matters
           of
           ordinary
           speculation
           ,
           which
           signifie
           nothing
           to
           our
           interest
           and
           advantage
           ,
           whether
           they
           be
           true
           or
           no
           ,
           (
           for
           what
           am
           I
           the
           better
           ,
           whether
           the
           Ptolemaic
           or
           Copernican
           hypothesis
           best
           solves
           the
           various
           appearances
           of
           the
           heavens
           )
           we
           relinquish
           the
           vulgar
           opinions
           ,
           which
           have
           the
           prescription
           of
           antiquity
           ,
           and
           which
           seem
           confirmed
           by
           sense
           ,
           as
           being
           swayed
           by
           more
           rational
           proofs
           and
           evidences
           :
           certainly
           in
           a
           business
           of
           such
           moment
           ,
           as
           is
           the
           living
           hereafter
           for
           ever
           in
           happiness
           or
           misery
           ,
           when
           there
           are
           so
           many
           arguments
           to
           sway
           and
           encline
           our
           belief
           ;
           when
           we
           have
           all
           the
           assurance
           ,
           which
           things
           ,
           that
           are
           future
           ,
           and
           not
           yet
           seen
           ,
           can
           possibly
           have
           :
           when
           the
           danger
           is
           so
           great
           ,
           and
           the
           loss
           infinite
           and
           irrepairable
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           folly
           beyond
           all
           expression
           for
           any
           person
           to
           suffer
           himself
           to
           be
           cheated
           ,
           by
           the
           corrupt
           judgment
           of
           sense
           ,
           which
           in
           this
           case
           cannot
           pretend
           to
           arbitrate
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           little
           cavillings
           and
           oppositions
           of
           a
           gross
           phansie
           ,
           into
           the
           belief
           of
           the
           contrary
           .
           If
           onely
           the
           probable
           hope
           of
           gain
           makes
           men
           despise
           certain
           danger
           ,
           and
           carries
           them
           round
           about
           the
           world
           to
           the
           utmost
           points
           of
           East
           and
           West
           :
           if
           they
           undergo
           ,
           not
           onely
           with
           patience
           ,
           but
           with
           great
           readiness
           and
           chearfulness
           ,
           all
           those
           uneasinesses
           and
           hazards
           ,
           which
           such
           long
           voyages
           in
           tempestuous
           seas
           ,
           and
           through
           various
           climates
           of
           excessive
           heat
           and
           cold
           ,
           necessarily
           subject
           them
           to
           :
           if
           they
           venture
           their
           health
           ,
           and
           oftentimes
           their
           lives
           :
           and
           that
           too
           with
           the
           good
           liking
           and
           applause
           of
           the
           world
           ,
           especially
           if
           the
           advantage
           be
           any
           way
           proportionable
           to
           the
           danger
           :
           certainly
           the
           interest
           of
           our
           immortal
           souls
           should
           make
           us
           adventure
           
           as
           much
           for
           heaven
           ,
           a
           place
           of
           infinite
           blessedness
           ,
           where
           we
           shall
           live
           for
           ever
           ,
           without
           feeling
           the
           decays
           of
           age
           ,
           and
           without
           being
           weary
           of
           those
           unmixt
           pleasures
           ,
           which
           it
           affords
           ;
           and
           where
           are
           heaped
           up
           treasures
           of
           glory
           ,
           which
           no
           time
           shall
           exhaust
           ,
           if
           we
           had
           not
           the
           infallible
           word
           of
           God
           for
           it
           ,
           but
           onely
           the
           dictates
           of
           natural
           religion
           ,
           and
           the
           evidence
           of
           right
           and
           unprejudiced
           reason
           .
        
         
           Columbus
           had
           no
           demonstration
           ,
           that
           there
           were
           such
           vast
           tracts
           of
           land
           on
           the
           other
           side
           of
           the
           great
           Atlantic
           ocean
           ,
           running
           out
           almost
           from
           one
           Pole
           to
           the
           other
           ,
           which
           he
           afterwards
           discovered
           :
           he
           was
           onley
           lead
           by
           probable
           arguments
           to
           undertake
           that
           voyage
           :
           as
           thinking
           it
           very
           unlikely
           ,
           that
           so
           great
           a
           part
           of
           the
           terraqueous
           globe
           ,
           over
           which
           the
           Sun
           passes
           in
           his
           diurnal
           revolution
           ,
           should
           be
           covered
           with
           water
           .
           It
           was
           lookt
           upon
           at
           first
           as
           a
           project
           ,
           which
           had
           nothing
           to
           support
           it
           ,
           but
           the
           strong
           phansie
           of
           the
           man
           ,
           who
           proposed
           it
           :
           and
           it
           was
           a
           long
           time
           ,
           before
           he
           could
           be
           furnished
           with
           ships
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           make
           a
           discovery
           .
           But
           how
           were
           they
           alarmed
           at
           his
           return
           with
           the
           news
           ,
           which
           he
           brought
           of
           another
           world
           ,
           which
           had
           layn
           hid
           for
           so
           many
           ages
           !
           how
           were
           the
           opinions
           of
           the
           old
           Philosophers
           confuted
           ,
           that
           there
           could
           be
           no
           living
           between
           the
           Tropics
           ,
           and
           especially
           under
           the
           Line
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           intolerable
           heat
           ,
           which
           the
           perpendicular
           projection
           of
           the
           sun-beams
           they
           phansied
           must
           necessarily
           produce
           :
           when
           they
           were
           assured
           from
           eye-witnesses
           ,
           that
           no
           country
           in
           the
           world
           could
           be
           more
           populous
           !
           Now
           our
           B.
           Saviour
           ,
           who
           came
           down
           from
           heaven
           ,
           has
           made
           full
           and
           clear
           discoveries
           of
           a
           glorious
           kingdom
           ,
           and
           has
           laid
           down
           rules
           and
           directions
           for
           our
           journeying
           thither
           :
           rules
           and
           directions
           so
           
           plain
           ,
           that
           we
           cannot
           fail
           of
           arriving
           at
           that
           blessed
           place
           ,
           if
           we
           observe
           and
           follow
           them
           .
           What
           can
           any
           one
           alledge
           to
           justifie
           or
           excuse
           his
           solly
           ?
           how
           can
           he
           answer
           it
           to
           God
           ,
           or
           to
           himself
           ,
           at
           the
           last
           great
           day
           ,
           if
           after
           all
           this
           he
           should
           doubt
           ,
           whether
           there
           be
           such
           a
           place
           ,
           as
           heaven
           or
           no
           ,
           and
           so
           doubt
           ,
           as
           wretchedly
           to
           neglect
           the
           happy
           opportunities
           of
           getting
           thither
           at
           the
           end
           of
           his
           life
           ?
        
         
           If
           ,
           as
           Socrates
           argued
           a
           little
           before
           his
           death
           ,
           nothing
           remains
           to
           a
           man
           after
           he
           is
           dead
           ,
           then
           he
           would
           be
           the
           less
           troubled
           at
           what
           he
           was
           then
           about
           to
           suffer
           :
           for
           then
           he
           should
           cease
           to
           be
           mistaken
           ,
           if
           he
           were
           mistaken
           .
           But
           if
           there
           be
           another
           state
           in
           the
           next
           life
           ,
           as
           there
           is
           the
           highest
           reason
           to
           believe
           ,
           and
           no
           reason
           to
           believe
           the
           contrary
           ,
           what
           a
           foolish
           bargain
           will
           it
           appear
           ,
           the
           Epicure
           has
           made
           in
           buying
           the
           vain
           and
           perishing
           pleasures
           of
           the
           world
           at
           the
           price
           of
           his
           soul
           !
           It
           will
           then
           be
           an
           infallible
           demonstration
           ,
           that
           he
           has
           acted
           against
           the
           common
           rules
           of
           prudence
           ,
           in
           preferring
           a
           trifle
           ,
           a
           shadow
           ,
           a
           humour
           ,
           before
           the
           favour
           of
           God
           ;
           before
           the
           fulness
           of
           joy
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           be
           had
           in
           his
           presence
           ;
           before
           immortal
           blessedness
           ,
           with
           which
           he
           shall
           see
           the
           righteous
           crowned
           ;
           which
           will
           heighten
           his
           anguish
           ,
           and
           make
           it
           intolerable
           :
           and
           the
           thought
           of
           this
           will
           as
           much
           torment
           him
           ,
           as
           the
           very
           flames
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           have
           been
           happy
           as
           they
           ,
           but
           for
           his
           own
           wretched
           carelessness
           and
           obstinate
           infidelity
           .
        
         
           To
           conclude
           this
           short
           discourse
           ,
           which
           I
           most
           heartily
           and
           passionately
           recommend
           to
           the
           serious
           and
           impartial
           consideration
           of
           all
           such
           ,
           as
           vouchsafe
           to
           read
           it
           .
        
         
           Seeing
           that
           there
           will
           be
           and
           must
           be
           a
           day
           of
           judgment
           ,
           in
           which
           we
           shall
           give
           a
           strict
           accompt
           of
           our
           lives
           :
           that
           there
           is
           a
           future
           state
           ,
           whose
           duration
           shall
           be
           beyond
           the
           
           limits
           of
           time
           ;
           that
           ,
           when
           we
           depart
           out
           of
           this
           life
           ,
           we
           launch
           forth
           into
           an
           ocean
           ,
           which
           knows
           neither
           bounds
           nor
           shore
           :
           that
           there
           are
           eternal
           rewards
           and
           punishments
           in
           the
           other
           world
           :
           and
           that
           according
           to
           the
           tenor
           and
           habit
           of
           our
           lives
           ,
           and
           the
           condition
           we
           are
           found
           in
           at
           our
           death
           ,
           we
           shall
           receive
           our
           everlasting
           doom
           :
           how
           much
           does
           it
           concern
           every
           one
           of
           us
           so
           to
           live
           here
           in
           this
           world
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           in
           the
           fear
           of
           God
           and
           in
           a
           conscientious
           discharge
           and
           practise
           of
           all
           Christian
           and
           moral
           virtues
           ,
           as
           to
           live
           for
           ever
           happy
           in
           the
           next
           !
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A60590-e210
           
             a
             Theodoretus
             in
             loc
             .
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             The
             things
             ,
             which
             now
             exist
             ,
             are
             not
             fully
             proportionable
             to
             the
             divine
             power
             ,
             so
             as
             to
             exhaust
             it
             ,
             but
             onely
             agreable
             to
             his
             divine
             will
             and
             pleasure
             .
             For
             God
             could
             have
             created
             more
             and
             greater
             things
             than
             these
             :
             out
             he
             would
             only
             make
             so
             many
             ,
             and
             of
             such
             sorts
             ,
             species
             ,
             and
             denominations
             ,
             as
             it
             pleased
             him
             .
          
           
             
               
                 (
                 a
                 )
              
               The
               Greeke
               and
               Latine
               Fathers
               are
               very
               copious
               and
               careful
               ,
               even
               to
               a
               philosophical
               niceness
               ,
               in
               their
               explications
               and
               illustrations
               of
               these
               common
               notions
               about
               the
               just
               and
               proper
               object
               of
               the
               divine
               power
               :
               a
               collection
               of
               which
               the
               Reader
               may
               find
               in
               Bishop
               Pearson's
               elaborate
               and
               learned
               Commentary
               on
               the
               Apostles
               Creed
               ,
               where
               he
               treats
               of
               this
               particular
               argument
               ,
               as
               of
               the
               rest
               of
               the
               Articles
               ,
               with
               great
               accuracy
               and
               judgment
               .
               More
               authorities
               might
               easily
               be
               added
               by
               one
               of
               ordinary
               reading
               :
               but
               I
               forbear
               at
               present
               ;
               it
               being
               a
               common
               place
               :
               and
               shall
               content
               my self
               onely
               to
               adjoyn
               the
               concurrent
               testimonies
               of
               the
               Master
               of
               the
               Sentences
               ,
               and
               Thomas
               Aquinas
               .
               Petrus
               Lombardus
               lib.
               1.
               
               Sententiarum
               xlii
               .
               distinct
               .
            
             
               
                 Sunt
                 alia
                 quaedam
                 ,
                 quae
                 Deus
                 nullatenus
                 facere
                 potest
                 ,
                 ut
                 peccata
                 :
                 non
                 enim
                 potest
                 mentiri
                 ,
                 non
                 potest
                 peccare
                 .
                 Sed
                 non
                 ideo
                 omnipotentiae
                 Det
                 detrahitur
                 vel
                 derogatur
                 ,
                 si
                 peccare
                 non
                 posse
                 dicitur
                 :
                 quia
                 non
                 esset
                 hoc
                 potentiae
                 ,
                 sed
                 infirmitatis
                 .
                 Si
                 enim
                 hoc
                 posset
                 ,
                 omnipotens
                 non
                 esset
                 .
                 Non
                 ergo
                 impotentiae
                 sed
                 poteatiae
                 imputandum
                 est
                 ,
                 quod
                 ista
                 non
                 potest
                 .
              
               Again
               ,
               
                 Manifestum
                 est
                 ,
                 Deum
                 omnino
                 nihil
                 posse
                 pati
                 ,
                 &
                 omnia
                 facere
                 posse
                 ,
                 praeter
                 ca
                 sola
                 ,
                 quibus
                 ejus
                 dignitas
                 laederetur
                 ,
                 ejusque
                 excellentiae
                 derogaretur
                 :
                 in
                 quo
                 tamen
                 non
                 est
                 minus
                 omnipotens
                 .
                 Hoc
                 enim
                 posse
                 non
                 esset
                 posse
                 ,
                 sed
                 non
                 posse
              
               Herein
               following
               the
               doctrine
               of
               his
               Master
               S.
               Augustine
               ,
               in
               his
               book
               de
               Symbolo
               ,
               which
               he
               there
               cites
               :
               
                 Deus
                 omnipotens
                 non
                 potest
                 mori
                 ,
                 non
                 potest
                 falli
                 ,
                 non
                 potest
                 miser
                 fieri
                 ,
                 nec
                 potest
                 vinci
                 .
                 Haec
                 utique
                 &
                 hujusmodi
                 absit
                 ,
                 ut
                 posset
                 omnipotens
                 .
                 Si
                 enim
                 bujusmodi
                 passionibus
                 atque
                 defectibus
                 subjici
                 posset
                 ,
                 omnipotens
                 minimè
                 foret
                 :
              
               and
               in
               his
               book
               de
               spiritu
               &
               literâ
               :
               
                 Non
                 potest
                 Deus
                 facere
                 injusta
                 ,
                 quia
                 ipse
                 est
                 summa
                 justitia
                 &
                 bonitas
                 .
              
               Thomas
               Aquinas
               in
               Summa
               Theologica
               part
               1.
               quaest
               .
               xxv
               .
               Artic.
               3.
               
               
                 Ea
                 quae
                 contradictionem
                 implicant
                 ,
                 sub
                 divinâ
                 omnipotentiâ
                 non
                 continentur
                 :
                 quia
                 non
                 possunt
                 habere
                 possibilium
                 rationem
                 .
                 Unde
                 convenientius
                 dicitur
                 ,
                 quod
                 ea
                 non
                 possunt
                 fieri
                 ,
                 quam
                 quod
                 Deus
                 ea
                 non
                 possit
                 facere
                 .
              
               Post.
               
                 Peccare
                 est
                 deficere
                 à
                 perfecta
                 ratione
                 :
                 unde
                 posse
                 peccare
                 est
                 posse
                 deficere
                 in
                 agendo
                 ;
                 quod
                 repugnat
                 imnipotentiae
                 .
                 Et
                 propter
                 hoc
                 Deus
                 peccare
                 non
                 potest
                 ,
                 quia
                 est
                 omnipotens
                 .
              
               The
               whole
               of
               what
               has
               been
               said
               both
               by
               Fathers
               and
               Schoolmen
               upon
               this
               subject
               ,
               is
               summed
               up
               by
               the
               learned
               Dr.
               
                 Overall
                 ,
              
               (
               then
               Dean
               of
               St.
               Pauls
               ,
               and
               afterwards
               Bishop
               of
               Norwich
               )
               in
               a
               letter
               to
               his
               Friend
               ,
               H.
               Grotius
               ,
               written
               16
               May
               1613.
               in
               this
               brief
               definition
               and
               sentence
               :
               
                 Potentia
                 [
                 Dei
                 ]
                 activa
                 ,
                 qua
                 omnia
                 possibilia
                 ,
                 quae
                 non
                 implicant
                 contradictionem
                 ,
                 impotentiam
                 ,
                 iniquitatem
                 ,
                 aliudque
                 quid
                 Deo
                 indignum
                 facere
                 possit
                 .
              
            
          
           
             *
             In
             Epistola
             ad
             Romanos
             :
             edit
             .
             Oxon.
             1633.
             48.
             pag.
             36.
             
          
           
             *
             Vid.
             S.
             Clementem
             Romanum
             pag.
             36
             ,
             37.
             
          
           
             *
             Vide
             hac
             de
             re
             S.
             Clementem
             Romanum
             eleganter
             differentem
             ,
             pag.
             27
             ,
             28.
             
          
           
             *
             Arnob.
             adv
             .
             gentes
             ,
             lib.
             2.
             
             Lugd.
             Batav
             .
             4
             
             o.
             p.
             55
             ,
             56.
             
          
           
             *
             Vide
             S.
             Clementem
             ,
             p.
             37.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A60590-e1200
           
             Plato
             in
             Phoedone
             .
             edit
             .
             Cantabr
             .
             88.
             1673.
             
             
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
               〈◊〉
            
             .
             pag.
             82.
             
          
           
             *
             
               Cicero
               in
               his
               Oration
               ,
               de
               Haruspicum
               responsis
               ,
               which
               he
               pronounced
               in
               the
               Senate
               .
            
             Quam
             volumus
             licet
             ,
             P.
             C.
             ipsi
             nos
             amenius
             :
             tamen
             nec
             numero
             Hispanos
             ,
             nec
             calliditate
             Poenos
             ,
             nec
             robore
             Gallos
             ,
             nec
             artibus
             Graecos
             ,
             nec
             denique
             hoc
             ipso
             hujus
             gentis
             ac
             terrae
             domestico
             nativoque
             sensu
             ,
             Italos
             ipsos
             ac
             Latinos
             :
             sed
             pietate
             &
             religione
             ,
             atque
             hac
             una
             sapientia
             ,
             quod
             Deorum
             immortalium
             numine
             omnia
             regi
             gubernarique
             perspeximus
             ,
             omnes
             gentes
             nationesque
             super
             ●●imus
             .
          
           
             a
             
               Estne
               opus
               in
               vitâ
               negotiosum
               aliquod
               atque
               actuosum
               genus
               ,
               quod
               non
               side
               praeeunte
               suscipiant
               ,
               sumant
               ,
               atque
               aggrediantur
               actores
               ?
            
             As
             Arnobius
             adv
             .
             Gentes
             lib.
             2.
             pag.
             47.
             
             Lugd.
             Bat.
             48.
             1651.
             there
             shews
             at
             large
             with
             great
             sharpness
             of
             wit
             and
             judgment
             against
             the
             Heathen
             of
             his
             time
             ,
             who
             objected
             credulity
             to
             the
             Christians
             .
          
           
             b
             Nulla
             futurorum
             potest
             existere
             comprobatio
             .
             Cum
             ergo
             haec
             sit
             conditio
             futurorum
             ,
             ut
             teneri
             &
             comprehendi
             nullius
             possint
             anticipationis
             attactu
             &c.
             
               Arnob.
               lib.
               2.
               pag.
            
             44.
             
          
           
             c
             Nonne
             purior
             ratio
             est
             ex
             duobus
             incertis
             &
             in
             ambiguà
             exspectatione
             pendentibus
             ,
             id
             potius
             credere
             ,
             quod
             aliquas
             spes
             ferat
             ,
             quam
             omnino
             quod
             nullas
             ?
             
               Arnob.
               p.
            
             44.