ing I have been Cautioning against May, and frequently Do occur; And that is in relation to the Proof of the Being, and Attributes of God, If any one attempts to Demonftrate the Being of a God from Natural Reafon without first of all faying Clearly what they mean by a God, what Idea of fuch a One 'tis they intend to establish; Here they talk in the dark. If they leave That to appear from the Proof, as it Somtimes may, that is, 'Tis juft fuch a God as arifes to the Imagination from Thence; 'Tis odds but This Idea will vary in the Minds of every one that Hears, or Reads fuch Difcourfe, nothing would be Fix'd, and Poffitive. If this Gentleman goes on, and at the End of his Argument you find any Other Idea than that which was before Demonftrated, monftrated, then you have Chang'd Ideas; If this is done by Evidence from Revelation, or Otherwife, and ftill a Demonftration is pretended to, Here is Another Fallacy; Unless that Evidence from whence this New Idea arifes is alfo Demonftrated to be true. That not being done, but the thing appearing Only Probable, this Latter Idea of God has no higher Proof, the Former only has Demonstration. If This inftead of being Probable is Not fo, the Latter Idea vanishes, the Former only fubfifts. I have endeavour'd to explain what I meant in This part of my Difcourfe by Examples in a Way of Thinking to which Gentlemen, for whofe fake I chiefly Write are well accustomed, and which is very Applicable to That pro per per to a Connoiffeur; This I hope will justifie me in launching out into Matters which at first fight may Seem to have no relation to my Subject; If I have been Mistaken in the Remarks I have made, wherein I have taken the Liberty to point out fome of the Inftances of Fallibility in Other Men, I beg pardon of those I have Mifrepresented, tho' Unwittingly; and am My Self become the Example of the Falfe Thinking, and Reasoning I have been Advifing Connoiffeurs to Avoid; and may My Self Thus help to Illustrate my Own Discourfe: If I am in the Right, Such Overfights of Men to whom the World is much indebted for the Light it has received will help to Excufe me when I fhall be found in any Other part |