P2ecíaugi ,faítij. as if by the rarefaiion and condenfation there- of all were produced. Hippafus and Heracli- tus held, that all things came out of a primi- tive fire or light, which by its death or extin- ¿tion generated all. Democritus and Epicurus affirmed, that the world was made by chance; a lucky concburfe of atomes framed it as it is. Pythagoras would have all things generated out of numbers, and the harmony thereof. Ari- f otle, the Prince of Peri patetickt, afferted the world to be eternal. Plato attributed eternity only to the matter and before him Anaxctgo- ras was the raft, who added a mind to matter, farng, Omnia fimul erant, delude acceffit mens, eaque compofitit. O dark and confufèd Laby- rinth of opinions ! How or which way {hall a man extricate himfelf without faith ? By faith we underftand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, Heb. ; I.3. If Faith do but open its eyes upon the fiat Chapter of Genefis, the Creation, which before was dark as the Chaos, is all clear as the light. The believer fees God in èvery creature, not only in the great Regions of Heaven and Earth, but alto in the leaf( Atoms or particles of nature. lam, is difcovered wherever there is any thing of Be- ing : And as for Providence, reafon hath not been much clearer among the Pbilofophers touching it, then touching creation. AriJtotle holding the world to be eternally from God by emanation, as light- from the Sun, muli alto hold its continuance to be in the fame manner, and without any voluntary ad;fuch as Providence is.
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