378 RELIGIOUS VIEWS. 



nature ; for take an example of a dog, and mark 

 what a generosity and courage he will put on, 

 when he finds himself maintained by a man ; 

 who, to him, is instead of a God, or melior natura: 

 which courage is manifestly such, as that crea- 

 ture, without that confidence of a better nature 

 than his own, could never attain. So man, when 

 he resteth and assureth himself upon divine pro- 

 tection and favour, gathereth a force and faith, 

 which human nature could not obtain. There- 

 fore, as atheism is in all respects hateful, so in 

 this, that it depriveth human nature of the means 

 to exalt itself above human frailty."* 



Such a law, then, of reference to a Supremely 

 Good Being, is impressed upon our nature, as the 

 condition and means of its highest moral ad- 

 vancement. And strange indeed it would be if 

 we should suppose, that in a system where all 

 besides indicates purpose and design, this law 

 should proceed from no such origin ; and no less 

 inconceivable, that such a law, purposely im- 

 pressed upon man to purify and elevate his 

 nature, should delude and deceive him. 



8. Nothing remains, therefore, but that the 

 Creator, who, for purposes that even we can see 

 to be wise and good, has impressed upon man 

 this disposition to look to him for support, for 

 advancement, for such happiness as is reconcile- 



* Bacon. Essay on Atheism. 



