An antidote against atheisme, or, An appeal to the natural faculties of the minde of man, whether there be not a God by Henry More ...

CHAP. IV.

A further proof of divine Providence taken from the Sea, and the large train of Causes laid together in reference to Navigation.

HAving thus passed over the Hills and through the Woods and hollow Entrailes of the Earth, let us now view

the wide Sea also, and see whether that do not informe us that there is a God, that is, whether things be not there in such sort as a rationall Principle would either order or ap∣prove, when as yet notwithstanding they might have been otherwise. And now we are come to view those Campos natantes as Lucretius calls them, that vast Champian of water the Ocean, I demand first whether it might not have been wider then it is, even so large as to overspread the face of the whole Earth, and so to have taken away the habita∣tion of Men and Beasts. For the wet particles might have easily ever mingled with the dry, and so all had either been Sea or Quag-mire. Secondly though this distinction of Land and Sea be made, whether this watry Element might not have fallen out to be of so thin a consistency as that it would not beare Shipping; For it is so farre from impossibility, as there be de facto in Nature such waters, as the river Silas for example in India. And the waters of B••risthenes are so thin and light, that they are said to swim upon the top of the Stream of the river Hypanis. And we know there is some kind of wood so heavy, that it will sink in any ordinary kind of water.

Thirdly and lastly, I appeale to any mans reason, whe∣ther it be not better that there should be a distinction of Land and Sea, then that all should be mire or water; and whether it be not better that the Timber-trees afford wood so light that it swim on the water, or the water be so heavy that it will beare up the wood, then the Contrary. That therefore which might have been otherwise, and yet is settled according to our own hearts wish who are know∣ing and rationall Creatures, ought to be deemed by us as established by Counsell and Reason. And the closer we looke into the buisinesse we shall discerne more evident foot-steps of Providence in it. For the two maine pro∣perties of Man being contemplation and sociablenesse or love of converse, there could nothing so highly

gratify his nature as power of Navigation, whereby he riding on the back of the waves of the Sea, views the wonders of the Deep, and by reason of the gl••bnesse of that Element, is able in a competent time to prove the truth of those sagacious suggestions of his own mind, that is, whether the Earth be every way round, and whether there be any Antipodes, and the like; and by cutting the Aequi∣noctiall line decides that controversy of the habitablenesse of the Torrid Zone, or rather wipes out that blot that lay upon divine Providence, as if so great a share of the world had been lost by reason of unfitnesse for habitation.

Besides the falling upon strange Coasts and discovering Men of so great a diversity of manners from our selves, can∣not but be a thing of infinite pleasure and advantage to the enlargement of our thoughts from what we observe in their conversation, parts, and Poli••y. Adde unto this the sundry rarities of Nature, and commodities proper to seve∣rall Countries, which they that stay at home enjoy by the travailes of those that go abroad, and they that travaile grow rich for their adventure.

Now therefore Navigation being of so great consequence, to the delight and convenience▪ of humane life, and there being both wit and courage in Man to attempt the Seas, were he but ••itted with right Materialls and other advanta∣ges requisite; when we see there is so pat a provision made for him to this pu••pose, in large Timber for the building of his Ship, in a thick Sea-water sufficient to beare the Ships burden, in the Magnet or Load-stone for his Compasse, in the steady and parallell direction of the Axis of the Earth for his Cynosura; and then observing his naturall wit and courage to make use of them, and how that ingenit desire of knowledge an•• converse, and of the improving of his own parts and happinesse stirre him up to so notable a designe; we cannot but conclude from such a traine of Causes so ••ittly and congruously complying together, that it was real∣ly

the counsell of a•• universall and eternall Mind that has the overseeing and guidance of the whole frame of Nature, that laid these causes so carefully and wisely together, that is, we cannot but conclude that there is a God.

And if we have got so fast foot-hold already in this truth by the consideration of such Phaenomena in the world that seeme more rude and generall, what will the contempla∣tion of the more particular and more polished pieces of Na∣ture afford in Vegetables, Animalls and the Body of Man?