The darknes of atheism dispelled by the light of nature a physico-theologicall treatise / written by Walter Charleton ...

The Third Conclusion.

That God, when he is pleased to condescend to the prolongation of the life of a Just person, doth procure the same, either by means conforme to the ordinary and setled Constitutions, o, Canons of Nature; or by means Supernatural. The Former•• when bearing a respect to the native Durability of his individua Temperament, he assists to the duration thereof untill the na∣tural Period, or last moment of this sphear of time; wherewith the life of man (in specie) is circumscribed: and this either by conserving his Temperament in its decent tenor, and requisite Vigor; or by prohibiting and preventing the invasion of those known Enemies to longevity, which might any way conduce to the denormation, and consequently the premature dissolution of its harmony. The Later, when bearing no respect to the native durability of his individual Temperament, he meliorateth, exalteth, and by the secret immission of some special Athanasia, or Antidote against early death, corroborateth the same, so that it doth last longer, then otherwise, pro vi sua nativa, it could possibly have lasted, had it never bin impaired by any distemper. And this when God doth, then is he properly sayd, to prolong the life, or fulfill the number of the years of the Just. But the Contrary effect he procures by contrary Causes; (i. e.) he ab∣breviates the life of an unjust Person, either by an immature turbation and dissolution of his temperament, by its native dispo∣sition sufficiently tenacious and durable to extreme old age: or by not prohibiting, (i. e.) permitting and so procuring the vio∣lent

and preternatural dissolution thereof by the destructive sur∣prisall of any Accident whatever. And in this case properly are the Unjust sayd, not to Dimidiate their days. ¶.