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

Answ. He that will ever come to knowledge, must begin at the first Fundamental Truths, and in his enquiry proceed to lesser Superstructures, and reduce uncertainties and difficulties to those points which are sure and plain, and not cast away the plainest certain truths, because they over-take some difficulties beyond them. The true method of enquiry is, that we first try whether there be a God that is perfectly Good or not: If this be once proved beyond all controversy, then all that followeth is certainly reconcilable to it: for Truth and Truth is not contradictory. Now that God is perfectly Good hath been fully proved before: He that giveth to all the world, both Heaven, and Earth, and all the Orbs, all that Good, whether Natural, Gracious or Glorious, which they possess, is certainly Himself better than all the world: for he cannot give more Goodness than he hath: this is not to be denied by any man of reason: therefore it is proved that God is perfectly Good.¹ Besides, his Perfections must needs be proportionable: we know that he is Eternal, as is unquestionably demonstrated: we see by the wonderful frame of Nature, that he is Omnipotent and Omniscient: and then it must needs be, that his Goodness must be commensurate with the rest.

Answ. He that will ever come to knowledge, must begin at the first Fundamental Truths, and in his enquiry proceed to lesser Superstructures, and reduce uncertainties and difficulties to those points which are sure and plain, and not cast away the plainest certain truths, because they over-take some difficulties beyond them. The true method of enquiry is, that we first try whether there be a God that is perfectly Good or not: If this be once proved beyond all controversie, then all that followeth is certainly reconcilable to it: for Truth and Truth is not contradictory. Now that God is perfectly Good hath been fully proved before: He that giveth to all the world, both Heaven, and Earth, and all the Orbs, all that Good, whether Natural, Gracious or Glorious, which they possess, is certainly Himself better than all the world: for he cannot give more Goodness than he hath: this is not to be denied by any man of reason: therefore it is proved that God is perfectly Good.¹ Besides, his Perfections must needs be proportionable: we know that he is Eternal, as is unquestionably demonstrated: we see by the wonderful frame of Nature, that he is Omnipotent and Omniscient: and then it must needs be, that his Goodness must be commensurate with the rest.