ſenſe, that ſo many regular and uſeful productions as are in the ſyſtem of the world, could be formed and managed without the hand of an Almighty and Intelligent Agent! Wherefore, we muſt conclude, that, nothing is more evident than the being and providence of a God. Since there are as many demonſtrations thereof, as there are creatures in the univerſe, and as there are parts in every creature, Rom. i. 12. "The inviſible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly ſeen, being underſtood by the things that are made, even by his eternal power and Godhead, Pſalm cxxxix. 14. I will praiſe thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are the works," &c.
The exiſtence of God being abundantly demonſtrable from the general compoſition of the world, and from nature's virtues, tendencies and uſes of particular beings it follows neceſſarily, that there is a uſe of eternal rewarding of the virtues, and pu⟨niſh⟩ing the vicious, is of the eſſence of God; even ⟨as l⟩ight is of the nature of the ſun: without which, we have no complete and right idea or conception of ⟨him,⟩ as the fountain of all perfections.
⟨G⟩en. xvi. 35 "Shall not be judge of all the earth ⟨do⟩ right? Rom. x. 18. The wrath of God is revealed ⟨from⟩ heaven againſt all ungodlineſs and unrighteouſ⟨ne⟩ſs of men. 2 Theſſ. 6, 7. Seeing it is a righte⟨ous⟩ thing with God, to recompence tribulations to ⟨th⟩em who trouble you;—And to you who are trou⟨ble⟩d, reſt with us, when the Lord Jeſus ſhall be ⟨rev⟩ealed from heaven with his mighty angels &c."
⟨Th⟩e denial of an after-ſtate of rewards and puniſh⟨ment⟩s is againſt the general traditions of the world, ⟨or co⟩mmon ſentiments of mankind, whether Jews, ⟨Turks,⟩ or Chriſtians, all (although they diſler in ma⟨ny things⟩ yet) do agree in this, that the good ſhall be ⟨bleſſed,⟩ and the bad wretched in another world. And ⟨as it is⟩ againſt the general tradition of the world ſo,