3. There is no absolute Atheist, i. e. of such a firm persuasion that there is no God, as excludes all doubts and fears of the contrary. 'Tis true, as a pretext for their licentiousness, and to give boldness to their fearful impiety, some obdurate wretches may desperately deny the Supreme Eternal Power, to whom they are accountable: But no violence can entirely choke this natural Principal, it has such deep and strong root in the Humane Spirit. The vital spark will fly in their Faces, notwithstanding all their endeavours to tread it out. Of this we have convincing evidence from some, who in great troubles have been compelled to acknowledge God, whom they ⟨p. 88⟩boldly denied before. I shall produce two instances. The first is recorded by Aeschylus. That the Persian Messenger in his Narrative to the King, of the overthrow of his Army by the Grecians, related that those Gallants who before the Fight in the midst of their Cups and bravery denied God and Providence as secure of Victory, yet afterwards when furiously pursued by their Enemies, they came to the River Strymon, that was frozen and began to thaw, then upon their knees they mournfully implored the favour of God, that the Ice might hold and give them safe passage over from the pursuers. Nature in extremities has irresistible workings, and the inbred notions of the Deity, though long supperest by imperious lusts, will then rise up in Mens ⟨p. 89⟩Souls. The other instance is of Bion the Philosopher, a declared Atheist, till struck with a mortal Disease, and then, as a false Witness on the Rack, confessed the truth, and adderest himself by Prayers and Vows to God for his recovery. Egregious folly, as the‖ Historian observes, to think that God would be bribed with his gifts, and was or was not according to his fancy. And thus it happens to many like him. As a Lamp near expiring shines more clearly, so Conscience that burned dimly for a time, gives a dying blaze, and discovers him who is alone able to save or to destroy. But how just were it to deal with them as *Herophilus with Diodorus Cronus, a wrangler that vexed the Philosophers, by urging a captious Argument, against the possibility of ⟨p. 90⟩Motion. For thus he argued: A Stone, or what ever else, in moving it self, is either where it is, or where it is not; if where it is, it moves not; if where it is not, then it will be in any place, but where it is.
3. There is no absolute Atheist, i. e. of such a firm perswasion that there is no God, as excludes all doubts and fears of the contrary. 'Tis true, as a pretext for their licentiousness, and to give boldness to their fearful impiety, some obdurate wretches may desperately deny the Supream Eternal Power, to whom they are accountable: But no violence can intirely choke this natural Principal, it has such deep and strong root in the Humane Spirit. The vital spark will fly in their Faces, notwithstanding all their endeavours to tread it out. Of this we have convincing evidence from some, who in great troubles have been compel'd to acknowledge God, whom they ⟨p. 88⟩boldly denyed before. I shall produce two instances. The first is recorded by Aeschilus. That the Persian Messenger in his Narrative to the King, of the overthrow of his Army by the Grecians, related that those Gallants who before the Fight in the midst of their Cups and bravery denied God and Providence as secure of Victory, yet afterwards when furiously pursu'd by their Enemies, they came to the River Strymon, that was frozen and began to thaw, then upon their knees they mournfully implor'd the favor of God, that the Ice might hold and give them safe passage over from the pursuers. Nature in extremities has irresistible workings, and the inbred notions of the Deity, though long supprest by imperious lusts, will then rise up in Mens ⟨p. 89⟩Souls. The other instance is of Bion the Philosopher, a declared Atheist, till struck with a mortal Disease, and then, as a false Witness on the Rack, confest the truth, and addrest himself by Prayers and Vows to God for his recovery. Egregious folly, as the‖ Historian observes, to think that God would be brib'd with his gifts, and was or was not according to his fancy. And thus it happens to many like him. As a Lamp near expiring shines more clearly, so Conscience that burn'd dimly for a time, gives a dying blaze, and discovers him who is alone able to save or to destroy. But how just were it to deal with them as *Herofilus with Diodorus Cronus, a wrangler that vext the Philosophers, by urging a captious Argument, against the possibility of ⟨p. 90⟩Motion. For thus he argued: A Stone, or what ever else, in moving it self, is either where it is, or where it is not; if where it is, it moves not; if where it is not, then it will be in any place, but where it is.
- ‖[Greek or Hebrew] Laert. in Bion〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Laert. in Bion
- *Sext. Empir. l. 1.
