The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…

To the Doubting and the Unbelieving READERS.

To the Doubting and the Ʋnbelieving READERS.

THE natural love to knowledge and to my self, which belong to me as I am a Man, have commanded me to look beyond this life, and diligently to enquire, whether there be any certainty of a better? and which is the way to it, and to whom it doth of right belong. And what I have certainly discovered in this search, the love of Mankind, and of Truth, and of God, oblige me to communicate. But it was not a cursory glance at Truth, nor a look towards it afar off, in my state of ignorance and diversion, which brought the satisfying light into my mind: nor can you reasonably expect it should do so by you. I saw that in one Savonarola, Campanella, Ficinus, Vives, Mornay, Grotius, Cameron, Micraelius, which I now see might satisfy all the world, if it were duly received. But it was not a bare reading of one or all of these and others, which was a due reception: I found that truth must be so long retained, and faithfully elaborated by a diligent and willing mind, till it be concocted into a clear methodical understanding, and the Scheme or Analysis of it have left upon the soul its proper ⟨image 8⟩image, by an orderly and deep impression; yea, till the Goodness of the matter become as nutriment, blood and spirits to the Will, before it is truly made our own. It expecteth (I say not greater courtship, but) more cordial friendship, than a transient salute, before it will unveil its glory, and illustrate, beautify and bless the soul. It is food and Physic: it will nourish and heal: but not by a bare look or hear-say, nor by the reading of the prescript. Could I procure the Reader to do his part, I doubt not but this Treatise will suffice on its part, to bring in that light, which the Sagae, the Lemurs and Daemones of Atheism, Infidelity and Ungodliness will not be able to endure.