STUDY IV. 147 



STUDY FOURTH. 



REPLIES TO THE OBJECTIONS AGAINST PROVIDENCE. 



SUCH are the principal objeftions which have 

 been raifed, in almoft every Age, againft a 

 Providence, and which no one will accufe me of 

 having dated too feebly. Before 1 attempt a re- 

 futation of them, I muft be permitted to make a 

 few refledtions on the perfons who maintain them. 



Did thefe murmurings proceed from fome 

 wretched mariners, expofed at fea to all the re- 

 volutions of the Atmofphere, or from fome op- 

 prelfed peafant, labouring under the contempt of 

 that fociety whom his labour is feeding, my afto- 

 ni(hment would be lefs. But our Atheifts arc, 

 for the mofl part, well iheltered from the injuries 

 of the Elements, and efpecially from thofe of For- 

 tune. The greateft part of them have never fo 

 much as travelled. As to the ills of Civil Society, 

 they mod unreafonably complain ; for they enjoy 

 it's fweeteft and molt refpeélful homage, after 



L 2 having 



