The certainty of the Christian revelation, and the necessity of believing it, established in opposition to all the cavils and insinuations of such as pretend to allow natural religion, and reject the Gospel / by Francis Gastrell ...

THE CERTAINTY and NECESSITY OF Religion in General, &c.

The Contents.

• INtroduction shewing the design of the Discourse, and the Method in which it is Prosecuted. Page 1.
• An account of the Nature of Man, so far as con∣cerns Religion. p. 9.
• Of the Nature of God. p. 16.
• Of the Relation there is betwixt God and Man. p. 18.
• A direct proof of the Being of God. p. 19.
• Considered as Possible, p. 20.
• Considered as Probable, p. 26.
• Considered as Certain. p. 40.
• The certainty of God's Existence proved, Indirectly and Negatively, by shewing that none of those Suppositions which exclude the Being of God can be true. p. 57.
• Matter alone considered at rest could not be Eternal, and in time produce the Present Frame of the World. p. 59.
• ...'Tis impossible to account for the Production of the

• World, by the Atheist's Hypothesis of moving Atoms. p. 61.
• 'Tis absurd to suppose that the World has Existed Eternally, under the same Form we now behold it, without a God. p. 64.
• The Eternal Coexistence of Matter and Mind, im∣probable. p. 71.
• Supposing it probable, neither Matter alone, nor Matter and Motion, nor the present Constitution of things could have been Eternal Independently of God. p. 77.
• The Original of all things from God, further evin∣ced from General Reflections. p. 81.
• A positive and direct Proof of Religion drawn from the Nature of God and Man, and the Relations there are betwixt them. p. 91.
• Of the Nature and Ground of Obligation, together with the Right and Power of Obliging. Ib.
• That Man is obliged to order his Life according to the Will of God, is proved. p. 102.
• From the Natural Judgments we make concerning our Actions. p. 105.
• From the End and Design of God in making us, which appears by several Tokens and Indications p. 117. in the Frame and Disposition of our Mind, p. 118. and in the Oeconomy and Constitution of Humane Society. p. 125.
• From the Nature of Religion it self, a regular practice of which conduces to the greatest Hap∣piness we are capable of in this Life. p. 129.
• And from the certainty of a Future State which is proved, p. 137.

• From the defect of a General and Regular Practice of Religion here. p. 138.
• And from the General Wants, Necessities and Im∣perfections of our present Nature p. 141.
• From all which Considerations it appears, that 'tis more for our Happiness to live Religiously then otherwise, and therefore we are obliged to live so. p. 146.
• The Certainty and Necessity of Religion further shewn, from the pernicious effects of all kind of Irreligion, with respect to the Happiness of Man∣kind. p. 149.
• The absurdity and folly of all the Grounds and Pre∣tences of Irreligion, and whatever is alledged in defence of it. p. 181.
• Irreligion not capable of any direct proof. p. 183.
• The usual Ways and Methods of defending it Im∣proper and Insufficient. p. 187.
• Ridiculing Religion proves nothing against it. Ib.
• Requiring a more certain and Mathematical proof of it unreasonable. p. 188.
• Schemes and Hypotheses to account for the present state of things, without God and Religion, ab∣surd and inconsistent. p. 192.
• The chief and most common Objections against Reli∣gion answered, viz. p. 200.
• Mysteries, seeming Inconsistencies, and Absurdities in Scripture. p. 201.
• Extravagant Notions and Pernicious Doctrines maintained under the name of Religion. p. 202.
• Variety of Opinions among the Professors of the same Religion. p. 204.

• Foolish and Ridiculous Arguments urged in defence of it. p. 205.
• Scandalous Lives of great pretenders to Piety and Virtue. p. 206.
• Religion the effect of Fear and Education. p. 209.
• Religion a politick Contrivance. p. 211.
• The absurdity and folly of Irreligious, Principles and Practices demonstrated from General Reflections upon the different Grounds and Foundations Reli∣gion and Irreligion stand upon; and the different Conduct of those that act under the Influence of the one and the other. p. 213.
• Irreligion further exposed from the causes and Reasons that induce Men to take up Atheistical and Pro∣phane Opinions. p. 227.
• The chief Causes of Atheism shewn to be these two, The Fear of an after reckoning for a wicked Life, and the Vanity of appearing greater and wiser than other Men. p. 230.
• The Doctrines of Irreligion the sole result of Preju∣dice, and not deliberate reasoning more plainly made out. p. 239.
• From the Character and Capacities of the Atheists. Ib.
• From the manner and process of their Infidelity. (p. 242.
• And from the Confession of several Atheists them∣selves. p. 246.
• An account of the Notions of Atheism and Deism, and how they are to be distinguished. p. 249.