416 , nriltS AND ItECOVEDY, &C. our Maker's esteem a race of guiltless beings, since our portion in general in this life is superior pain and wretchedness : and especially since we find,botlt by reason and scripture, that what- soever calamities and death attend brutes, these, for wise pur- poses, are appointed by the God of nature, though they arewith - out sin, while the calamities and death of mankind are expressly attributed to sin in the word of God. Objection III. If the Miseries of all mankind, or even of the biggest part of them in this life, are so great as to over- balance all their comforts, so that a wise spirit would never willingly consent to be dressed in our flesh and blood, andbe born into our present world ; then we can have no reason to ,give God our Creator any thanks for our existence Or life, since this is no blessing, and it would have been far better for us never to have been born. Now is it possible that the great God should make a creature who has not reason or just cause to thank him for hisbeing ? Answer, If any creature who comes into our world, hath more.probability of being happy than of being miserable in this life; he has reason to bless God for his existence in proportion to the probability of his happiness :. But if a creature has more probability of misery than happiness in life, I cannot seethat life is any blessing or privilege ; nor can I see how he can rationally bless or give thanks to the great God for it, considered in itself; and abstracted from a future state. And I add yet further, if .any creature who comes into this world has a greater probability of being foolish and sinful here, and miserable hereafter, thanhe has Of being wise and holyhere, and happy in the other world ; neither then can he with reason bless God, or give thanks to the Author of his being merely for his existence, or coming into life into such a sinful wretched world. Now 'since this is the case, that the bulk of mankind are :born to trouble and misery here, as Job v. 7: and as we have 'sufficiently shewn before ; and if they are also most likely to run into sin and folly in this world, and misery in another, for almost the.whole world lies in wickedness ; 1 John v. 19. and there are few who shall be saved ;; Mat. vii. 14. this prospect certainly for- 'bids our mere existenceor entrance into such a life to be called a blesssing ; and consequently we cannot reasonably give thanks merely on thataccount to the almightyBeink that made us. There has been indeed a bold and severecharge brought against this opinion, viz. that it is avery high degree of ungodliness ; that it greatly diminishes, if not totally excludes the goodness and mercy of God, and consequently forbids our gratitude, and dis- :eourages our hope and trust. Answer.- It is a bold and grievous accusation indeed, but it wants all proof. Oursaviour himself has shewn us that it is cer+
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