No child is scarce so foolish that will think his Father cares not what he saith or doth, when he stands before him. Wouldst thou doubt of Gods particular providence, whether he regard thy heart, and talk and practice, if thou didst see him with thee? sure it is scarce possible. Why then dost thou question it when thou knowest that he is with thee? If thou be an Atheist and knowest not, look about thee on the world, and bethink thee whether stones, and trees, and earth, whether beasts, or birds or men do make themselves; If they do, thou were best uphold thy self, and be not sick, and do not die. If thou madest thy self, thou canst sure preserve thy self; But if any thing else made thee and all these lower things, either it was somewhat greater or less then they▪ either something better or worse then they. If less, or worse, how could it make them Greater or Better then it self? Can any thing give that which it hath not? If it must needs be Greater and Better then the Creatures, then as it must be Wiser than they, and more Holy, Gracious and Just then they, so must it be more comprehensive then all they. Whoever made this earth, is certainly greater then the earth, or else he should give it more than he had to give. And if he be Greater, he must be present: If thou shouldst be so vain as to account any other higher thing the Maker of this world▪ that is not God, thou must ascribe also a sufficiency to that maker, to exercise a particular providence, and moreover be put to consider who did make that Maker. Nothing therefore is more certain even to Reason it self, then the Maker of the world must be Greater then the world, and therefore present with all the world; and therefore must observe and regard all the world. When thou canst find ⟨p. 27⟩out a thought, or word, or deed that was not done in the presence of God, or any creature that is not in his presence, then believe and spare not that he seeth it not, or regardeth it not; yea and that it hath no being. O blind Atheists! you see the Sun before your eyes, which enlighteneth all the upper part of the earth at once; even millions of millions see all by its light; and yet do you doubt whether God beholds and regards and provides for all at once! Tell me, if God had never a Creature to look to in all the world but thee, wouldst thou believe that he would regard thy heart, and words, and ways, or not?
No child is scarce so foolish that will think his Father cares not what he saith or doth, when he stands before him. Wouldst thou doubt of Gods particular providence, whether he regard thy heart, and talke and practice, if thou didst see him with thee? sure it is scarce possible. Why then dost thou question it when thou knowest that he is with thee? If thou be an Atheist and knowest not, look about thee on the world, and bethink thee whether stones, and trees, and earth, whether beasts, or birds or men do make themselves; If they do, thou were best uphold thy self, and be not sick, and do not die. If thou madest thy self, thou canst sure preserve thy self; But if any thing else made thee and all these lower things, either it was somewhat greater or less then they▪ either something better or worse then they. If less, or worse, how could it make them Greater or Better then it self? Can any thing give that which it hath not? If it must needs be Greater and Better then the Creatures, then as it must be Wiser than they, and more Holy, Gracious and Just then they, so must it be more comprehensive then all they. Whoever made this earth, is certainly greater then the earth, or else he should give it more than he had to give. And if he be Greater, he must be present: If thou shouldst be so vain as to account any other higher thing the Maker of this world▪ that is not God, thou must ascribe also a sufficiency to that maker, to exercise a particular providence, and moreover be put to consider who did make that Maker. Nothing therefore is more certain even to Reason it self, then the Maker of the world must be Greater then the world, and therefore present with all the world; and therefore must observe and regard all the world. When thou canst find ⟨p. 27⟩out a thought, or word, or deed that was not done in the presence of God, or any creature that is not in his presence, then believe and spare not that he seeth it not, or regardeth it not; yea and that it hath no being. O blind Atheists! you see the Sun before your eyes, which enlightneth all the upper part of the earth at once; even millions of millions see all by its light; and yet do you doubt whether God beholds and regards and provides for all at once! Tell me, if God had never a Creature to look to in all the world but thee, wouldst thou believe that he would regard thy heart, and words, and wayes, or not?
