_Secondly_, This argument, if it were allowed, leads directly to _atheism_. For if a revelation cannot be divine, if it contains any thing mysterious, whose fitness and necessity cannot be explained by human reason, then neither _creation_ nor _providence_ can be proved to be divine, for they are both of them more mysterious than the Christian revelation. And if every thing is _arbitrary_, whose _fitness and experience_ human reason cannot _prove_ and _explain_, then surely an _invisible over-ruling providence_ that orders all things in a manner, and for reasons, known only to itself; that subjects human life, and human affairs, to what changes it pleases; that confounds the best-laid designs, and makes great effects arise from folly and imprudence; that gives not the race to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; that brings good men into affliction, and makes the wicked prosperous; surely such a providence must be highly arbitrary. And therefore if this argument is to be admitted, it leads directly to _atheism_, and brings us under a greater necessity of rejecting divine providence, on the account of its mysteries, than of rejecting a revelation that is mysterious in any of its doctrines. And if, God cannot be said to deal with us as rational agents, if he requires any thing of us, that our reason cannot prove to be necessary; surely he cannot be said to deal with us as rational agents, if he over-rules our persons and affairs, and disappoints our counsels, makes weakness prosperous, and wisdom unsuccessful, in a _secret_ and _invisible_ manner, and for reasons and ends that we have no means of knowing. * There is nothing therefore half so mysterious in the Christian revelation, as there is in that _invisible_ providence, which all must hold that believe a God. And tho’ there is enough plain in providence, to excite the adoration of humble and pious minds, yet it has often been a rock of _atheism_ to those, who make their own reason the measure of wisdom. Again, Tho’ the _creation_ plainly declares the glory, and wisdom, and goodness of God; yet it has more mysteries in it, more things whose fitness, expedience, and reasonableness, human reason cannot comprehend, than are to be found in scripture.