18 The Exiflence of G 0 D. ~ cy Nature were fo changeable according to the revolution of the Heavens, we n;ay with Chap. 5· eqoal Reafon believe, that by various conjuntlions of the Stars, it hath and may fall out ~that Waterfhould burn, and Fire cool; that Serpents G;ould be innocent, and Lamb; pern 'cious; that Flies fhould live an Age, and Eagles but a day. 2 . Since 'tts affirmed that the whole World doth not fink into this Oblivion at once it muftfol~ow that in feme vigorous pans of the knowledge of Arts fiill remain'd, and from thence fhould be derived to etherparts ( that were afcending from their igno~ ranee) as 'tis ufual in the commerce bf dtflant Regions. So that it will never fall out that Arts and Sciences once invemed fhould be totally lol'r. 'Tis true, fame particular Nation, not by c:hange of Nature, but humane aCCidents, may lofe the Arts wherein it formedy flourif11'd ~ as is eminently viGble in the Greek, that is now far more ignorant and unpolifht clran in former Ages. But this cannot with any pretence of Reafon be faid of the whole World. Tisevident therefore if the World were Eternal, it had always been mofl wife and civil, and that its gradual attaining the knowledge of things of publick advantage, is a fufficient conviCtion of its beginning in time, by the Counfel and Will of an intelkttual Agent. 3· Totheflill voice ofReafon, the loud voice of all Nations accords in confirming thi s Truth. The Civil, the Barbarous, the ~ixt, the Vagabond, the Free, the En1Javed, though divided into fo many Empires, and Kmgdoms, and Provinces, and many fo dil'rant that nor the leafl: commerce paffes betwe~n them, though ~o contrary in a thoufand fan OmneJ rbtce . fhions and cufl:oms that depend on the hbe:rty of Men rhat lS mutable, yet 11 all confent in natlffa eo vtht- the acknowledgment of a God, being inf1:rud:ed by N~ture that is always the fame, ftj;,:~~~g{: and immutable. 'Tis as nam~al to the hum~?e underftandmg by confidering the frame of Hb. d'""· the World, to believe there JS a God, as tts the property of the Eye to fee the Light. -,;· l'b Arijlotle fuppofes that if fome pertons from their birth were confin'd to dwellinas under ~1 ••. ' •• ••, the Earth, and afterwards fhou ld arcend into there habitable parts, that upon the Erfl fight Plar. l1b. ro. of the Heavens and Earth, wnh their vJfibJe Ornaments, of the regular and efl:abli!h'd ~fu~tnr. courfe of Nature, they would conclude that they were the works ofGod. The alfent to Colerin fin. this truth js unforc'd, but, without offering cxtream violence to the rational faculties, ::&1ne~J~~e, ~~~~ ~~~l~~~~~~i~~~ as1:~~~:e~e~:~i:~~~~~.pti~~l~~~i~~ ~~~t~~~Jfv~fi~t~? ~~J~~ nemo ntg~tt.CJc, one make many Gods. Some attrtbute corporeal parts to a pure Spmt; fame figure him in Statues to make the invifible feen; and in othermanner deform him. Yet no errour, no ignorance has abfolutely defac'd the notion of him. And that no focieties of Men are without the belief of a firl'r Being, fuperiourto all things in the World, and of abfolute Power over them, and confequently worthy of fupream Honour from all reafonable Creatures; their Prayers, Vow_s, Sacrifice.s, Solemnities, O~ths, are a vifib1e Teft:imony. From hence it is that Confc1ence acquits or condemns, fhtnes or burns, refrdhes or Tor~ ments according to the innocence or •guilt of Mens Actions, with refpell: to the Divine Judgment-feat. This is a Witnefsnonecanreproach, a Judgenonecandecline, an Executioner none can refil'r. Though the gmlty perfon may be fecure from humane J ul'rice by force or concealment, yet he feels fecret palpitations, is in perplexity and confufion from the fears of a fuperiour Ju!lice to ;which he is accountable. Nay, fometimes an inraged Confcience conl'rrains an offender to reveal his crimes, though a death full ofmifery and fhame be inevitable UfOn the difcovery. The reftel.lions of an accufing mind, caufe ruch terrours as no powers of Men can infliQ: or remove. Thefe were expreft: by the Poets under the reprefentation of angry Furies, not to be corrupted by any follicitations, that with flaming brands, and whips of Scorpions eagerlypurfue the guilty, and make them refllers even in the midl'r of outward profperities. •Fietthtr Chrifl'sviOtW. *As when wildPenl~em, grown mad with fear, Whole Troops of hellifh Haggs about him [pies, Two bloody Suns l'ralking the dusky Sphere, And twofold Thebrs runs rowling in his Eyes: Or through the Scene fiaring Orefles flies, With Eyes flung back upon his Mother's Ghol'r, ~· That with infernal Spirits all embofi, And Torches quench't in blooddoth her fiern Son accofi. But on the contrary, the tel'rimony of Confcience when clear and innocent produces thtt Tranquility, Complacence and Joy, that no outward troubles am exlinguilll. Tho
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=