The Living Temple

But if it be not known, how can they tell but their distinguishing members are co-incident, and run into one? yea, and if they would allow the thing it self to speak, and the effect to confess, and dictate the name of its own cause; how plain is it that they do run into one, and that the expression imports no impropriety which we somewhere find in Cicero, The art of Nature, or rather ⟨p. 55⟩that nature is nothing else but Divine Art, at least in as near an analogy as there can be, between any things Divine and Humane? For, that this matter (even the thing it self, waving for the present the consideration of names) may be a little more narrowly discussed, and searched into: Let some curious piece of workmanship be offered to such a Sceptic's view, the making whereof he did not see, nor of any thing like it, and we will suppose him not told that this was made by the hand of any man, nor that he hath any thing to guide his judgment about the way of its becoming what it is; but only his own view of the thing it self; and yet he shall presently without hesitation pronounce, This was the effect of much skill. I would here enquire why do you so pronounce? or what is the reason of this your judgment? surely he would not say he hath no reason at all, for this so confident, and unwavering determination. For then he would not be determined, but speak by chance, and be indifferent to say that or any thing else. Somewhat or other there must be that when he is asked, is this the effect of skill? shall so suddenly, and irresistibly captivate him into an assent that it is, that he cannot think otherwise. Nay, if a thousand men were asked the same question, they would as undoubtingly say the same thing? and then since there is a reason for this judgment, what can be devised to be the reason, but that there are so manifest characters and evidences of skill in the composure, as are not attributable to ⟨p. 56⟩any thing else? Now here I would further demand, is there any thing in this reason yea or no? Doth it signify any thing, or is it of any value to the purpose for which it is alleged? surely it is of very great, in as much as when it is considered, it leaves it not in a mans power to think any thing else; and what can be said more potently and efficaciously to demonstrate? But now if this reason signify any thing, it signifies thus much;

But if it be not known, how can they tell but their distinguishing members are co-incident, and run into one? yea, and if they would allow the thing it self to speak, and the effect to confess, and dictate the name of its own cause; how plain is it that they do run into one, and that the expression imports no impropriety which we somewhere find in Cicero, The art of Nature, or rather