exclude this reason from being a grand occafion of Epicurus's Deism; so I believe that He and Democritus too were compelled to it likewife by the neceffity of their own Syftems. For feeing they explain'd the Phænomena of Vifion, Imagination, and Thought it felf, by certain thin fleeces of Atoms, that flow incessantly from the furfaces of bodies, and by their subtilty and fineness do penetrate any obstacle, and yet retain the exact figures and lineaments, of the several bodies from which they proceed; and in this manner infinuating themselves into the Eyes, and the Contexture of the Soul, do there produce and excite Sensation and Perception of themselves: in confequence therefore of this Hypothefis they were obliged to maintain that we could have no Phantafie, Idea or Conception of any thing, but what did really fubfift either intire or in its feveral parts. Whence it followed, that mankind could have no imagination of Jupiter or Mars, of Minerva or Ifis; if there were not actually fuch Beings in nature to emit those Effluvia, which gliding into the Soul must beget such an imagination. And thence it was, that those Philofophers adapted their description of the Deity to the vulgar apprehenfions of those times 3 Gods and Goddelfes innumerable, and all of human figure: because otherwise the conceptions of mankind about them could not poffibly be accounted B 2 for for from their Phyfiology. So that if Epicurus and Democritus were in earnest about their Philofophy, they did neceffarily and really believe the Existence of the Gods. But as to the nature and authority of them, they bereaved that Jupiter of his Thunder and Majefty, forbidding him to look or peep abroad, fo much as to enquire what News in the Infinite Space about him; but to content himself and be happy with an eternal laziness and dozing, unless some rambling Troops of Atoms upon the diffolu tion of a neighbouring World might chance to awake him. Now because no Ifraelite in the days of the Pfalmift is likely to have been fo curious about natural Knowledge, as to believe the Being of God for fuch a quaint and airy reason as this, whên he had once boldly denied his Dominion over the World; and feeing that there is not now one Infidel living, fo ridiculous as to pretend to solve the Phænomena of Sight, Fancy or Cogitation by thofe fleeting fuperficial films of bodies: I must beg leave to think that the Fool in the Text was a thorough confirmed Atheist; and that the modern disguised Deifts do only call themselves fo for the former reafon of Epicurus, to decline the publick odium and refentment of the Magiftrate; and do cover the most arrant Atheism under the mask and fhadow of a Deity, by which they understand no more than fome fome eternal inanimate Matter, fome universal Naritre, and Soul of the World, void of all sense and cogitation, endued with none at all, much less with Infinite Wisdom and Goodness; and therefore in this present Discourse they may deservedly come under that Character which the Text hath given of them, of Fools that have faid in their Hearts, There is no God. And now having thus far cleared our way; in the next place we shall offer fome notorious Proofs of the grofs Folly and stupidity of Atheists. If a Perfon that had a fair Eftate in reverfion, which in all probability he would speedily be poffefs'd of, and of which he might reasonably promife to himself a long and happy Enjoyment, fhould be affured by fome skilfull Phyfician; that in a very fhort time he would inevitably fall into a Dif eafe, that would so totally deprive him of his Understanding and Memory, that he fhould lose the knowledge of all things without him, nay all conscioufness and fence of his own Perfon and Being: If, I fay, upon a certain belief of this indication, the man should appear over-joyed at the News, and be mightily transported with the discovery and expeetation; would not all that saw him be aftonished at fuch behaviour? Would they not be forward to conclude that the Distemper had feized him already,and that that even then the miferable Creature was become a meer Fool and an Idiot? Now the Carriage of Our Atheists or Deifts is infinitely more amazing than this ; no dotage fo infatuate, no phrenfie so extravagant as theirs. They have been educated in a Religion, that inftructed them in the knowledge of a Supreme Being a Spirit most excellently glorious, fuperlatively Powerfull and Wife and Good, Crea tor of all things out of nothing; That hath endued the Sons of Men, his peculiar Favorites, with a Rational Spirit, and hath placed them as Spectators in this noble Theatre of the World, to view and applaud these glorious Scenes of Earth and Heaven,the workmanfhip of his hands; That hath furnished them in general with a fufficient store of all things. either neceffary or convenient for life; and particu larly to fuch as fear and obey him, hath promifed a supply of all wants, a deliverance and protePf. 34 9. ction from dangers; That they that feek him, fhall want no manner of thing that is good. And befides his Joh. 3. 16. munificence to them in this life; He fo loved the world, that he fent his Onely-begotten Son, the exprefs Image IO. of his Subftance. and Partaker of his eternal Nature 2 Tim. 1. and Glory, to bring life and Immortality to light, and to tender them to Mankind upon fair and gracious Matt. 11. Terms; That if they fubmitted to his eafie joke and light burthen, and obferved his Commandments which 30. are are not grievous, He then gave them the promife of e- 1 Joh.5.3. ternal Salvation; He had referved for them in Heaven Heb. 5.9. an Inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fa- 1 Pet 14deth not away; He had prepared for them an unspeakable, unconceivable Perfection of Joy and Bliss,things that eye had not feen, nor ear heard, neither have entred Cor.1.9. into the heart of man. What a delightfull and ravishing Hypothefis of Religion is this? And in this Religion they have had their Education. Now let us fuppofe fome great Profeffor in Atheism to suggest to fome of thefe, That all this is a mere dream and impofture; that there is no fuch excellent Being, as they fuppofe, that created and preferves them ; that all about them is dark fenfelefs Matter, driven on by the blind impulfes of Fatality and Fortune; that men firft fprung up, like Mushroms, out of the mud and lime of the Earth, and that all their Thoughts, and the whole of what they call Soul, are only various Action and Repercuffion of small particles of Matter, kept a while a moving by fome Mechanism and Clock-work, which finally ceases and perishes by death. If it be true then (as we daily find it is) that they liften with complacency to these horrid Suggestions; if they let go their hope of Everlafting Life with willingness and joy; if they entertain the thoughts of final Perdition with exultation and triumph; ought they not to be ofteem'd most S noto |