11. Idea of God not innate.
This is all could be inferred from the notion of a God, were it to be found universally
in all the tribes of mankind, and generally acknowledged, by men grown to maturity in all countries. For the
generality of the acknowledging of a God, as I imagine, is extended no further than that; which, if it be sufficient
to prove the idea of God innate, will as well prove the idea of fire innate; since I think it may be truly said, that
there is not a person in the world who has a notion of a God, who has not also the idea of fire. I doubt not but if a
colony of young children should be placed in an island where no fire was, they would certainly neither have any
notion of such a thing, nor name for it, how generally soever it were received and known in all the world besides;
and perhaps too their apprehensions would be as far removed from any name, or notion, of a God, till some one
amongst them had employed his thoughts to inquire into the constitution and causes of things, which would easily
lead him to the notion of a God; which having once taught to others, reason, and the natural propensity of their
own thoughts, would afterwards propagate, and continue amongst them.
