Concerning the Excellencies and Perfections of the Divine Nature: And firft, Ofthofe Of the Communicable Perfections of God: And firft of thofe which relate to the Di- vine Understanding, viz. Knowledge, Wisdom, particular Providence, p. 109 Concerning the Duties of Religion naturally flowing from the Confideration of the Di- How Religion conduces to the Happiness of the Inward-man. As it tends to the per- fecting and regulating of our Faculties; THE FIRST BOOK: SHEWING The Reasonableness of the Principles and Duties of Natural Religion. ப Intend by God's Assistance, in this First Book, to treat concerning the Reasonableness and the Credibility of the Principles of Natural Religion, in oppofition to that Humour of Scepticism and Infidelity which hath of late so much abounded in the World, not only amongst senfual Men of the vulgar Sort, but even amongst those who pretend to a more than ordinary Measufe of Wit and Learning. In my Entrance upon this Work, I am fenfible of what ill Confequence it may be B to lay the Strefs of a weighty Cause upon weak or obfcure Arguments, which instead of convincing Men, will rather harden and confirm them in their Errors. And therefore I cannot but think my self obliged in the management of this Argument, to use my utmost caution and endeavour, that it be done with fo much strength and perfpicuity, as may be fufficient to convince any Man, who hath but an ordinary Capacity, and an honest Mind; which are no other Qualifications than what are required to the Inftitution of Men, in all kinds of Arts and Sciences whatsoever. In order to this, I judge it expedient to premife fomething concerning the several kinds and degrees of Evidence and Affent,and to lay down fome common Principles, which may serve as a foundation to the following Difcourfe. The feveral ways whereby Men come to the knowledge or belief of any thing without immediate Revelation, are either by fuch Evidence of Things as is more Simple, relating to the Soutward. Inward. Understanding, arifing either from the Nature of the Things in themselves. Teftimony of others concerning them. Mixed, relating both to the Senfes and Understanding. I. BY., |