2. Nor doth the Idolatry and multiplicity of Gods in the World weaken, but confirm this universal consent. Whatsoever unworthy conceits men have had of God in all Nations, or whatsoever degrading representations they have made of him, yet ⟨p. 7⟩they all concur in this, that there is a Supreme Power to he adored. Tho one People worshipped the Sun, others the Fire, and the Egyptians, gods out of their Rivers, Gardens, and Fields; yet the Notion of a Deity existent, who created and governed the World, and conferred daily benefits upon them, was maintained by all, tho applied to the Stars, and in part to those sordid Creatures. All the Dagons of the World establish this Truth, and fall down before it. Had not the Nations owned the Being of a God, they had never offered Incense to an Idol: Had there not been a deep impression of the Existence of a Deity, they had never exalted Creatures below themselves to the honour of Altars: Men could not so easily have been deceived by forged Deities, if they had not had a Notion of a real one. Their fondness to set up others in the place of God, evidenced a natural knowledge that there was one, who had a right to be worshipped. If there were not this sentiment of a Deity no man would ever have made an Image of a piece of Wood, worshipped it, prayed to it, and said deliver me for thou art my God*. They applied a general Notion to a particular Image. The difference is in the manner, and immediate object of worship, not in the formal ground of worship. The worship sprung from a true Principal, though it was not applied to a right object: While they were rational Creatures, they could not deface the Notion; yet while they were corrupt Creatures it was not difficult to apply themselves to a wrong object from a true principle. A blind man knows he hath a way to go as well as one of the clearest sight, but because of his blindness he may miss the way and stumble into a Ditch. No man would be imposed upon to take a Bristol Stone instead of a Diamond, if he did not know that there were such things as Diamonds in the World: nor any man spread forth his hands to an Idol, if he were altogether without the sense of a Deity. Whether it be a false or a true God men apply to, yet in both, the natural sentiment of a God is evidenced; all their mistakes were grafts inserted in this Stock, since they would multiply gods rather than deny a Deity.
2. Nor doth the Idolatry and multiplicity of Gods in the World weaken, but confirm this universal consent. Whatsoever unworthy conceits men have had of God in all Nations, or whatsoever degrading representations they have made of him, yet ⟨p. 7⟩they all concur in this, that there is a Supream Power to he ador'd. Tho one People worshipped the Sun, others the Fire, and the Egyptians, gods out of their Rivers, Gardens, and Fields; yet the Notion of a Deity existent, who created and governed the World, and conferred daily benefits upon them, was maintained by all, tho applyed to the Stars, and in part to those sordid Creatures. All the Dagons of the World establish this Truth, and fall down before it. Had not the Nations owned the Being of a God, they had never offered Incense to an Idol: Had there not been a deep impression of the Existence of a Deity, they had never exalted Creatures below themselves to the honour of Altars: Men could not so easily have been deceived by forged Deities, if they had not had a Notion of a real one. Their fondness to set up others in the place of God, evidenced a natural knowledg that there was one, who had a right to be worshipped. If there were not this sentiment of a Deity no man would ever have made an Image of a peice of Wood, worshipp'd it, pray'd to it, and said deliver me for thou art my God*. They applyed a general Notion to a perticular Image. The difference is in the manner, and immediate object of worship, not in the formal ground of worship. The worship sprung from a true Principal, though it was not applyed to a right object: While they were rational Creatures, they could not deface the Notion; yet while they were corrupt Creatures it was not difficult to apply themselves to a wrong object from a true principle. A blind man knows he hath a way to go as well as one of the clearest sight, but because of his blindness he may miss the way and stumble into a Ditch. No man would be impos'd upon to take a Bristol Stone instead of a Diamond, if he did not know that there were such things as Diamonds in the World: nor any man spread forth his hands to an Idol, if he were altogether without the sense of a Deity. Whether it be a false or a true God men apply to, yet in both, the natural sentiment of a God is evidenc'd; all their mistakes were grafts inserted in this Stock, since they would multiply gods rather than deny a Deity.
- *Isa. 44.17.
