Online Bible 1995 March/ROM-1025.iso/olb/gill/d_000.lzh/D_006.TXT

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OF THE BEING OF GOD.

Book I.

and with judgment, by which it passes sentence on things
it takes cognizance of, and reasons upon; and determines
for itself what is right or wrong; and so either approves
or disapproves: it has a mind susceptive of what is pro-
posed unto it; it can, by instruction or study, learn any
language; cultivate any art or science; and, with the help
of some geographical principles, can travel' over the globe,
can be here and there at pleasure, in the four parts of the
world; and in a short time, visit every city of note therein,
and describe the situation of every country, with their reli-
gion, manners, customs, &c. it can reflect on things past,
and has a f6resight of, and can forecast and provide for
things to come: it has a will, to accept or ,'eject, to
embrace or refuse, what is proposed unto it; with the
greatest freedom of choice, and with the most absolute
power and sovereignty: it has affections, of love and
hatred, joy and grief, hope and fear, &c. according to
the different objects it is conversant with. There is also
the conscience, which is to a man as a thousand wit-
nesses, for him or against him; which, if it performs
its office as it should do, will accuse him when he does
ill, and commend, or excuse him, when he does well;
and from hence arise either peace of mind, or dread of
punishment, in some shape or another, either here or
hereafter: to which may be added the memory, which
is a storehouse of collections of things thought to be
most valuable and useful; where they are laid up, not
in a confused, but orderly manner; so as to be called
for and taken out upon occasion: here men of every
character and profession lay up their several stores, to
have recourse unt6, and fetch out, as their case and
circumstances may require. And besides this, there is
the Jhncy or imagination, which can paint a'nd describe
to itself, in a lively manner, objects presented to it, and
it has entertained a conception of; yea, it can fancy
and imagine things that never were, nor never will be:
and, to observe no more, there is the power of invention;
which in some is more, in others less fertile; which, on
a sudden, supplies with what is useful in case of an
emergency. But above all, the soul of man is that
wherein Chiefly lay the image and likeness of God, when
man was in his pure and innocent state; and though
it is now sadly depraved by sin, yet it is capable o£
being renewed by the spirit .of God, and of havi.ng the
grace of God implanted in it, and is endowed with im-
mortality, and cannot die: now to whom can such a
noble and excellent creature as this owe its original ?
but to the divine Being, who may, with great propriety,
be called, the Father of spirits, the Lord, the Jehovah,
who formeth the spirit of man within him.
The fourth argument will be taken from the sus-
tentation and government of the world; the provision
made for the supply of creatures, and especially of man,
and for his safety. As the world, as we have seen, is
made by a divine Being, so by him it consists. Was
there not such an almighty Being, "who upholds all
things by the word of his power," they would sink and
fall. Did he not bear up the pillars of the earth, they
would tremble and shake, and not be able to bear its
weight: the most stately, firm, and well-built palace,
unless repaired and maintained, will. fall to decay and
ruin; and so the grand and magnificent building of this
world would soon be dissolved, did not the divine agent

that made it, keep it up: as he that built all things is
God, so he that supports the fabric of the universe must
be so too; no less than an almighty hand can preserve
and continue it; and which has done it, without any
visible appearance of age or decay, for almost six thou-
sand years; and though there is such a vast nnmber of
creatures in the world, besides men, the beasts of the
field, and " the cattle on a thousand hills," the fowls
of the air, and the fishes of the sea; there is food pro-
vided for them all, and they have "every one their
portion of meat in due season :" and as for man, he is
richly provided for, with a plenty and variety of all good
things; not only for necessity, but for delight; every man
has a trade, business, and employment of life; or is put
into such a situation and circumstances, that, with care,
diligence, and industry, he may have enough for himself
and family, and to spare: the earth produces a variety
of things for food and drink for him; and of others for
medicine, for the continuance of health, and restoration
of it. And can all this be without the care, provi-
dence, and interposition of a wise and almigh'ty Being?
Can these ever be thought to be the effects of blind
chance and fortune? Is it not plain and clear, that God
hereby "has not left himself without a witness of his
existence and providence, in that he does good to all
his creatures, and gives rain from heaven, and fruitful
seasons; filling mens' hearts with food and gladness;"
and continuing the certain and constant revolutions of
"summer and winter, seed-time and harvest ;" as well
as night and day, cold and heat; all which have their
peculiar usefulness and advantages to human life; and
cannot be attributed to any thing else than the superin-
tendency of the divine Being.
And as there is a provision made for the wants of
men, so for their safety: were it not that God had put
the fear of man upon the wild beasts of the field, and
the dread of him in them, there would be no safety for
him, especially in some parts of the world; and had he
not put a natural instinct into them to avoid the habi-
tations of men, and to resort to woods and desarts, and
dwell in uninhabited places; to prowl about for their
prey iu the night, and in the morning return to their
caves and dens, and lurking-places; when men go forth
to their work, they would be in the utmost danger of
their lives: yea, were it not for the overruling provi-
dence of God, which governs the world, and restrains
the lusts of men, homo esset homini htpus; "one man
would be a wolf to another ;" neither life nor property
would be secure; but must fall a prey to the rapine
and violence of powerful oppressors. Human laws, and
civil magistracy, do something to restrain men, but not
every thing; notwithstanding these, we see what out-
rages are committed: and how greater still would be
their number, was it not for the interposition of divine
providence: and even it is owing to a divine Being that
there are human forms of government, and political
schemes framed, and laws made for the better regula-
tion of mankind, and these continued; for it is by him
kings reign, and Finces -decree justice: and particu-
larly, was it not for a divine agency, such is. the rage
and malice of Satan, and his principalities and powers,
whose numbers fill the surrounding air; and who go
about our earth like roaring lions, seeking whom they