Vulgar errors, ancient and modern, attributed as imports to the proper names of the globe ... investigating the origin and uses of letters ... Biblical long-lost names--unknown names of heathen gods, of nations, provinces, towns &c. With a critical disquisition on every station of Richard of Cirencester and Antoninus in Britain ... To which is added, Richard's [i.e. C.J. Bertram's] original work / [G. Dyer].

Gilbert Dyer

Date:: 1816

Credit: Vulgar errors, ancient and modern, attributed as imports to the proper names of the globe ... investigating the origin and uses of letters ... Biblical long-lost names--unknown names of heathen gods, of nations, provinces, towns &c. With a critical disquisition on every station of Richard of Cirencester and Antoninus in Britain ... To which is added, Richard's [i.e. C.J. Bertram's] original work / [G. Dyer]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

431/442 page 23

quainted * have only caused intelligence, motion, figure, and fize; we may, therefore, call thofe parts of matter materials or infiruments, to which fome Caufe has communicated thofe attributes in every original circumftance. But, there was primarily no neceffary, but only a caufed, con- nexion between any inftrument, motion, figure, fize, matter, or ■mere exifience—and—intelligence, comprehension, or design : Yet, as man wanted experience or knowledge to con- tinue his exiftence ; and, as matter or body required motion, figure, and fize-, it is plain, that fome Caufe had, not only the comprehcnfion and power to model, but the power alfo to give man intelligence and voluntary and involuntary motion, fufficient to lead to this experience, as well as involuntary motion, figure, and fize to other matter, for performing its fun&ions. But this Caufe, who gave intelligence, and who (from his perfect comprehenfion of defgn) mu ft have known the prefent wants of his creatures, mnft alfo have known their future wants-, and, therefore, might give them intelligence of things to come, as well as of things prefent: For, if fome Caufe had not known the future as well as the prefent, then there could have been no comprehenfion of defign in any caufe-, and CHANCE—that great being of Atheifm—NOTHING— rauft be fuppofed to have produced intelligence, harmony, and order. But, throughout nature, we perceive no effeCi without fome Caufe—no accidental things produced—no equi- vocal generation taking place. And, were we to con- tend for fuch accidents, it would be necefi'ary to our argu- ment, not only to ftiew the pofiihility, but the probability, of our opinion j neither of which can, I apprehend, be lhewn. Tbefe dodrines of Atheifm, therefore, are without grounds, and confequently too abfurd to reafon upon. Moreover, in the fcale of nature, as man, with the intelli- gence given him, is infinitely fuperior to any inftrument he * It is sufficient, that our proof rests on what we are acquainted with. When mankind have more data, it will then be proper to con- sider what more may be drawn therefrom. In the mean time, we reason from what we know of the nature of man. Should any one bring conjecture, or hypothesis, against the facts herein staled, or against the reasoning drawn from such nature, we shall not attempt answer.

Licence and re-use

Contents