of the Discourse we fhall fhew the Beauties, Ufes, Advantages and Excellencies of it, which we fhall do by way of Represen tation, in eleven different Draughts or Portrai&tures,viz. In the multitude of Teftimonies given in favour of it; in its Oppofition to all falfe Religions; in the Purity and Self-denial of its End; in its wonderful Effects manifefted in the Heart of Man; in the Church, and even in the general Society of Mankind; in the Morality of it, which is fo holy; in its Mysteries, which are fo fublime, and yet fall in fo well with the Principles of Confcience; in the Conformity of its Myfteries to the Lights of Reafon; in the effential Relation it has to the Glory of God; in its Divine Agreeablenefs to our Heart, which it frees from its Mifery, Vileness and Corruption; in the exact Proportion it bears to the Jewish Religion, which is the Cause that it contains neither any Reafon nor Wisdom, when feparated from the Christian Religion, which is the Key of it, and is reprefented in the Jewish, as in a great and magnificent Looking-glafs And laftly, in the Proportion it bears to Natural Religion, of which Chriftianity is a perfect Reftauration, as Paganifm was the Corruption of it. Such is the Plan and Design of this Work, in which we principally propofed to do for things, viz. to lay down the Principles Religion in fuch Order and Connection, as might ferve to manifeft the Truth of it, to difcover the secret Principles of Infidelity, and confute it, by fhewing whence it fprings; to fatisfy, as far as 'tis poffible, all the Difficulties objected to us either in Books or Converfation; thofe, I mean, which have any Shew of Probability. And laftly, to use no Arguments but fuch as have convinced us, and to urge them no further than we our felves are convinced by them, not making it our Business to copy those who have wrote upon the fame Subject, nor affecting to avoid what they have faid; but endeavouring to raise our selves above all Oftentation of Wit and Learning, which is fo fatal to 'fuch fort of Works, our Defign in this prefent Treatife being only to find out what establishes the Truth of the Chriftian Religion, and not that which only proves the Subtilty or Learning of the Author. Though we dare not flatter our felves with the Hopes of having fucceeded in all these our Undertakings, yet we may truly give this Testimony in our own Behalf, that we have endeavoured it with Sincerity and Application. God who has put this Defign into our Heart, and fupported our Weakness by his Grace, grant it may fucceed to the Glory of his Truth, and the Salvation of all those that oppose it. The (xi) Of the Existence of God. HAP. 1. The Defign of this Section, Pag.1. Chap. 2. Wherein 'tis proved, by enqui- ring into the Principles of our Errors, that Chap. 3. In which 'tis further demonstrated that the Opinion we have of the Existence of God is no Chap. 4. In which we shall examine the Argu- ments that prove the Existence of God, Chap. 5. The Confideration of the Arguments for the Existence of God, taken from the Principles of Chap. 6. Containing a further Confideration of the Arguments for the Existence of God, together with the Spirituality and Immortality of the Soul, taken from the Principles of Philofophy, Chap. 7. That there are in the World certain Marks and Signs of Novelty, which lead us to the Truth of the Existence of God, Chap.8. Containing fome Arguments for the Ex- iftence of God, taken from the Confideration of So- ciety, the first Argument drawn from the Succeffi- Chap. 9. That there are certain Marks of No- Chap. 11. Containing fome Arguments for the Existence of God, drawn from the Confideration of Chap. 12. The Confideration of Man, and in p. 88. Man, by the Confideration of his Defects, Chap. 14. Where we enter upon an Examination of the principal Difficulties brought by the Atheists to oppose the Truth of the Existence of God, p. 99. Chap. 15. A Continuation of the Objections of Chap. 16. Containing feveral Comparisons of the two Opinions, in order to shew the extravagant Chap. 17. Wherein we continue to shew the Ab- furdity of Atheism, by comparing it with the true Chap. 18. Wherein we shall conclude this Section and first that he is a neceffary Being, and that be is Chap. 3. That Wisdom, Justice and Good- nefs do neceffarily belong to the Idea of God, p.137. Chap. 4. Wherein we fball prove the Neceffity of Religion in general, by the Idea of God, Chap. 6. Wherein 'tis proved that there are Some Principles of a truly Natural Religion im ture, P. 159. SECTION III. brightly visible in the Jewi |