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406 A View of the DEisTIcAL Writers. Let. 23,

the argument for a future ſtate from thoſe attributes, he ſets himſelf to prove that the preſent ſtate of things is fufficiently conformable to our ideas of the divine juſtice and goodneſs, and that theſe attributes are ſo fully exerciſed or diſplayed here, that there is no need for any further manifeſtation or diſplay of them hereafter.

I fhall only produce one paſſage more, and it is a very re- markable one. Towards the concluſion of his laſt volume, when he pretends to draw a line of ſeparation between natural and artificial theology, he obſerves that by that, viz. natural theology, we are taught to acknowlege and adore the infinite * wiſdom and power of God, mam feſted in every part of his creation, and aſcribe goοdneſs and juſtice to him where-ever «« he intended that we fhould ſo aſcribe them, that is, where- ver either his works, or thé diſpenſations of his providence, do as neceſſarily communicate theſe notions to our minds, as thoſe of wiſdom and power are communicated to us in the whole extent of both. Where ever they are not ſo commu- nicated, we may aſſume very reaſonably, that it is on mo- tives ſtrictly conformable to all the divine attributes, and therefore to goodneſs and juſtice, though unknown to us, from whom ſo many circumſtances, with a relation to which the divine providence acts, muſt be often concealed: or, we may reſolve all into the wiſdom of God, and not preſume to account for them morally y.“ The laſt part of this paſ- fage hath a reference to his ſcheme of reſolving all into the di-

vine wiſdom. But you cannot but obſerve here, that after his repeated invectives againſt the divines, and againſt artificial theology, for aſcribing moral attributes to God, juſtice and goodneſs, according to our ideas of them, he has in effect here acknowleged all that the divines themſelves teach. They be- lieve that God is always good and juſt, though they do not pre-

tond to account for the exerciſe of goodneſs and juſtice in every Particular inſtance: but that enough we know to convince us of both: the notions of which, this writer himſelf here owns to be in many inſtances, at leaſt, neceſſarily communicated to us from his works; and furely then we ſhould endeavour to re- ſemble him in theſe his moral perfections, as far as we know them.

Before I conclude th

is cauſe I ſhall not after ward

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letter, I ſhall take ſome notice, be- s have ſo proper an opportunity for it,

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