Considerations of the existence of God and of the immortality of the soul, with…

Can we then rationally conceive that a confused rout of Atoms of divers natures, and some ⟨p. 55⟩so distant from others, should meet in such a fortunate manner, as to form an entire World, so vast in the bigness, so distinct in the order, so united in the great diversities of natures, so regular in the variety of changes, so beautiful in the whole composure, though it were granted, that one of their possible conjunctions in some part of Eternity were that we see at present? Could such a strict confederacy of the parts of the Universe result from an accidental agreement of contrary principles? 'Tis so evident by the universal experience of Men, that regular Effects are caused by the skill of a designing Agent, that works for an end, that upon the sight of any such effects, there is not the least shadow of a suspicion in the mind, that it proceeded ⟨p. 54⟩[…] ⟨p. 55⟩[…] ⟨p. 56⟩from blind and counselless Chance. If we should hear one make a plea for a Cause, with such reasons as are most proper to convince and persuade his Judges to decide for him, can we doubt whether he understands what he speaks, or casually moves the organs of speech? And yet if he did move them by Chance, one of the casual motions equally possible with any other, would be that he performed at present. If a thousand brass Wheels were thrown on a heap, would six or eight meet so fitly, as by their conjunction to organize a Clock, that should distinguish the hours? or, is a skilful hand requisite to join them, and direct their motion? And did the Planets, those vast bodies, by Chance ascend to the upper part of the World, and join in that order, ⟨p. 57⟩as to measure the time exactly for so many past Ages? Who ever saw a dead Statue formed in the veins of Marble, or a well proportioned Palace, with all Rooms of convenience and state, arise out of a Quarry of Stones, without a Sculptor to fashion the one, and an Architect to frame the other? Yet Marble and Stones are more disposed to make a Statue, or a Building, that are the materials of them, and only require skill and workmanship to give them form, than Atoms mixed together are to make the World. Indeed