Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 edition. Excerpt: ... GOD'S ARROW AGAINST ATHEISM AND IRRELIGION. CHAPTER I. THAT THERE IS A GOD, AND THAT HE OUGHT TO BE WORSHIPPED. Atheism and Irreligion were ever odious even among the heathen themselves; insomuch as that Protagoras, for that he doubted whether there were any God or no, was by the Athenians banished out of their country. Diagoras was such a notorious infidel, that he held there was no God; him, and all such like Atheists, the very heathens have abhorred and detested, as being more like rude beasts than reasonable men. For Cicero, the heathen philosopher, doth condemn them all; and further saith, There was never any nation so savage, or people so barbarous, but always confessed that there was a God;a whereunto they were led even by the light of nature, and natural instinct. For, the very same is confirmed by the common use of all heathens, in lifting up their eyes and hands to heaven, in any sudden distress that cometh upon them.b Yea, by experience of all ages, it hath been proved that Atheists themselves, that is, such as in their health and prosperity, for more liberty of sinning, would strive against the being of a God, when they came to die or fall into great misery, they of all * Cicero, Lib. de Naturil Deor. b Tertul. in ApoL others would shew themselves most fearful of this God, as Seneca himself declareth; * insomuch as Zeno the philosopher was wont to say, that it seemed to him a more substantial proof of this matter, to hear an Atheist at his dying day preach God. (when he asked God and all the world forgiveness, ) than to hear all the philosophers in the world dispute the point: for that at this instant of death and misery, it is like that such do speak in earnest and sobriety of spirit, who before in their wantonness impugned...
