Page 45, line 12, for whether read whither. 73, line 3, for bless read bliss. 93, line 14, for postive read positive. great source of consolation. Without this belief men would, in general, sin without fear or restraint; and, in affliction, they must sorrow without hope.' He, there- fore, who becomes an atheist, consults nei- ther his improvement nor his happiness. He adopts a monstrous system, in direct opposition to all his interests. Hence this A THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. PSALM xiv, 1. The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. THE existence of God is the first and fundamental article of religion. Belief in it is the great incentive to duty, and the great source of consolation. Without this belief men would, in general, sin without fear or restraint; and, in affliction, they must sorrow without hope.' He, therefore, who becomes an atheist, consults neither his improvement nor his happiness. He adopts a monstrous system, in direct opposition to all his interests. Hence this emphatical declaration,- The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.' A UNBELIEVERS seem to have been comparatively modest in the days of the Psalmist. They generally kept their abominable and destructive sentiments concealed in their hearts; but their followers have now reached to a much higher pitch of depravation. They can now, from the abun' dance of their hearts,' frankly speak out; glory in their shame;' and set themselves up as bold thinkers, and men of superior minds, by publishing their horrible creed to the world. But if they are bold, believers ought surely to be much bolder, since they are advocates for a better cause; advocates for order and for happiness, for virtue and for God. Yes, I think it neither indecent nor presumptuous to affirm, that we have here only fools to combat. He is a fool who hath said, there is no 'God.' But as this folly is infectious, from its flattering the corrupted passions to which it appeals, and concealing its destructive tendencies, under the delusive visor which it wears, it, therefore, becomes necessary for the children of wisdom to contend earnestly against it. NEVER were the friends of atheistical folly more numerous than at present: they have multipled in proportion to the wickedness of the world; and as wickedness has now, confessedly, reached an alarming height, we ought, every one of us, to stand fast in the faith; and for this purpose, to examine, and point out to general view, its immovable foundations. We may thus not only lay claim to the character of rational believers ourselves, but also be quali fied to impart the same honourable character to others. Every exercise of this kind is highly improving: it tends to strengthen our mental powers; to make us more valiant for religion, and more fitted to put to silence the petulant ignorance of foolish 'men.' LET us now therefore consider, FIRST, what evidence we have for believing in the existence of God: NEXT, what our knowledge of his existence leads us to infer in general concerning him: AND THEN, what sentiments we should feel towards him, and what obedience we should render to him. FIRST THEN, LET US CONSIDER WHAT EVIDENCE WE HAVE FOR BELIEVING IN |