IF every thing that exists be according to a good order, and for the best, by be∣ing in the wisest and justest manner then is there of necessity no such thing as REAL ILL in the Universe, nothing ILL with respect to the whole. IN the Whole of things (or in the Universe) either every thing is according to a good order, and the most agreeable to a general interest that is possible: or every thing is not according to a good order but there is that which might possibly have bin better, more wiselyĬontriv'd, and with more advantage to the general interest of Beings, or of the Whole. But to be∣gin, therefore, according to the best of our Reason the judgment of which is submitted to others. And here it cannot justly be wonder'd at, if the method of explaining this ap∣pears unusual and strange, since the Sub∣ject it self, and the Question here treated of, has, perhaps, so little enter'd into consideration, and is a matter of so nice and dangerous speculation. And since by the example of others we have bin en∣gag'd in an enquiry of this kind, and are now about to enter upon a Subject where there is need of a very particu∣lar Explanation of things, and of a more than ordinary clearness in terms we may do well first of all to consider What it is that we call ATHEISM, and what VIRTUE: and afterwards we may ex∣amin the consistency of these two together.įIRST, then, AS TO ATHEISM. How∣ever, since there have bin instances of some, who having great Zeal in Religi∣on, have yet wanted even the common affections of Humanity, and have bin ex∣tremely vitious and corrupt and since others, even amongst those who have scarcely own'd a Deity, have bin seen to practise the rules of Morality, and have seem'd to act with good meaning and af∣fection towards Mankind: it has given occasion to several to enquire HOW FAR VIRTUE ALONE COULD GO ĪND HOW FAR RELIGION WAS EITHER NECESSARY TO SUP∣PORT IT, OR ABLE TO RAISE AND ADVANCE IT. RELIGION and VIRTUE, as they have near relation one to another, and are ever pre∣sum'd to reside together so they are very rarely consider'd apart, or distinguish'd from one another.
0 kommentar(er)
