But where is the revelation? or where is the evidence
that extorts the belief of Matter? Nay, how does it appear, that
Matter,
our senses>, is thought to exist by all mankind; or indeed, by
any except a few philosophers, who do not know what they would be
at? Your question supposes these points are clear; and, when you
have cleared them, I shall think myself obliged to give you
another answer. In the meantime, let it suffice that I tell you,
I do not suppose God has deceived mankind at all.
. But the novelty, Philonous, the novelty! There lies
the danger. New notions should always be discountenanced; they
unsettle men's minds, and nobody knows where they will end.
. Why the rejecting a notion that has no foundation,
either in sense, or in reason, or in Divine authority, should be
thought to unsettle the belief of such opinions as are grounded
on all or any of these, I cannot imagine. That innovations in
government and religion are dangerous, and ought to be
discountenanced, I freely own.
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