a_o good_a man_n leave_v a_o inheritance_n to_o his_o child_n child_n 14.26_o prov._n 14.26_o and_o again_o in_o the_o fear_n of_o the_o lord_n be_v strong_a confidence_n and_o his_o child_n shall_v have_v a_o place_n of_o refuge_n but_o the_o wicked_a derive_v a_o curse_n upon_o all_o that_o be_v relate_v to_o he_o he_o be_v say_v to_o trouble_v his_o own_o house_n and_o again_o 11.29_o prov._n 11.29_o the_o wicked_a be_v overthrow_v and_o be_v not_o 12.7_o prov._n 12.7_o but_o the_o house_n of_o the_o righteous_a shall_v stand_v but_o set_v aside_o the_o consideration_n of_o god_n providence_n religion_n do_v likewise_o in_o its_o own_o nature_n tend_v to_o the_o welfare_n of_o those_o who_o be_v relate_v to_o we_o because_o it_o lay_v the_o strict_a obligation_n upon_o man_n to_o take_v care_n of_o their_o family_n and_o relation_n and_o to_o make_v the_o best_a provision_n both_o for_o their_o comfortable_a subsistence_n here_o in_o this_o world_n and_o their_o salvation_n in_o 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ii_o the_o second_o way_n of_o confirmation_n shall_v be_v by_o endeavour_v to_o show_v the_o ignorance_n and_o folly_n of_o irreligion_n now_o all_o that_o be_v irreligious_a be_v so_o upon_o one_o of_o these_o two_o account_n either_o first_o because_o they_o do_v not_o believe_v the_o foundation_n and_o principle_n of_o religion_n as_o the_o existence_n of_o god_n the_o immortality_n of_o the_o soul_n and_o future_a reward_n or_o else_o second_o because_o though_o they_o do_v in_o some_o sort_n believe_v these_o thing_n yet_o they_o live_v contrary_a to_o this_o their_o belief_n and_o of_o this_o kind_n be_v the_o far_o great_a part_n of_o wicked_a man_n the_o first_o sort_n be_v guilty_a of_o that_o which_o we_o call_v speculative_a the_o other_o of_o practical_a atheism_n i_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o show_v the_o ignorance_n and_o folly_n of_o both_o these_o first_o speculative_a atheism_n be_v unreasonable_a and_o that_o upon_o these_o five_o account_n 1._o because_o it_o give_v 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they_o be_v of_o themselves_o and_o such_o almost_o be_v these_o principle_n that_o god_n be_v and_o that_o all_o thing_n be_v make_v by_o he_o which_o by_o reason_n of_o the_o bold_a cavil_n of_o perverse_a and_o unreasonable_a man_n we_o be_v now_o a-days_o put_v to_o defend_v that_o something_o be_v of_o itself_o be_v evident_a because_o we_o see_v thing_n be_v and_o the_o thing_n that_o we_o see_v must_v either_o have_v have_v some_o first_o cause_n of_o their_o be_v or_o have_v be_v always_o and_o of_o themselves_o one_o of_o these_o two_o be_v unavoidable_a so_o that_o the_o controversy_n between_o we_o and_o this_o sort_n of_o atheist_n come_v to_o this_o which_o be_v the_o more_o credible_a opinion_n that_o the_o world_n be_v never_o make_v nor_o have_v a_o begin_n but_o always_o be_v as_o it_o be_v and_o that_o there_o have_v be_v from_o all_o eternity_n a_o succession_n of_o man_n and_o other_o creature_n without_o any_o first_o cause_n of_o their_o be_v or_o that_o there_o be_v from_o all_o eternity_n such_o a_o be_v as_o we_o conceive_v god_n to_o be_v infinite_a in_o power_n goodness_n and_o wisdom_n which_o make_v we_o and_o all_o other_o thing_n the_o first_o of_o these_o opinion_n i_o shall_v show_v to_o be_v altogether_o incredible_a and_o the_o latter_a to_o have_v all_o the_o credibility_n and_o evidence_n of_o which_o a_o thing_n of_o that_o nature_n be_v capable_a and_o such_o evidence_n as_o be_v sufficient_a to_o convince_v any_o impartial_a and_o considerate_a man_n now_o in_o compare_v the_o probability_n of_o thing_n that_o we_o may_v know_v on_o which_o side_n the_o advantage_n lie_v these_o two_o consideration_n be_v of_o great_a moment_n what_o the_o argument_n be_v on_o each_o side_n and_o what_o the_o difficulty_n for_o if_o there_o be_v fair_a proof_n on_o the_o one_o side_n and_o none_o at_o all_o on_o the_o other_o and_o if_o the_o most_o press_a difficulty_n be_v on_o that_o side_n on_o which_o there_o be_v no_o proof_n this_o be_v sufficient_a to_o render_v one_o opinion_n very_o credible_a and_o the_o other_o altogether_o incredible_a these_o two_o thing_n therefore_o i_o shall_v endeavour_v to_o make_v good_a in_o the_o matter_n that_o be_v now_o under_o our_o consideration_n first_o that_o there_o be_v fair_a proof_n on_o our_o side_n and_o as_o convince_a as_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n be_v capable_a of_o but_o that_o there_o be_v no_o pretence_n of_o proof_n on_o the_o other_o and_o second_o that_o the_o side_n on_o which_o there_o be_v no_o proof_n be_v encumber_v with_o the_o great_a difficulty_n first_o that_o there_o be_v fair_a proof_n on_o our_o side_n and_o as_o convince_a as_o the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n be_v capable_a of_o but_o that_o there_o be_v no_o pretence_n of_o proof_n on_o the_o other_o this_o question_n whether_o the_o world_n be_v create_v and_o have_v a_o beginning_n or_o not_o be_v a_o question_n concern_v a_o ancient_a matter_n of_o fact_n which_o can_v only_o be_v decide_v these_o two_o way_n by_o testimony_n and_o by_o probability_n of_o reason_n testimony_n be_v the_o principal_a argument_n in_o a_o matter_n of_o this_o nature_n and_o if_o fair_a probability_n of_o reason_n concur_v with_o it_o this_o argument_n have_v all_o the_o strength_n it_o can_v have_v now_o both_o these_o be_v clear_o on_o the_o affirmative_a side_n of_o the_o question_n viz._n that_o the_o world_n be_v create_v and_o have_v a_o beginning_n 1._o testimony_n of_o which_o there_o be_v two_o kind_n divine_a and_o humane_a divine_a testimony_n as_o such_o be_v not_o proper_a to_o be_v use_v in_o this_o cause_n consider_v the_o occasion_n of_o the_o present_a debate_n for_o that_o will_v be_v to_o beg_v the_o first_o and_o main_a question_n now_o in_o controversy_n which_o be_v whether_o there_o be_v a_o god_n
to_o be_v to_o let_v man_n loose_v to_o vice_n which_o be_v natural_o attend_v with_o temporal_a inconvenience_n and_o if_o this_o be_v true_a than_o the_o atheist_n can_v pretend_v this_o reason_n of_o charity_n to_o mankind_n which_o be_v the_o only_a one_o i_o can_v think_v of_o to_o dispute_v against_o religion_n much_o less_o to_o rally_v upon_o it_o for_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o it_o will_v be_v no_o kindness_n to_o any_o man_n to_o be_v undeceive_v in_o these_o principle_n of_o religion_n suppose_v they_o be_v false_a because_o the_o principle_n of_o religion_n be_v so_o far_o from_o hinder_v that_o they_o promote_v a_o man_n happiness_n even_o in_o this_o world_n and_o as_o to_o the_o other_o world_n there_o can_v be_v no_o inconvenience_n in_o the_o mistake_n for_o when_o a_o man_n be_v not_o it_o will_v be_v no_o trouble_n to_o he_o that_o he_o be_v once_o deceive_v about_o these_o matter_n and_o where_o no_o obligation_n of_o conscience_n nor_o of_o reason_n can_v be_v pretend_v there_o certal_o the_o law_n of_o civility_n ought_v to_o take_v place_n now_o man_n do_v profess_v to_o believe_v that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n and_o that_o the_o common_a principle_n of_o religion_n be_v true_a and_o to_o have_v a_o great_a veneration_n for_o these_o thing_n can_v there_o then_o be_v a_o great_a insolence_n than_o for_o a_o man_n when_o he_o come_v into_o company_n to_o rally_v and_o fall_v soul_n upon_o those_o thing_n for_o which_o he_o know_v the_o company_n have_v a_o reverence_n can_v one_o man_n offer_v a_o great_a affront_n to_o another_o than_o to_o expose_v to_o scorn_v he_o who_o he_o own_v and_o declare_v to_o be_v his_o best_a friend_n the_o patron_n of_o his_o life_n and_o the_o great_a benefactor_n he_o have_v in_o the_o world_n and_o do_v not_o every_o man_n that_o own_v a_o god_n say_v this_o of_o he_o but_o when_o the_o generality_n of_o mankind_n be_v of_o the_o same_o opinion_n the_o rudeness_n be_v still_o the_o great_a so_o that_o whoever_o do_v open_o contemn_v god_n and_o religion_n do_v delinquere_fw-la in_o majestatem_fw-la populi_fw-la &_o humani_fw-la generis_fw-la '_o he_o do_v offend_v against_o the_o majesty_n of_o the_o people_n and_o that_o reverence_n which_o be_v due_a to_o the_o common_a apprehension_n of_o mankind_n whether_o they_o be_v true_a or_o not_o which_o be_v the_o great_a incivility_n that_o can_v be_v imagine_v this_o be_v the_o first_o consideration_n and_o it_o be_v the_o least_o that_o i_o have_v to_o urge_v in_o this_o matter_n but_o yet_o i_o have_v insist_v the_o long_a upon_o it_o because_o it_o be_v such_o a_o one_o as_o aught_o especial_o to_o prevail_v upon_o those_o who_o i_o be_o afraid_a be_v too_o often_o guilty_a of_o this_o vice_n i_o mean_v those_o who_o be_v of_o better_a breed_n because_o they_o pretend_v to_o understand_v the_o law_n of_o behaviour_n and_o the_o decency_n of_o conversation_n better_o than_o other_o man_n 2._o suppose_v it_o be_v doubtful_a whether_o there_o be_v a_o god_n or_o not_o and_o whether_o the_o principle_n of_o religion_n be_v true_a or_o not_o and_o that_o the_o argument_n be_v equal_a on_o both_o side_n yet_o it_o will_v be_v a_o great_a folly_n to_o deride_v these_o thing_n and_o here_o i_o suppose_v as_o much_o as_o the_o atheist_n can_v with_o any_o colour_n of_o reason_n pretend_v to_o for_o no_o man_n ever_o yet_o pretend_v to_o demonstrate_v that_o there_o be_v no_o god_n nor_o no_o life_n after_o this_o for_o these_o be_v pure_a negative_n be_v capable_a of_o no_o proof_n unless_o a_o man_n can_v show_v they_o to_o be_v plain_o impossible_a the_o utmost_a that_o be_v pretend_v be_v that_o the_o argument_n that_o be_v bring_v for_o these_o thing_n be_v not_o sufficient_a to_o convince_v but_o if_o they_o be_v only_o probable_a so_o long_o as_o no_o argument_n be_v produce_v to_o the_o contrary_a that_o can_v in_o reason_n be_v deny_v to_o be_v a_o great_a advantage_n but_o i_o will_v for_o the_o present_n suppose_v the_o probability_n equal_a on_o both_o side_n and_o upon_o this_o supposition_n i_o doubt_v not_o to_o make_v it_o appear_v to_o be_v a_o monstrous_a folly_n to_o deride_v these_o thing_n because_o though_o the_o argument_n on_o both_o side_n be_v equal_a yet_o the_o danger_n and_o hazard_n be_v infinite_o unequal_a if_o it_o prove_v true_a that_o there_o be_v no_o god_n the_o religious_a man_n may_v be_v as_o happy_a in_o this_o world_n as_o the_o atheist_n nay_o the_o principle_n of_o religion_n and_o virtue_n do_v in_o their_o own_o nature_n tend_v to_o make_v he_o happy_a because_o they_o give_v satisfaction_n to_o his_o mind_n and_o his_o conscience_n by_o this_o mean_n be_v free_v from_o many_o fearful_a gird_n and_o twinge_n which_o the_o atheist_n feel_v beside_o that_o the_o practice_n of_o religion_n and_o virtue_n do_v natural_o promote_v our_o temporal_a felicity_n it_o be_v more_o for_o a_o man_n health_n and_o more_o for_o his_o reputation_n and_o more_o for_o his_o advantage_n in_o all_o other_o worldly_a respect_n to_o lead_v a_o virtuous_a than_o a_o vicious_a course_n of_o life_n and_o for_o the_o other_o world_n if_o there_o be_v no_o god_n the_o case_n of_o the_o religious_a man_n and_o the_o atheist_n will_v be_v alike_o because_o they_o will_v both_o be_v extinguish_v by_o death_n and_o insensible_a of_o any_o far_a happiness_n or_o misery_n but_o then_o if_o the_o contrary_a opinion_n shall_v prove_v true_a that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n and_o that_o the_o soul_n of_o man_n be_v transmit_v out_o of_o this_o world_n into_o the_o other_o there_o to_o receive_v the_o just_a reward_n of_o their_o action_n then_o it_o be_v plain_a to_o every_o man_n at_o first_o sight_n that_o the_o case_n of_o the_o religious_a man_n and_o the_o atheist_n must_v be_v vast_o different_a then_o where_o shall_v the_o wicked_a and_o the_o ungodly_a appear_v and_o what_o think_v we_o shall_v be_v the_o portion_n of_o those_o who_o have_v affront_v god_n and_o deride_v his_o word_n and_o make_v a_o mock_n of_o every_o thing_n that_o be_v sacred_a and_o religious_a what_o can_v they_o expect_v but_o to_o be_v reject_v by_o he_o who_o they_o have_v renounce_v and_o to_o feel_v the_o terrible_a effect_n of_o that_o power_n and_o justice_n which_o they_o have_v despise_v so_o that_o though_o the_o argument_n on_o both_o side_n be_v equal_a yet_o the_o danger_n be_v not_o so_o on_o the_o one_o side_n there_o be_v none_o at_o all_o but_o it_o be_v infinite_a on_o the_o other_o and_o consequent_o it_o must_v be_v a_o monstrous_a folly_n for_o any_o man_n to_o make_v a_o mock_n of_o those_o thing_n which_o he_o know_v not_o whether_o they_o be_v or_o not_o and_o if_o they_o be_v of_o all_o thing_n in_o the_o world_n they_o be_v no_o jest_a matter_n 3._o suppose_v there_o be_v a_o god_n and_o that_o the_o principle_n of_o religion_n be_v true_a then_o be_v it_o not_o only_o a_o heinous_a impiety_n but_o a_o perfect_a madness_n to_o scoff_n at_o these_o thing_n and_o that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n and_o that_o the_o principle_n of_o religion_n be_v true_a i_o have_v already_o in_o my_o former_a discourse_n endeavour_v to_o prove_v both_o from_o the_o thing_n which_o be_v make_v and_o from_o the_o general_a consent_n of_o mankind_n in_o these_o principle_n of_o which_o universal_a consent_n no_o sufficient_a reason_n can_v be_v give_v unless_o they_o be_v true_a and_o suppose_v they_o be_v so_o it_o be_v not_o only_o the_o utmost_a pitch_n of_o impiety_n but_o the_o high_a flight_n of_o folly_n that_o can_v be_v imagine_v to_o deride_v these_o thing_n to_o be_v disobedient_a to_o the_o command_n of_o god_n be_v a_o great_a contempt_n but_o to_o deny_v his_o be_v and_o to_o make_v sport_n with_o his_o word_n and_o to_o endeavour_v to_o render_v it_o ridiculous_a by_o turn_v the_o wise_a and_o weighty_a say_n of_o that_o holy_a book_n into_o raillery_n be_v a_o most_o direct_a affront_n to_o the_o god_n that_o be_v above_o thus_o the_o psalmist_n describe_v these_o atheistical_a person_n as_o level_v their_o blasphemy_n immediate_o against_o the_o majesty_n of_o heaven_n they_o set_v their_o mouth_n against_o the_o heaven_n and_o their_o tongue_n walk_v through_o the_o earth_n they_o do_v mischief_n among_o man_n but_o the_o affront_n be_v immediate_o to_o god_n beside_o that_o this_o profane_a spirit_n be_v a_o argument_n of_o a_o most_o incorrigible_a temper_n the_o wise_a man_n every_o where_o speak_v of_o the_o scorner_n as_o one_o of_o the_o worst_a sort_n of_o sinner_n and_o hard_a to_o be_v reclaim_v because_o he_o despise_v instruction_n and_o mock_n at_o all_o the_o mean_n whereby_o he_o shall_v be_v reform_v and_o then_o be_v it_o not_o a_o most_o black_a and_o horrid_a ingratitude_n