a Guide who confesseth himself to be blind 2. When he persuades us to believe there is no GOD it cannot but be very fit to ask again Is it safe so to do Or Is it unsafe to do otherwise He cannot assure us 't is safe to believe there is no GOD because he cannot make us know that there is none And he must needs confess 't is not unsafe to believe there is a GOD because it can do no hurt Is it reasonable then to leave the safe way we are already in that we may follow him into another wherein he cannot promise us any safety at all 3. If he would have us to believe there is no GOD 't is not unreasonable to ask him Why would he have us to believe it Or What good will it do either him or us If it will do neither any good Why should he persuade us or we be persuaded to an unprofitable thing There is danger in it and what reason is there to do what we know 't is dangerous to do till we see what good may come of it 4. If he say 't is fit to believe it merely because 't is a truth We must needs ask again How doth he know 't is a truth But yet 't is in vain to ask him this because 't is impossible for him to tell us how he knows it or to know it And therefore we have yet no reason to believe it is a truth because he only calls it so who doth not know that it is so But suppose it were I hope it may be fit to ask him again Is he in good earnest and would he indeed have us to belive it for a truth If he be not willing we should believe it why doth he tempt us to believe it If he would indeed have us believe it would he not also have us behave our selves as men of that belief If not to what purpose are we to believe it If he would have us behave our selves as men that believe not a GOD then may we do what we will and can we may rob his House take his Money defile his Wife and cut his Throat If he deny this let us ask him What is it that can make it unlawful for us to do any of these things What should restrain men from doing any thing they can for their own advantage This is all that the Atheist can gain by persuading men to be of his Opinion That he lays himself at every man's mercy to deal as he will with him and cannot say That man sins that knocks him on the head for his good advice 2. If there be a GOD every one that is VVise will not only think himself highly concern'd to believe it but so to live and behave himself in the world as may be most pleasing and acceptable to GOD. To what purpose can it be tobelieve that there is a GOD or what good can this belief do us if it do not engage us to live as men who are sensible that they have a GOD over them whom they are concern'd to please in all things Certainly if there be a GOD who made us and all things He must needs be concern'd with us and we with Him And as we can expect no good thing but from Him who is the Author and Disposer of all things so neither can we hope to receive any good thing from him if we do not our endeavour to please Him Why should we thinkHe will bless us according to our desire if we be not careful to serve and honour him according to his Will That therefore we may reap the good and benefit of this so necessary a Belief we are to consider well what it is that we believe and what duty that belief must needs bind upon us That which we believe is That there is a GOD and to be GOD is to be the first Cause and Author the Maker Preserver Lord and Governour of the whole World and all things therein the Fountain of all Power and Wisdom and Goodness and therefore the highest Power the greatest Wisdom and the chief Good Now if GOD be all this then it is very easy for every one to see certain duties lying upon us as we are the creatures of GOD which naturally arise from what we believe even from this one point That there is a GOD. 1. GOD being the first Cause Author and Maker of all things He is the very Fountain and Original of all Being and Life Power Wisdom and Goodness All these are in him originally as in the inexhaustible Spring and Fountain and there can be nothing at all of any of these things in the World but what is derived from him neither can any of these be any longer in the world than it pleaseth him All this must needs be very plain to every Understanding If then we will live as men who are sensible that there is a GOD by whom we live and without whom nothing can have either life or being We must needs First have the highest and most honourable Thoughts of GOD the greatest reverence and esteem for him that can possibly be in the heart of man We are not to conceive of him as of one whose excellencies and vertues tho' they exceed those of any other Being whatsoever are yet contain'd within such or such bounds or limits or are at such a degree and no higher but we are to think of him as of one who in the Perfectictions of the Divine Nature is infinitely above all the thoughts of Men and Angels of incomprehensible Glory and Majesty of boundless Power Wisdom and Goodness such as is to be always admired and adored but never to be fully seen or understood We are however to labour every day to know more and more of him that the more we know the more we may admire and love and rejoyce and even be ravish'd with those unconceivable excellencies which to discern more clearly will be our eternal happiness in Heaven Our hearts therefore should be always fill'd with and our mouths should sound forth the praises of GOD every one singing with the holy Psalmist Bless the LORD O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name Psal. CIII 1. Bless the LORD O my soul. O LORD my GOD thou are very great thou art clothed with honour and majesty Psal. CIV 1. While I live will I praise the LORD I will sing praise unto my GOD while I have any being Psal. CXLVI 2. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD Psal. CL. 6. Be thou exalted O GOD above the heavens and thy glory above all the earth Psal. CVIII 5. Blessed be thy glorious name which is exalted above all blessing and praise Neh. IX 5. Secondly It must needs be our Duty to walk humbly before GOD and to abase our selves in his Presence whose eyes are continually open upon us We must always bear in mind that he is our GOD and Maker and we are at best but the work
Countrey by Cyrus The Succession of the Four Famous Monarchies in Daniel The Coming of our Lord JESUS and his Sufferings The Final Destruction of the Temple and of the whole Iewish Nation And these things with many more there foretold have been undeniably fulfilled And is not this a demonstration that these mens Prophecies were GOD's own Word Let them bring forth their strong reasons saith GOD by his Prophet and shew us what shall happen Let them shew the former things what they be that we may consider them or declare us things for to come Shew us the things that are to come hereafter that we may know that ye are gods Isa. XLI 22 23. Tell ye and bring them near let them take counsel together Who hath told it from that time Have not I the LORD And there is no GOD else besides me Isa. XLV 21. I am GOD and there is none like me declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done saying My Counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure Isa. XLVI 10 11. 3. This Word hath been deliver'd with Miracles to confirm it which are the Works of Divine Power only We know that it is not in the Power of Man or of any thing else but of the Great GOD of Nature and LORD of the World to alter any thing in the Course of Nature to do things which exceed the Power of Natural Causes or to make things act quite contrary to their Natures When therefore we see such things done we must acknowledg a Power above all Natural Power whereby they are done Yet is it as certain as History and Observation can make it that such things have been done and by those very men from whom we have what we call the Word of GOD. Indeed all things in the World from the greatest to the least are truly wonderful to us as being far above not only our Skill to imitate but also our Reason throughly to understand yet we call not all things Miracles Only such things as rarely happen and not according to the ordinary course of Nature are accounted Miracles As when the Fire refuseth to burn those that are cast into it when the Water divides it self and stands up like two walls on each hand to let men pass through it on dry ground when the Sun stands still in Heaven and doubles the length of the day When men without any Medicinal Art or help by a touch or a word only either take away or restore sight hearing health and strength dispossess Devils command Winds and Seas take life from the living and give life to the dead These things above the power and contrary to the course of Nature are Miracles And these with others many have been done Not indeed every day and ordinarily for then would they have been disregarded as common things and cease to be Wonders Not secretly neither nor in some close corners only for then few could have witnessed and fewer would have believed them Neither yet were they done upon any slight or trivial occasion for then would they have been look'd on only as Casualties and odd Chances But they were done rarely to encrease the wonder yet openly to gain belief and upon special and weighty Occasions that the Cause might be more noted They who did them own'd that it was GOD who extraordinarily enabled them and that not for their sakes but for his own Glory and in confirmation of the truth of what he had sent them to teach In a word all was to make GOD known unto men and to persuade men to seek their happiness in him By such Works did GOD bear witness to his own Word And every one but a Fool will say Blessed be the LORD GOD of Israel who only doth wondrous things Psal. LXXII 18. Thou art great and dost wondrous things thou art GOD alone Psal. LXXXVI 10. Understand ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise Psal. XCIV 8. Whoso is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the LORD Psal. CVII 43. 3. The Success which the Doctrine contain'd in the holy SCRIPTURE hath had has been such as none but GOD alone could give it If the Men who wrote these Books we speak of had not given great satisfaction to the World that they spake from GOD how came the Doctrine which they taught to gain belief How came it so to take root and grow and spread as it hath undeniably done Why have not its Enemies the Wise-men of this World after so much straining of their Wits and using all their Art and Policy to that end been yet able to convince men of its solly vanity or falshood Why have not all the Mighty Powers on Earth bending their whole force against it been able to suppress and stifle it Whatever Stratagems the Devil or Man could invent have been made use of to this purpose Iews and Gentiles conspired together to crush it in the Egg. The Heathen raged and the people imagined a vain thing The Kings of the earth set themselves and the Rulers took counsel together against the LORD and against his Anointed saying Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us As David prophesied of them Psal. II. 1 2 3. The Kings of the Earth have persecuted this Religion with Fire and Sword The Lusts of mens hearts rise up in open war against it continually Yet hath it taken root and flourish'd it has conquer'd and made the most wonderful change imaginable in mens hearts and lives This success it has had not among a few simple ones easily deceived but among the most learned and understanding and judicious And what can this be imputed to but to the light and power of Divine Truth Indeed by its own light men may easily see all things in it which can be proper to commend it to all who think fit to be govern'd by Reason as all but Fools do If it be said That Idolatry is yet reigning over the greatest part of the World and the foolish Religion of Mahomet hath had very wonderful Success and hath triumph'd over and quite extinguished Christianity in many places so that the least part of the World is at this day Christian And therefore the Christian Doctrine gains little credit by its success in the World In answer to this we say these things First Whichsoever of these Religions Heathenism Mahometism or Christianity prevail most or be thought truest yet is it true still That all the World is of some Religion and owns a GOD. And therefore this is noObjection against what we at first undertook to prove That there is a GOD Only it may seem to weaken one of our Arguments whereby we would prove this But indeed it doth not weaken it at all For secondly We are now only proving that our Scripture is the Word of GOD and this is but one of the many
not appear any wisdom in all this 2. He that saith this saith it in his heart He is not so ignorant of GOD as one who never heard of any such thing If any one be so ignorant 't is certain he 's a fool and greatly to be pitied for his folly But in what part of the World he should be found I know not He that saith in his heart there is no GOD talks of him within himself and therfore hath heard of him Yet some who have heard of GOD are wholly careless and regardless of him and very indifferent whether he be or no their hearts are at rest within them and seem unconcern'd about this matter This is great folly and 't is well if there be not many such Fools of whom it may be said GOD is not in all their thoughts Psal. 10. 4. Some there may be also who wish with all their hearts and could heartily desire that there were no GOD that so without all fear of him they might live as they list All these are Fools but he that saith in his heart there is no GOD seems to outgo all these He is come to a conclusion about it and makes himself confident of it 'T is true indeed he seems not yet so fool-hardy as openly to say it with his Tongue Tho' some Men are grown so impudent as to boast of their folly and to call it Wit to talk prophanely and some parts of the World are so over-run with bruitishness as to suffer this Yet most men if they be not more modest are however more cunning than to speak out all that they think Tho' therefore they think there is no GOD yet are they sensible how much it concerns them that others should not be taught to think so too or so much as know that they think so If they should bring others to think as they do they might soon be made to pay dearly for teaching them this lesson for then would all those others take to themselves the same liberty of doing what they list as they desire to have and the World would become a very unsafe place for them to live in He therefore that saith there is no GOD is content to say it in his heart only and can be very well content too that all but himself should think otherwise for his own safety yea lest all they who think there is a GOD should begin to stand upon their guard against him as an Enemy to Mankind as they have good reason to account him Tho' he be so foolish as to say in his heart there is no GOD yet is he so cunning as to say with his mouth among others I believe in GOD. 3. He that saith in his heart there is no God is the fool No wise Man ever said it The fear of the LORD that is wisdom Job 28. 28. The knowledg of the HOLY is understanding Prov. 9. 10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledg Prov. 1. 7. and of wisdom And a good understanding have they that keep his commandments Ps. 111. 10. But fools despise wisdom and instruction Prov. 1. 7. And the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness Prov. 1â— 23. But what fool is he that saith this In the language of the Holy Ghost the fool is he that goes on in a course of sinning Of him and his Fellows David gives us this account in those two Psalms the 14th and 51st They are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good The LORD looked down from Heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek GOD They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one The fool then is the habitual sinner who being deeply in love with his sin cannot indure to think of parting with it If there be a GOD he knows he must very dearly pay for sinning against him and therefore so long as he believes there is a GOD he cannot enjoy his sins in quietness He has therefore no way left him but one to sin without a continual disturbance of mind from the checks of his own Conscience and that is As much as he can to banish the belief and even all thoughts of GOD far from him This then for the love of his sins he is resolved upon and tho' it be very hard for him who hath his eye-sight to open his eyes and not see the Light yet he makes a shift so long to wink against the light till at last he quite loseth his sight So long he strives aagainst the belief of a GOD that at length no Arguments can persuade him to believe Resisting the Truth GOD justly punisheth him with his own desire and hides the Truth from him for ever Because they received not the love of the truth c. GOD saith St. Paul shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lye That they might be damn'd who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness 2 Thess. 2. 10 11 12. As they did not like to retain GOD in their knowledg GOD gives them over to a reprobate mind Rom. 1. 28. And 't is most just with GOD thus to deal with such obstinate Fools I mean to hide himself for ever from them who have a long time done all that ever they could not to see him Hence the Sinner grows more and more a Fool and at last arrives at the Fool 's confidence to believe whatever he has a mind to He saith in his heart there is no GOD And he that trusteth in his own heart is a fool Prov. 28. 26. Now having seen these Three things What is said How 't is said and Who hath said it We are to consider how well he deserves the name of Fool for saying it That is for persuading himself to believe or for making himself confident That there is no GOD. And this his Folly will undeniably appear very great to every one that takes notice but of Three things which are all very visible 1. He is Confident where he cannot have any even the least ground of Assurance 2. He is Confident where his Confidence can do no good but will do much hurt 3. He is Confident where all the reason in the world is against his Confidence If then there be such a thing in the world as a fool he that saith in his heart or is confident that there is no GOD must needs be a Fool. For 1. He that is confident there is no GOD is confident where he cannot have any the least ground of assurance that is he is confident of that which he cannot pretend to know And is not he a fool that pleaseth himself with such a groundless confidence as this and ventures his soul on that whereof he cannot say that he is in any measure sure No man was ever yet so vain as to undertake to prove that there is no GOD. Some have been
from it As GOD commanded and they were created so he hath established them for ever and ever he hath made a decree which shall not pass Psal. CXLVIII 5 6. They continue this day according to his ordinance Psal. CXIX 91. Now as the constant orderly course of all things in nature shews that there is an Infinite Wisdom and Power that put them into this order and fixed them in this course keeping and continuing them ordinarily in it So when sometimes and upon very remarkable occasions this ordinary course of Nature is changed and things are done above the power and quite contrary to the course of Nature and moreover when the wisest counsels and most hopeful endeavours and the most likely means such as rarely fail and in all appearance and reason should succeed well are all on a sudden blasted and quite disappointed and not only so but produce the quite contrary to that for which they were design'd and all this by reason of some invisible power which no â—an can discern or by such weak opposition as none could imagine likely to prevail What can we think less but that there is an over-ruling Providence of GOD who alway holds the Rains in his own hands and doth whatsoever he will both in Heaven and in Earth It is easie to observe that when Wickedness is grown up to a very extraordinary heighth in a Nation or Kingdom though that Nation abounds in Policy and Strength and in all things that seem to promise success and persuade to security yet all on a sudden when there seems least cause of fear by some extraordinary unlook'd for Judgment it is brought to utter ruine and destruction And on the other hand When a good and religious People are oppress'd by Tyrants and assaulted by most potent Enemies and hemm'd in on all sides with seemingly inevitable dangers so as they sink into despair and look for nothing but being swallow'd up of those who hate them all on a sudden when they could see no reason to hope for any such thing the threatning Cloud flies over them and rains down vengeance on their Enemies and the Sun shines forth on them brighter than ever Who can conclude less than that the hand of GOD is in all this Now both Histories and Experience have furnished us with Examples of such thiâ—gs as these and he must be of a very obstinate humour that is not convinced by them How easie especially is it to observe in the sacred History of the Bible GOD's wonderful and extraordinary both Iudgments and Mercies both towards whole Nations and also private Persons and Families Enough there is of this kind to assure us That 't is GOD that changeth the times and the seasons who removeth Kings and setteth up Kings Dan. II. 21. That against him there is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel Prov. XXI 30. That he turneth rivers into a wilderness and water-springs into a dry ground a fruitful land into barrenness for the wickedness of them that dwell therein He turneth the wilderness into a standing water and dry ground into water-springs and there he maketh the hungry to dwell that they may prepare a City for habitation Psal. CVII 33 c. He brought in a flood upon the world of the ungodly â—nd saved Noah the preacher of righteousness He turned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes and deliver'd just Lot 2 Pet. II. 5 6 7. He shew'd his signs and his wonders in the land of Egypt and brought forth his people Psal. CV 27. He led them through the depths of the sea and drowned their enemies The earth open'd and swallow'd Dathan and covered the Congregation of Abiram A fire was kindled in their company the flame burnt up the wicked Psal. CVI. 9 c. The Sun stood still and the Moon staid until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies The Sun stood still in the midst of heaven and hasted not to go down about a whole day Josh. X. 13. The Walls of the City Ierico fell down when at Ioshuah's command the People shouted Iosh. VI. 20. The Angel of the LORD went out and smote in the Camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand 2 Kings 19. 35. What should I say more but as the Apostle Heb. XI 32. The time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Sampson and of Iephtha of David also and Samuel and of the Prophets Who through faith subdued kingdoms obtained promises stopp'd the mouths of Lions quenched the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword out of weakness were made strong waxed valiant in fight turn'd to flight the Armies of the Aliens In a word The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands Psal. IX 16. So that a man shall say Verily there is a reward for the righteous verily he is a GOD that judgeth in the earth Psal. LVIII 11. And now after all this I hope it is abundantly manifest that the Atheist being confident that there is no GOD makes himself confident in a matter wherein all the reason in the world is against him and against all the Evidences that can be given of what he denies how true soever it be It cannot therefore be thought needful any otherwise than thus to shew that he hath no reason at all for his confidence For when all reason appears against one's Opinion 't is most certain there can be no reason for it All that he can say for himself is but this That there appear to him some Difficulties in the Belief of a GOD which he cannot conquer And doth he not meet with as many and as unconquerable difficulties in the denying of a GOD If he do not 't is only because he hath no mind to see them for I am sure all the wisest men have met with such But if it be as the Atheist pretends more difficult to believe that there is a GOD than to believe there is none or than barely not to believe there is how comes it to pass that the generality of mankind hath always believ'd it How is it that nothing seems more natural and easie to most men than to believe it and nothing more hard and against Nature than to conceive how it should be otherwise Why hath no Atheist by propounding and demonstrating these Difficulties been able hitherto to dissuade any considerable number of men from believing this Can the Atheist give any rational account how this world could be as it is or how he himself came to be what he is if there be no GOD If he can why hath he not in so many Ages of the world let men see that he can Why have so few receiv'd any satisfaction from what he hath said to that purpose Surely it must be because men find many more Difficulties in believing that he speaks reason or in perceiving that he gives any reasonable account of things