NATURAL RELIGION, ITS USES AND DEFECTS. '[SEAM. r, generations began ; and since they are all dead, and could not preserve themselves out of their own original sufficiency, it is certain they could not make themselves; they all must depend therefore. on some mighty Being, who .has ever lived, and will ever live, and who is the first Cause and Maker of all things besides himself. Further arguments for the being of a God will appear under the next particular. 2. We learn by the light of nature what God is, viz. that he is a Spirit, perfect in wisdom and perfect in power, who knows all things and can do all things, or who is all-wise and almighty. The amazing works of God in the heavens, the sun, moon and stars, their regular and unerring motions for so many thousand years, the progress of the hours, the changes of day and night, winter and summer, which de- pend on these motions and revolutions, they all.abun- d.antly discover that the Maker of them was wise, .and skilful beyond all our conceptions. If we observe the operations of a clock or watch, which doth but imitate the motions of these heavenly, bodies, and point out-to us the day and the hour, and distinct seasons ; we say, it is impossible this curious engine could be made without great wisdom and skill in some artificer who contrived it; and canwe be so foolish as to imagine, that this vast and glorious engine of the heavens, with all its bright furni- ture; which makes times and seasons, day and night, could ever come into being by chance, or be made with outvisdorn or contrivance ? The wonderful production of plants, herbs, trees, and flowers, the astonishing operations of living creatures, and their several parts and powers fitted; for the .proper ends and designs of their life, discover to us the deep wisdom and knowledge of the Being that made them. When we observe the strange and surprizing actions of some animals, of dogs or foxes, of hen and chickens, of bees and emmets, we can scarce withhold ourselves from ascribing knowledge and reason to them ; and is it pos, sible that the Being, which made these active animals should not have understanding and reason, and that far superiór to all his creatures? Should Mr. Boyle, or Sir Isaac Newton descend from heaven, and begin a com- plete lectureon this subject, it would last for years, for- aes, even to the end of time;. and every instructive mo- o
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