The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded

It may be never any Age since the Flood, did more abound with open Atheism, among such as pretended unto the use and improvement of Reason, than that wherein we live. Among the ancient civilized Heathen, we hear ever and anon of a person branded for an Atheist; yet are not certain whether it was done justly or no. But in all Nations of Europe at this day, Cities, Courts, Towns, Fields, Armies, abound with Persons, who if any credit may be given unto what they say or do, believe not that there is a God. And the Reason hereof may be a little enquired into.

Now this is no other in general, but that men have decocted and wasted the Light and Power of Christian Religion. It is the fullest Revelation of God, that ever he made, it is the last that ever he will make in this World. If this be despised, if men rebel against the Light of it, if they break the Cords of it, and are senseless of its Power, nothing can preserve them from the highest Atheism that the nature of man is capable of. It is in vain to expect Relief or Preservation from inferior means, where the highest and most Noble is rejected. Reason or the Light of Nature gives Evidences unto the being of God; and Arguments are still well pleaded from them to the confusion of Atheists. And they were sufficient to retain men in an Acknowledgement of the Divine Power and Godhead, who had no other, no higher Evidences of them. But where men have had the ⟨p. 128⟩Benefit of Divine Revelation, where they have been Educated in the Principles of Christian Religion, have had some Knowledge, and made some Profession of them; and have through the Love of sin, and hatred of every thing that is truly good, rejected all Convictions from them concerning the Being, Power and Rule of God, they will not be kept unto a Confession of them, by any considerations that the Light of nature can suggest.

Now this is no other in general, but that men have decocted and wasted the Light and Power of Christian Religion. It is the fullest Revelation of God, that ever he made, it is the last that ever he will make in this World. If this be despised, if men rebell against the Light of it, if they break the Cords of it, and are senseless of its Power, nothing can preserve them from the highest Atheism that the nature of man is capable of. It is in vain to expect Relief or Preservation from inferior means, where the highest and most Noble is rejected. Reason or the Light of Nature gives Evidences unto the being of God; and Arguments are still well pleaded from them to the confusion of Atheists. And they were sufficient to retain men in an Acknowledgment of the Divine Power and Godhead, who had no other, no higher Evidences of them. But where men have had the