7. Our idea of a most perfect Being, not the sole proof of a God.
How far the idea of a most perfect being, which a
man may frame in his mind, does or does not prove the existence of a God, I will not here examine. For in the
different make of men's tempers and application of their thoughts, some arguments prevail more on one, and some
on another, for the confirmation of the same truth. But yet, I think, this I may say, that it is an ill way of
establishing this truth, and silencing atheists, to lay the whole stress of so important a point as this upon that sole
foundation: and take some men's having that idea of God in their minds, (for it is evident some men have none,
and some worse than none, and the most very different,) for the only proof of a Deity; and out of an over fondness
of that darling invention, cashier, or at least endeavour to invalidate all other arguments; and forbid us to hearken
to those proofs, as being weak or fallacious, which our own existence, and the sensible parts of the universe offer
so clearly and cogently to our thoughts, that I deem it impossible for a considering man to withstand them. For I
judge it as certain and clear a truth as can anywhere be delivered, that "the invisible things of God are clearly seen
from the creation of the world, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead." Though our own being furnishes us, as I have shown, with an evident and incontestable proof of a
Deity; and I believe nobody can avoid the cogency of it, who will but as carefully attend to it, as to any other
demonstration of so many parts: yet this being so fundamental a truth, and of that consequence, that all religion
and genuine morality depend thereon, I doubt not but I shall be forgiven by my reader if I go over some parts of
this argument again, and enlarge a little more upon them.
