The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present…

much less ground to think, that such a World should of it self do so) are reason enough with them to mock at the Eternal Being, and attempt to jeer Religion out of the world, and all other men out of their reason and wits, as they have themselves. And sure this must be their only pretence; and their Atheism the best reason, upon which to justify their constant practice. For who can think, (while he sees them not yet in chains) they should be so perfectly mad, as to acknowledge only such a Deity (the Author and Ruler of all things) whose favour were worth nothing? or to be procured by affronts? to whom contempt were a sacrifice? and the violation of whatsoever is Sacred, the most effectual propitiation? or acknowledge him for a God whom they hope to overpower, and to prosper in a War against him?

much less ground to think, that su•h a World should of it self do so) are reason enough with them to mock at the Eternal Being, and attempt to jeer Religion out of the world, and all other men out of their reason and wits, as they have themselves. And sure this must be their only pretence; and their Atheism the best reason, upon which to justifie their constant practice. For who can think, (while he sees them not yet in chains) they should be so perfectly mad, as to acknowledg only such a Deity (the Author and Ruler of all things) whose favour were worth nothing? or to be procured by affronts? to whom contempt were a sacrifice? and the violation of whatsoever is Sacred, the most effectual propitiation? or acknowledg him for a God whom they hope to overpower, and to prosper in a War against him?

And if they acknowledge none at all, and this be the fundamental Article of their Creed, That there is indeed none; Then can no man charge them with any thought more grossly foolish than their own, nor can they devise to say any thing, by which more certainly to argue themselves bereaved of the common understanding of men. For who that is not so, if he only take notice of his own being, may not as certainly conclude the existence of a God, as that two and two make four? Or what imagination can be too absurd to have place in that mind that can imagine this Creation to be a casualty? He would be thought besides himself that should say the same of the composition of a Clock, or a Watch, though it were a thousand times more supposable. But if they do not justify themselves, to what purpose is it further to press them with absurdities, that persist in constant self-contradiction? or that have not so much left them of rational