DIagoras and Theodorus were not ashamed to dispute against the Deitie . Neither ( as I heare ) do some of our brazen-faced Caualeers cease to blaspheme God by denying most impudently his euerlasting essence . O foolish men ! when they see a faire house , they immediatly presuppose some one or other to haue built it . So in like maner when they behold one another , will not they sometimes euen by natural discourse aske , who made them ? The heathen Oratour saith , that b b Cic. li. 1 Tuscul. there is no nation so sauage , no people so senceles , which wil not confesse that there is some God : & euen they that are Libertines , Epicures , and in other points of their liues differing little from bruite beasts , do reserue some seed of religion : Also , c c Iam. 2. 19. the very Deuils beleeue , that there is a God , and do tremble , as saith the Apostle . Yea , * * Calu. li. 1. Instit. cap. 2. the very obstinacy of the wicked is a substanciall witnesse that the Deitie is knowen , which with their furious striuing yet can neuer wind themselues out of the ●eare of God . But what need I dally thus with doltish Atheists ? let them read the holy scripture , & they shall find fiue generall meanes , whereby God is made manifest vnto man .

The first , are the framed things , wherin God did first reueale himself , for * * Psal. 19 the heauens declare the glory of God , and the firmament sheweth his handy worke . The second is the sparke of nature , wherby all men as it were by naturall instinct obtaine the infallible admonition of the truth . The third way whereby God is made knowen , is the verball will , which successiuely from time to time in some countrey or other hath bene holden vp by worldly blessings , apparitions , ceremonies , prophesies , and last of all by the presence of the Messias himselfe . The fourth is the holy Ghost , who openeth our misty eyes , wherby we embrace the true and Apostolicall doctrine . The fift meanes , whereby God is knowen , are his miracles , at the sight of which the very Atheists themselues being affrighted must exclaime with Iulian the Apostata : Nazian. in Iulian. Orat. 2. O God , O Galilaan , thou hast ouercome our vnbeleefe .

OF Atheists there are two sorts : the inward , and the outward . The inward Atheist is he , that slyly carieth the countenaunce of a sheepe , and yet is no sheepe , but a sheep-biter . He swaloweth vp aduowsons , hospitals , and other mens goods vnder pretence of simplicity . He raiseth rents , incloseth commons , and enhaunceth the price of corne . With his wooll or wealth hee vseth to snarle & deceyue honest-minded men , whom at length hee notwithstanding hauing Scripture in his mouth snatcheth at most greedily , & clappeth in irons . This kind of Atheist I will decipher hereafter .

The outward Atheist on the other side openly professeth nature to be his God . And euen as the spider infecteth with poyson the fragrantst liquours hee suckes ; so the outward Atheist most wickedly extracteth common places out of the secretes of nature , and turning them to his owne vse , hee blasphemeth God , whom he neuer knew .

Is there any rayne without a clowd ? any apples without trees ? any portraiture without a painter ? any kingdome without rulers ? can the heauens moue without a mouer ? say , thou viper , ( for a better name thou deseruest not ) wilt thou not beleeue that , which thou beholdest with thine eies ? wherfore , I pray thee , was the world framed ? was it not for man ? what idiot , when hee passeth through a village , though halfe ruinous , will not presently suppose , that it was contriued by some or other ? Much rather , O sensuall beast , shouldst thou imagine , that a quickning maker , euen God , hath created not onely thee , but all the world besides .

If no reason will persuade thee , yet , me thinkes , the extraordinary punishments of God , which alwaies , such Atheists , as thou art , haue felt , should be of force , to recall thee from thy most damnable opinion . It is written of Diagoras one of the first authours of this sect , that being fledde from Athens , and his bookes burnt by vniuersall consent , he was slaine by certaine men , whom the Athenians had hired for that intent . Pliny the elder , one likewise of the same stampe , while hee was ouercurious in searching the causes of nature , was choakt neere to the mountaine Vesuuius with smoake , and with the smell of brimstone issuing out of the same . Pope Leo the tenth , who often said , that Moses , Christ , and Mahomet were three of the greatest dissemblers , was by the iust iudgement of God sodainly strooken dead with an extreame laughter . Likewise , an Italian Captaine of late daies in the low countries , leading his company to skirmish with the enemy , thus encouraged them : Sirs , quoth he , remember the former glory of our nation , and fight valiantly : as for your sinnes , if you die , you shall vnderstand , there is no God . Which when he had said , he fought , & was the first man that was slaine . Not inferiour to these was one Christopher Marlow by profession a play-maker , who , as it is reported , about 7. yeeres a-goe wrote a booke against the Trinitie : but see the effects of Gods iustice ; it so hapned , that at Detford , a litle village about three miles distant from London , as he meant to stab with his ponyard one named Ingram , that had inuited him thither to a feast , and was then playing at tables , he quickly perceyuing it , so auoyded the thrust , that withall drawing out his dagger for his defence , hee stabd this Marlow into the eye , in such sort , that his braines comming out at the daggers point , hee shortlie after dyed . Thus did God , the true executioner of diuine iustice , worke the ende of impious Atheists .

Furthermore , some of our worldlings may worthily bee ranged in the forefront of this hellish route . They , I say , that belch out this accursed theoreme of Machiauel , Machia . in prin●cipe . namely , that the heathenish religion made men couragious , wheras our religion makes men fearfull . O foolish sots● is the feare and loue of God become the cause of your foolish feare ? Nay , rather it is your consciences , that bring feare into your hearts . The more wicked ye be , the more you feare . Me thinks , that albeit ye had no demonstration of God , yet this ought to satisfie you , which proceedeth of a natural fear . For whosoeuer feareth , sheweth necessarily , that there is some supreme power which is able to terrifie & hurt him . As contrariwise , he that is assured , that nothing can appall or diminish his valour , is altogether free from feare .