prefume to have done Execution. But to do this effectually, wou'd make a very unnatural Excrefcence in this; on which Account, I have referv'd it for an entire Difcourfe.

But that this may not appear fo very imperfect, for want of fomething of that Nature, I only add, That there is this double Advantage, arifing from a Thing once fubftantially prov'd. 1. That when well examin'd and apply'd, a Master of the Proof will find himself ready furnish'd with an appofite Answer to most Objections that can be fairly level'd against him. 2. That it will command the Continuance of his Affent, notwithstanding fome Objections, which may be really to him infuperable; especially in that Cafe, where a Difficulty of Conception, is mistaken for a Direct Objection. Which is the Case of most Arguments on the wrong Side of the Question; for it is egregiously abfurd, for a Man to with-hold his Affent from what he does apprehend, for the fake of what he does not apprehend; the former is all he has to depend upon, for his Knowledge and his Happiness too; and it is undoubtedly what he may depend upon, That whatever is True, is, to a competent Understanding, most evidently and unquestionably fo: And therefore he refolves the latter into his own K 3

In

Inability of Apprehenfion, not into any real Want of Evidence in the Subject; and, fo long as he finds himself groping in the Dark, in his best Researches; he rests fatisfy'd, as becomes him, where-ever he can lay hold of it, with the preponderating Evidence.

THE EN D.

PSY

PART II.

BEING A

VINDICATION

O F

The receiv'd and eftabish'd Doctrin concerning

Human Soul,

That it is of an Immaterial and Subftantial Nature:

AGAINST

A Late Book, call'd

Second Thoughts, &c.

WHEREIN

All the Author's Pretended Demonstrations to the contrary, as well Philofophical and Rational, as Scriptural, are fully refuted; together with Occafional Remarks on his Way of Reafoning. To which is annex'd, a brief Confutation of his whole Hypothefis.

It is an affured Truth, and a Conclufion of Experience, That a little or fuperficial Knowledge of Philofophy may incline the Mind of Man to Atheism; but a farther proceeding therein, deth bring the Mind back again to Religion. Lord Bacon, Adv. of Learning, Book 1.

A

VINDICATION

Of the Nature of

HUMAN SOUL:

AGAINST

A Book call'd Second Thoughts, &c.

CHAP. I.

Obfervations on his two first Chapters; the one, concerning the Prejudices of Education in Matters of Religion; the other, of the True Grounds and Foundation of Belief.

A

Large Porch becomes only a proportionable Building, and a long Apparatus a great Work. Our Author therefore, having threaten'd us with Demonftration in the Title-Page, and happily begun it in the Epiftle Dedicatory; (in