Baxter - HP BV4920 B38 1829

12Z A. C.iLL TO fishes devour the less, and as ravenous beasts and birds devour others. You cannot think that God made man for no end or use; and if he made him for any, it was surely for himself; and can you think he cares not whether his end be accomplished, and whether we do the work that we are made for? Yea, by this atheistical objection, you make God · to have made and upheld all the world in vain: for what are all other lower creatures for, but for man? vVhat! doth the earth but bear us, and nourish us, and the beasts do serve us with their labours and lives, and so of the rest? And hath God made so glorious a habitation, and set man to dwell in it, and made all his servants; and now doth he look for nothing at his hands, nor care how he thinks, or speaks, or lives? This is most unreasonable. Object. 9. It -{vas a better world when men did not make so much ado in religion. Jl.nsw. 1. It hath ever been the custom t o praise the times past; that world that you speak of was wont to say it was a better worlu in their forefathers' days; and so did they of their forefathers. This is but an old custorn, because we all feel the evil of our own times, but we see not that which was before us. '2. Perhaps you speak as you think. W orlulings think the world is at the best when it is agreeable to their minds, and when they have most mirth and worldly pleasure; and I doubt not but the devil, as well as you, would say, that then it was a better world; for then he had more service and less disturbance. :But the world is at the best when God is most loved, regarded, and obeyed; and how else will you know when the world is good or bad, but by this? Ohject. 10. There are so many ways and religions, that we know not which to be of, and therefore we will be even as we are. •llnsw. Because there are many, will you be of that 9my that you may be sure is wrong? None

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