Attributes of God by Charnock (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Conclude Chapter 1.
Now we finish Charnock's reasons why it is is foolishness to deny the existence of God.
The third reason is because it is folly to deny that which a man's own nature witnesses to him. That is, the witness of:
(i) his body;
(ii) his soul.
The fourth reason is because it is a folly to deny the being of God which is witnessed unto by extraordinary occurrences in the world:
(i) in extraordinary judgments;
(ii) in miracles;
(iii) in accomplishments of prophecies.
To finish the chapter Charnock gives us some points of application about God's existence:
(i) If atheism be a folly, it is then pernicious to the world, and to the atheist himself;
(ii) How lamentable is it that in our times this folly of atheism should be so rife;
(iii) If it be the atheist's folly to deny or doubt the being of God, it is our wisdom to be firmly settled in this truth, that God is;
(iv) It is a folly also not to worship God, when we acknowledge his existence.
Great chapter and much more relevant in our day of atheists like Dawkins than in Charnock's time.
Particularly liked Charnock's point that atheists won't always be atheists: 'Atheism is a persuasion, which find no footing anywhere else. Hell, that receives such persons, in this point reforms them; they can never deny or doubt of his being while they feel his strokes. The devil that rejoices at their wickedness, knows them to be in an error; for he "believes, and trembles" at the belief, James ii.19.'
No atheists in hell.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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