But 1. Doth not the growth of Atheism among us render this Necessary? may it not justly be suspected, that the swarms of Atheists are more numerous in our times, than History Records to have been in any age, when men will not only say it in their hearts, but publish it with their lips, and boast that they have shaken of those Shackles which bind other mens Consciences? Doth not the bare-faced Debauchery of men evidence such a settled Sentiment, or at least a careless Belief of the truth, which lies at the root and sprouts up in such venomous branches in the World? Can mens hearts be free from that Principle wherewith their Practices are so openly depraved? 'Tis true, the light of Nature shines too vigorously for the Power of Man totally to put it out; yet loathsome Actions impair and weaken the actual thoughts and considerations of a Deity, and are like Mists that darken the light of the Sun, though they cannot extinguish it: their Consciences as a Candlestick, must hold it, though their unrighteousness obscure it, Rom. 1.18. [Who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness.] The engraved Characters of the Law of Nature remain, though they daub them with their muddy Lusts to make them illegible: So that since the inconsideration of a Deity is the cause of all the wickedness and extravagancies of men; and as Austin saith, the Proposition is always true, the Fool hath said in his heart, &c. and more evidently true in this age than any, it will not be unnecessary to discourse of the Demonstrations of this first Principle.
But 1. Doth not the growth of Atheism among us render this Necessary? may it not justly be suspected, that the swarms of Atheists are more numerous in our times, than History Records to have been in any age, when men will not only say it in their hearts, but publish it with their lips, and boast that they have shaken of those Shackles which bind other mens Consciences? Doth not the bare-fac'd Debauchery of men evidence such a setled Sentiment, or at least a careless Beleif of the truth, which lies at the root and sprouts up in such venemous branches in the World? Can mens hearts be free from that Principle wherewith their Practices are so openly depraved? 'Tis true, the light of Nature shines too vigorously for the Power of Man totally to put it out; yet loathsom Actions impair and weaken the actual thoughts and considerations of a Deity, and are like Mists that darken the light of the Sun, though they cannot extinguish it: their Consciences as a Candlestick, must hold it, though their unrighteousness obscure it, Rom. 1.18. [Who hold the Truth in Ʋnrighteousness.] The engraved Characters of the Law of Nature remain, though they dawb them with their muddy Lusts to make them illegible: So that since the inconsideration of a Deity is the cause of all the wickedness and extravigancies of men; and as Austin saith, the Proposition is always true, the Fool hath said in his heart, &c. and more evidently true in this age than any, it will not be unnecsseary to discourse of the Demonstrations of this first Principle.
