Het regt gebruik der werelt beschouwingen, ter overtuiginge van ongodisten en ongelovigen

One would think it should be established that the frequently repeated sight of any thing, wonderful in itself, should provoke an even stronger feeling in us; and we find the opposite most of the time. That this takes place in the ignorant is not such a great wonder; but it is lamentable that this inattention is also frequently found in those who do not lack intellect and who wish to be held as philosophers.

And one could still grant this to those who are not accustomed to value much the knowledge of a God or the true cause of all things; but that others are so heedless on this point, to whom this investigation appears so weighty that it does not allow them to be silent about it and constantly forces them to reason about it at the slightest opportunity (so that I have many times seen the doubts in which some were or had been discovered thereby), is a matter that must appear wonderful to everyone.

Please do not doubt the truth of what has been said; since some are known to me who were formerly so inattentive and entirely insensitive regarding the works of the Great Maker of all, and having afterwards been brought to greater observation, stood amazed at themselves. They were amazed that those same things—which now made them feel a wise Former and Mighty Governor as if touching Him with their hands—had been known to them for so long; that they had many times considered them in their studies, read of them in others, and spoken of them with several people, without yet having been led to a God at that time, and without having felt the least conviction of it.

If habit is the cause of it—which, because we see so many wonders daily, causes us to remain without impression regarding them—one can say nothing else than that through this habit one becomes completely blind and entirely insensitive.

§ 26. The only natural means I have ever seen to be fruitful in making us more attentive to everything is to apply oneself to the frequent performance of new experiments; which, appearing to us each time as something unusual, give us the opportunity to notice with wonder the wisdom, power, and goodness of Him who governs all things in such a way. Especially if (which is also necessary here) we try to win ourselves over against our natural laziness to constantly add this observation while taking our experiences.

This is not the place to add another and the true cause of this blindness, through which we daily see the creatures without any emotion and the perfections of the Creator in them nevermore; namely, the general corruption of all men; because this is not overcome except through prayers and the grace of God Himself, and by no means through natural means. Of these latter, we had primarily intended to speak here.

§ 27. From all that has now been said, it can be concluded that the accurate and experimental observation of what one sees in the world is a proven means, not only to avoid so many causes and inducements to Atheism original: "Atheiftery"; but also to learn to know a God in His perfections from His works. And let no one find it strange that I make use of this way in the following, and not of another kind of arguments, which are commonly called Metaphysical.

The reasons that have moved me to this are these:

Firstly, because many learned gentlemen have extensively refuted the Atheists original: "Ongodisten" in a metaphysical way, that is, one that rests on reasoning. Therefore, proofs of that kind can be found in great abundance in their writings.

Secondly, because experience and interaction with some of these unhappy philosophers has taught me that the contemplation of the works of God, if one could bring them to it, has caused some of them to change their thoughts, who for years had remained hardened against other proofs. This was because the shrewdness of their intellect always seemed able to provide them with reasons for disputes against metaphysical proofs, and they remained unconvinced thereby.

Finally, this way will be held as powerful, if not by absolute atheists, then at least by unsteady and doubting minds who have not yet fallen so far that they dare to completely deny the divinity of the Holy Scripture. This is because God Himself in His word does not please to make use of artfully devised philosophical reasonings—which require sharpened intellects—to prove His adorable perfections; but for the most part, he wills to convince men of them simply along this level path, trodden by everyone, through His works. He reveals therein His love and favor toward them; that, notwithstanding these works by the great wonders they contain are capable of making the most shrewd reasoners confess in many cases that they have only been able to come to the outer ends of His ways and a small piece of the matter; yet everyone, even the very weakest in intellect, has only to lift his eyes to be incontestably persuaded of an Adorable Maker and Governor of all, without needing any human philosophy further for that purpose.

§ 28. To this that has been said, the Word of God can give testimony in many places.

Thus one hears Paul the Apostle take a proof of God's eternal Presence or power, by which He exists of Himself, from the creatures: Rom: I. 20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made... original: "Want fyne onfienlyke dingen worden van de Scheppinge der werelt aan, uyt de Schepfelen verftaan en doorfien..."