358 T6e Wisdom of GOD Part 11. 



we can prove a priori, and independent on this 

 Ufefulnefs, now that Things are once fuppos'd 

 to have exifted and propagated, that among al~ 

 moft infinite Trials and Effays at the beginning 

 of Things, among Millions of monftrous Shapes 

 and imperfeft Formations, a few fuch Animals 

 as now exift could not pofjibly be produc'd, thefe 

 after-Confiderations are of very little moment ; 

 becaufe if fuch Animals could in that way pojfibly 

 be form'd, as might live and move, and propagate 

 their Beings, all this admir'd and applauded Ufe- 

 fulnefs of their feveral Fabricks is but a neceffary 

 Condition and Confequence of their Exiftence 

 and Propagation. 



This is the laft Pretence and Sophiftry of the 

 Atheijh againft the Propofition in my Text \AEis 

 xvii. 27.] that we receiv'd our Life arid Being 

 from a divine Wifdom and Power ; and as they 

 cannot juftly accufe me of concealing or baulk- 

 ing their grand Objection, f o I believe thefe fol- 

 lowing Confiderations will give them no reafon 

 to boaft that it cannot receive a juft and fatif- 

 fadory Anfwer, 



(i.) Firji^ therefore, we affirm that we can 

 prove, and have done it already by Arguments 

 a friori (which is the Challenge of the Atheijls) 

 that thefe Animals that now eiift could not pof- 

 iibly have been form'd at firft by Millions of Tri- 

 aJs j for feeing they allow by their very Hypothefis 

 (and without llaniing to that Courtefy we have 



prov'd 



