Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

2. The Existence of God, is the Foundation of all Religion. The whole Building totters if the Foundation be out of Course: If we have not deliberate and right Notions of it, we shall perform no Worship, no Service, yield no affection to him. If there be not a God, 'tis impossible there can be one; for Eternity is Essential to the notion of a God; so all Religion would be vain, and unreasonable to pay Homage to that which is not in being, nor can ever be. We must first believe that he is, and that he is what he declares himself to be, before we can seek him, adore him, and devote our Affections to him:^* We cannot pay God a due and regular Homage, unless we understand him in his Perfections, what he is; and we can pay him no Homage at all, unless we believe that he is.

2. The Existence of God, is the Foundation of all Religion. The whole Building totters if the Foundation be out of Course: If we have not deliberate and right Notions of it, we shall perform no Worship, no Service, yeild no affection to him. If there be not a God, 'tis impossible there can be one; for Eternity is Essential to the notion of a God; so all Religion would be vain, and unreasonable to pay Homage to that which is not in being, nor can ever be. We must first beleive that he is, and that he is what he declares himself to be, before we can seek him, adore him, and devote our Affections to him:^* We cannot pay God a due and regular Homage, unless we understand him in his Perfections, what he is; and we can pay him no Homage at all, unless we beleive that he is.

1. *Heb. 11.6.

3. 'Tis sit, we should know why we believe, that our Belief of a God, may appear to be upon undeniable Evidence, and that we may give a better reason for his Existence, than that we have heard our Parents and Teachers tell us so, and our