Page:Characteristicks of men, manners, opinions, times Vol 2.djvu/16

RV 12 (Rh) of the Universe. For 'tis evident in the Case of the most devout People, even by their own Confession, that there are Times when their Faith hardly can support 'em in the Belief of a supreme Wisdom; and that they are often tempted to judge disadvantageously of a Providence, and just Administration in the Whole.

alone, therefore, is to be call'd a Man's Opinion, which is of any other the most habitual to him, and occurs upon most occasions. So that 'tis hard to pronounce certainly of any Man, that he is an Atheist; because unless his whole Thoughts are at all Seasons, and on all Occasions, steddily bent against all Supposition or Imagination of Design in Things, he is no perfect. In the same manner, if a Man's Thoughts are not at all times steddy and resolute against all Imagination of Chance, Fortune, or ill Design in Things, he is no perfect. But if any-one believes more of Chance and Confusion than of Design; he is to be esteem'd more an than a Theist, from that which most predominates, or has the ascendant. And in case he believes more of the Prevalency of an ill-designing Principle, than of a good one, he is rather a ; and may be justly so call'd, from the Side to which the Balance of his Judgment most inclines. Rh