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reason_n and_o wit_n to_o argue_v against_o the_o be_v of_o a_o god_n and_o seek_v to_o dispute_v he_o out_o of_o the_o world_n to_o this_o end_n they_o labour_v as_o well_o as_o they_o can_v to_o weaken_v the_o force_n of_o all_o those_o argument_n that_o be_v bring_v for_o the_o proof_n of_o a_o deity_n and_o make_v the_o best_a shift_n they_o can_v either_o to_o answer_v or_o evade_v they_o again_o they_o magnify_v the_o strength_n of_o those_o argument_n that_o be_v bring_v against_o such_o a_o be_v and_o though_o to_o prove_v a_o negative_a in_o this_o as_o in_o many_o other_o case_n be_v both_o irrational_a and_o impossible_a yet_o to_o show_v their_o goodwill_n to_o their_o maker_n the_o slend're_v cavil_n or_o probability_n of_o this_o nature_n shall_v have_v a_o mighty_a force_n with_o they_o and_o the_o slight_a sophistry_n be_v advance_v into_o demonstration_n but_o if_o this_o will_v not_o do_v they_o endeavour_v 2._o to_o banish_v all_o thought_n of_o god_n out_o of_o 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against_o a_o certain_a danger_n for_o fear_v of_o be_v frighten_v by_o it_o be_v no_o better_a than_o madness_n indeed_o can_v we_o put_v out_o the_o sun_n by_o wink_v or_o avoid_v the_o danger_n of_o divine_a vengeance_n by_o shake_v off_o the_o dread_n of_o it_o there_o may_v be_v some_o show_n of_o reason_n for_o our_o unbelief_n but_o since_o the_o truth_n of_o thing_n depend_v not_o upon_o our_o belief_n or_o disbelief_n of_o they_o and_o the_o very_a notion_n of_o a_o deity_n imply_v a_o necessity_n of_o existence_n it_o must_v be_v monstrous_o senseless_a and_o unreasonable_a to_o cast_v off_o the_o awe_n and_o dread_n of_o he_o again_o to_o regulate_v our_o faith_n by_o interest_n and_o affection_n be_v to_o walk_v by_o a_o false_a and_o crooked_a rule_n for_o these_o be_v frequent_o corrupt_v clap_v a_o wrong_a bias_n upon_o the_o mind_n which_o too_o often_o turn_v it_o from_o the_o truth_n and_o turn_v it_o unto_o fable_n and_o consequent_o to_o steer_v our_o course_n by_o these_o measure_n be_v to_o follow_v a_o false_a guide_n which_o must_v lead_v we_o out_o of_o our_o way_n indeed_o will_v man_n right_o understand_v and_o follow_v their_o true_a interest_n it_o will_v then_o lead_v they_o aright_o into_o the_o path_n of_o religion_n there_o be_v no_o comfort_n or_o security_n at_o all_o to_o be_v have_v without_o it_o but_o when_o they_o weak_o mistake_v their_o interest_n and_o vain_o wish_v there_o be_v no_o superior_a be_v to_o obstruct_v it_o they_o do_v but_o court_v misery_n and_o fond_o choose_v their_o own_o destruction_n in_o short_a the_o vast_a risk_a that_o these_o man_n run_v plain_o show_v it_o to_o be_v extreme_o unsafe_a and_o dangerous_a for_o if_o the_o atheist_n find_v at_o last_o that_o there_o be_v a_o god_n who_o he_o have_v all_o his_o life-time_n deny_v and_o despise_v what_o unspeakable_a horror_n must_v seize_v his_o guilty_a soul_n which_o must_v groan_v for_o ever_o under_o the_o wrath_n of_o such_o a_o almighty_a be_v and_o be_v eternal_o miserable_a without_o ease_n or_o remedy_n the_o goodman_n run_v no_o risk_a at_o all_o for_o the_o sense_n of_o such_o a_o be_v have_v make_v he_o more_o healthful_a and_o easy_a to_o himself_o more_o useful_a and_o serviceable_a to_o other_o and_o more_o honour_a and_o respect_v of_o all_o man_n for_o both_o and_o if_o there_o be_v no_o god_n at_o last_o he_o can_v find_v no_o inconvenience_n in_o this_o belief_n but_o if_o there_o be_v one_o he_o have_v infinite_o the_o better_a on_o it_o be_v sure_a to_o be_v eternal_o happy_a in_o his_o favour_n and_o presence_n so_o that_o if_o this_o be_v but_o a_o doubtful_a case_n common_a prudence_n teach_v man_n to_o choose_v the_o safe_a side_n to_o which_o therefore_o it_o will_v be_v our_o wisdom_n to_o incline_v i_o be_o sir_n your_o hearty_a friend_n a._n b._n october_n 16._o 1698._o letter_n ii_o sir_n i_o find_v you_o sensible_a in_o your_o last_o of_o the_o great_a evil_n and_o danger_n of_o that_o artifice_n which_o have_v draw_v so_o many_o into_o atheism_n viz._n the_o cast_v off_o the_o awe_n and_o sense_n of_o a_o deity_n that_o they_o may_v go_v on_o the_o more_o secure_o in_o their_o sin_n i_o proceed_v in_o this_o to_o another_o device_n make_v use_v of_o to_o the_o same_o purpose_n and_o that_o be_v some_o man_n endeavour_v to_o solve_v the_o phaenomena_n of_o the_o universe_n and_o to_o give_v a_o account_n of_o the_o existence_n of_o the_o world_n without_o a_o supreme_a be_v it_o be_v well_o know_v that_o one_o of_o the_o principal_a argument_n and_o demonstration_n of_o a_o deity_n be_v take_v from_o the_o work_v both_o of_o creation_n and_o providence_n the_o invisible_a thing_n of_o god_n from_o the_o creation_n of_o the_o world_n be_v clear_o see_v even_o his_o eternal_a power_n and_o godhead_n and_o it_o be_v evident_a as_o the_o same_o apostle_n tell_v the_o man_n of_o lystra_n that_o god_n have_v not_o leave_v himself_o without_o witness_n in_o that_o he_o do_v good_a and_o give_v rain_n from_o heaven_n and_o fruitful_a season_n fill_v our_o heart_n with_o food_n and_o gladness_n indeed_o the_o admirable_a frame_n and_o order_n of_o the_o world_n together_o with_o the_o wonderful_a provision_n make_v for_o all_o the_o creature_n in_o it_o plain_o bespeak_v a_o almighty_a agent_n to_o be_v both_o the_o contriver_n and_o preserver_n of_o it_o yea_o there_o be_v those_o visible_a mark_n of_o a_o infinite_a power_n wisdom_n and_o goodness_n stamp_v upon_o every_o creature_n that_o manifest_o show_v the_o finger_n of_o a_o god_n and_o direct_v our_o mind_n to_o the_o knowledge_n and_o contemplation_n of_o he_o now_o to_o evade_v this_o clear_a and_o palpable_a proof_n of_o his_o be_v the_o atheist_n rack_v his_o brain_n to_o find_v out_o a_o way_n of_o account_v for_o these_o thing_n without_o a_o first_o cause_n or_o orderer_n of_o they_o and_o of_o these_o there_o be_v two_o sort_n viz._n the_o first_o of_o those_o that_o assert_v the_o eternity_n of_o the_o world_n the_o other_o of_o such_o as_o make_v it_o the_o product_n of_o chance_n and_o fortune_n the_o former_a be_v the_o follower_n of_o aristotle_n and_o the_o latter_a of_o epicurus_n both_o which_o show_v their_o great_a unwillingness_n to_o believe_v a_o deity_n and_o how_o desirous_a they_o be_v to_o live_v without_o god_n in_o the_o world_n but_o let_v we_o examine_v the_o account_n they_o give_v we_o of_o these_o matter_n to_o which_o end_n let_v we_o begin_v with_o the_o first_o sort_n one_a who_o to_o set_v aside_o a_o first_o cause_n affirm_v the_o world_n to_o have_v have_v no_o beginning_n but_o to_o have_v be_v from_o eternity_n as_o it_o now_o be_v there_o have_v be_v a_o eternal_a succession_n of_o man_n and_o all_o
give_v we_o this_o hearts-ease_n and_o likewise_o the_o terror_n and_o frightful_a apprehension_n that_o flow_v from_o a_o dissolute_a life_n be_v sufficient_a to_o make_v all_o man_n abhor_v and_o abandon_v the_o cause_n of_o atheism_n i_o be_o sir_n your_o faithful_a friend_n a._n b._n letter_n iu._n sir_n i_o find_v you_o sensible_a of_o the_o hard_a shift_n the_o atheist_n be_v put_v to_o to_o silence_v the_o voice_n of_o conscience_n and_o stifle_v the_o alarm_n and_o conviction_n of_o his_o own_o mind_n together_o with_o the_o folly_n and_o danger_n of_o that_o stratagem_n i_o proceed_v therefore_o to_o another_o and_o that_o be_v to_o ascribe_v the_o notion_n of_o a_o deity_n to_o a_o too_o great_a easiness_n of_o belief_n or_o a_o fond_a credulity_n this_o we_o find_v to_o be_v a_o frequent_a plea_n and_o objection_n in_o this_o case_n one_o great_a argument_n for_o the_o proof_n of_o a_o god_n be_v take_v from_o the_o universal_a consent_n and_o agreement_n of_o mankind_n in_o this_o belief_n there_o be_v nothing_o so_o general_o own_a and_o receive_v in_o all_o time_n and_o place_n as_o this_o truth_n and_o that_o not_o only_o among_o the_o wise_a and_o know_v but_o even_o among_o the_o rude_a and_o most_o ignorant_a part_n of_o the_o world_n nulla_fw-la gentam_fw-la barbara_fw-la etc._n etc._n say_v the_o roman_a orator_n there_o be_v no_o nation_n so_o barbarous_a as_o not_o to_o believe_v and_o worship_n a_o god_n now_o whence_o shall_v this_o universal_a consent_n of_o mankind_n in_o this_o belief_n proceed_v but_o from_o the_o voice_n of_o nature_n which_o speak_v loud_a enough_o to_o be_v hear_v the_o sound_n whereof_o be_v go_v through_o the_o earth_n and_o the_o word_n to_o the_o end_n of_o the_o world_n yea_o this_o can_v be_v no_o other_o than_o a_o impression_n stamp_v on_o the_o mind_n by_o a_o divine_a hand_n engrave_v by_o the_o finger_n of_o god_n himself_o and_o interweave_v into_o the_o very_a frame_n of_o our_o be_v but_o how_o do_v the_o atheist_n evade_v this_o universal_o receive_v truth_n why_o by_o charge_v mankind_n with_o too_o great_a a_o credulity_n in_o this_o matter_n as_o if_o all_o man_n beside_o himself_o be_v too_o hasty_a and_o easy_a of_o belief_n and_o take_v up_o this_o persuasion_n upon_o very_o slender_a and_o insufficient_a ground_n whereas_o he_o scorn_v to_o be_v thus_o easy_o lead_v by_o vain_a talk_n and_o to_o yield_v up_o his_o understanding_n to_o uncertain_a rumour_n hence_o the_o great_a atheist_n of_o our_o age_n find_v all_o religion_n upon_o the_o belief_n of_o tale_n public_o tell_v as_o if_o the_o be_v and_o belief_n of_o a_o deity_n be_v build_v only_o upon_o a_o report_n hand_v down_o from_o one_o to_o another_o and_o have_v no_o better_a foundation_n than_o common_a fame_n now_o be_v not_o this_o a_o strange_a piece_n of_o rashness_n and_o presumption_n for_o any_o to_o condemn_v all_o before_o or_o beside_o himself_o for_o a_o company_n of_o credulous_a fool_n and_o child_n that_o can_v believe_v any_o thing_n and_o swallow_v the_o great_a difficulty_n without_o the_o least_o reason_n or_o examination_n but_o let_v we_o inquire_v a_o little_a far_o into_o this_o matter_n who_o be_v it_o that_o first_o raise_v this_o report_n of_o a_o deity_n or_o by_o who_o be_v this_o tradition_n begin_v this_o be_v matter_n well_o worth_a the_o enquiry_n who_o make_v this_o first_o discovery_n or_o raise_v this_o spirit_n which_o all_o the_o wisdom_n of_o the_o world_n can_v never_o conjure_v down_o since_o certain_o he_o must_v have_v be_v some_o wise_a or_o cunning_a body_n that_o can_v invent_v and_o propagate_v so_o plausible_a a_o story_n as_o to_o pass_v the_o trial_n of_o all_o age_n and_o that_o none_o can_v ever_o find_v out_o or_o detect_v the_o falsehood_n of_o it_o sure_o the_o fame_n of_o such_o a_o person_n will_v have_v be_v record_v in_o the_o annal_n of_o time_n and_o posterity_n can_v never_o have_v be_v so_o unjust_a to_o his_o memory_n as_o to_o let_v he_o sink_v away_o in_o silence_n and_o oblivion_n and_o yet_o the_o atheist_n here_o be_v whole_o at_o a_o loss_n in_o these_o thing_n and_o will_v neither_o pretend_v to_o tell_v we_o the_o time_n when_o the_o place_n where_o or_o the_o person_n by_o who_o this_o report_n first_o begin_v only_o as_o one_o have_v observe_v he_o think_v it_o probable_a that_o some_o body_n long_o ago_o he_o know_v not_o when_o beyond_o the_o memory_n of_o all_o age_n do_v start_v such_o a_o notion_n in_o the_o world_n and_o that_o it_o have_v pass_v for_o currant_n ever_o since_o but_o if_o this_o tradition_n be_v old_a than_o all_o history_n why_o may_v it_o not_o have_v be_v from_o the_o beginning_n and_o then_o it_o will_v be_v far_o more_o probable_a to_o be_v a_o notion_n which_o be_v breed_v in_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n and_o bear_v with_o he_o than_o a_o tradition_n transmit_v from_o hand_n to_o hand_n through_o all_o generation_n especial_o be_v find_v in_o those_o barbarous_a nation_n that_o have_v scarce_o a_o tradition_n of_o any_o thing_n else_o but_o how_o come_v these_o man_n thus_o to_o oppose_v the_o general_a sense_n of_o mankind_n and_o to_o call_v in_o question_n so_o universal_o own_a and_o receive_v a_o truth_n why_o this_o proceed_v partly_o from_o their_o great_a unwillingness_n to_o believe_v it_o which_o make_v they_o take_v hold_v of_o any_o even_o the_o mean_a shift_n to_o countenance_v their_o unbelief_n and_o partly_o from_o a_o affectation_n of_o singularity_n whereby_o they_o will_v be_v think_v wise_a and_o more_o know_v than_o any_o that_o go_v before_o they_o that_o they_o see_v far_o into_o matter_n than_o other_o man_n and_o that_o their_o understanding_n be_v by_o head_n and_o shoulder_n tall_a than_o their_o brethren_n they_o know_v well_o enough_o that_o shall_v they_o go_v on_o with_o the_o common_a herd_n and_o say_v and_o do_v as_o other_o that_o have_v go_v before_o they_o they_o shall_v be_v think_v to_o be_v no_o wise_a than_o they_o and_o therefore_o that_o they_o may_v set_v up_o for_o wit_n and_o be_v account_v man_n of_o a_o deep_a reach_n and_o insight_n into_o thing_n than_o other_o they_o strike_v out_o of_o the_o common_a road_n and_o go_v a_o new_a untrodden_a way_n by_o themselves_o this_o make_v they_o look_v upon_o the_o belief_n of_o a_o deity_n though_o confirm_v by_o the_o general_a consent_n of_o mankind_n to_o be_v only_o the_o effect_n of_o weakness_n and_o want_n of_o judgement_n that_o they_o who_o entertain_v it_o be_v mere_o carry_v away_o with_o the_o stream_n and_o like_o easy_a credulous_a person_n take_v up_o thing_n upon_o trust_n from_o the_o uncertain_a hear-say_n and_o report_n of_o other_o no_o wise_a than_o themselves_o whereas_o they_o like_o man_n of_o judgement_n believe_v and_o act_v by_o another_o rule_n and_o where_o their_o own_o reason_n can_v convince_v they_o of_o a_o truth_n there_o no_o authority_n of_o other_o shall_v sway_v they_o to_o the_o belief_n of_o it_o and_o thus_o 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