Academica; Part the First, Containing Several Discourses on the Certainty, Distinction, and Connection of Natural and Revealed Religion (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1759 Excerpt: ...nature's greatest works from mechanic causes alone. The Stoics founded a grossly superstitious divination upon the most insignificant and even common events of nature, through their too great neglect of natural causes. Could we be indulged in the Jowness of the comparison, we might observe, that it hath fared with the great author of nature, as with the father of that art, which professes an imitation of nature. Some have entertained the wild imagination, that the divine ceconomy of the latter's two epic compositions was the result of independent fragments, and, as it were, poetic elements tending to no common unity of design. Others have, with a superstitious curiosity, extracted out of every line, nay, every syllable of them such inconsillent perfections, and whimsical refinements offense, as the author could never intend, nor, if he did intend them, would he deserve the admiration that hath always most inquisitive confess, that there is much more of certainty in assigning the uses of the several parts of the human body, than in explaining the mechanic laws, by which they perform their functions with such admirable regularity and agreement with each other. But the superior excellence of this contemplation is seen, in that it displays the wisdom and goodness of the Creator; when the happiness of the creature appears to be uniformly intended and accomplished by a frugal simplicity of work, together with an astonishingly liberal variety of use. And there is still a farther advantage of such a contemplation. It most safely directs the application of the endowments and means of happiness, which have been dispensed to us by the gracious hand of providence. The Scripture justly represents us as the stewards of God, in the use of our moral talents, as well as in ...