Creator; and how, now they are, they may live best without any
Dependance on his Providence. They are call'd to doubt of the
_Existence_ of _God_, or if that be allow'd them, 'tis only to
question what _Notice_ he takes: His Wise _Providence_ at every turn
is charged with _Neglect_, and often not for, that which has something
of Precedent, supporting the Wicked, but which is _dreadfully New_
disappointing their _Lusts_. Things they are no longer ashamed of, but
publickly own, without so much as pretending to hide them from _God_,
whom they are not afraid to treat as blind, or as giving _Consent_.

Thus is His _Holiness_ turn'd to the vilest Reproach, his perfect
_Knowledge_ mention'd with scoffing, and his infinite _Power_
despised.

Had we nothing to oppose to this; but that sense of things which is
natural to Us, and which even with all these Arts is not quickly
defaced, we could not but stand amazed at such Presumptions as these,
in so poor, and ignorant, and short lived a Creature as _Man_; who
came naked but lately out of the Earth, and must soon return to that
condition again; who finds his sight bounded in every thought, and
meets with a thousand stops in all his Designs; who every step that he
takes, wants some one to help him, and can scarce avoid being
conscious of that Hand to which he ows his Support. And yet as if it
was honour to rave, this impotent Wretch must still be daring at
something above him, as if he reckon'd it weakness to own of what he
was made, and thought any submission too great a price to pay for
being preserv'd.

This cou'd not be accounted less than a Monstrous _Extravagance_, had
we no other _Rule_ than that of _Reason_ to measure it by; and a Man