A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

but, that as they have industriously proselyted others to their Atheism, they should be so far deserted of God, as to leave their Companions under that Delusion, till Hell undeceive 'em. O! but what can Religion do for the cure of Atheism?

Serious Godliness in the lowest degree of it expels Atheism. I grant, those that are eminently Godly may be tempted to Atheism, but they reckon these among Satan's fiery darts, and accordingly set themselves presently to quench them; which though they cannot so easily do, as they imagine, who have not experience of such Temptations, yet there's this palpable difference between them and Atheists, viz. The Atheist is inquisitive for Arguments to promote his Atheism, the tempted Christian as inquisitive for Arguments, and Grace to destroy it: those that are seriously godly, do not only seek a perfect cure of their own (in part) mortified Atheism, but mournfully bewail the insolent Atheism of the age they live in. If it be (as it is) as a Sword in their Bones for their Enemies to^l reproach them, while they say daily unto them, Where is your God? If it (as it were) break their Bones, to have their interest in God, and Gods peculiar care of them so much as questioned, it must needs be as a Sword to their heart (a killing wound) to hear the Fear of God ridiculed, and the Being of God denied. Certainly as Grace is heightened, a gracious Person is next to being overwhelmed: Though God hath an evidence of his Deity lies lieger in the worst of his Enemies, yet upon the miracles of Mercy he works for, and in, his own People, God may say to them,^m They are his Witnesses, that he is God. And the more eminent any one is in Grace, the more experimental Witness he is that the Lord is God. This may not only be sufficient for the instances already given; but be sufficiently instructive, what to do in all other Cases that might be named. I had thought to have proportionably enlarged upon these, which I shall but little more than name, and therefore shall not add them to the number.