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THE
WORKS
OF THE
REV. JOHN HOWE, M. A
WITH
MEMOIRS OF HIS LIFE,
BY EDMUND CALAMY, D. D.
COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY JOHN P. HAVEN, No. 148 NASSAU STREET.
MDCCCXXXV.
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF CARORNYA DAVIS
CONTENTS.
THE LIFE OF MR. JOHN HOWE.
THE LIVING TEMPLE; or a designed Improve-
ment of tha: Notion, That a Good Man is the Tem-
ple of God
PART L Concerning God's Existence, and his Con-
versableness with Man. Against Atheism, or
the Epicurean Deism. . .
CHAP. I. This notion common. Authorities need-
less Insignificant with the atheistical, who
have made it more necessary to defend religion,
and a temple in general, than this, or that.
Better defended against them by practice and
use, that argument, whereof they are incapable.
Often disputes of its principles not necessary to
the practice of religion. Some consideration of
those supposed in the general notion of a temple,
pertinent (however) to this discourse. .
CHAP. II. I The two more principal grounds
which a temple supposes. FIRST, The existence
of God. SECONDLY, His conversableness with
Cen: both argued from common consent. Doubt-
ful if the first were ever wholly denied in former
dars. The second also implied, First, In the
bwn general practice of some or other religion.
Endenced, Secondly, In that some, no strangers
to the world, have thought it the difference of
man. II. The immodesty and rashness of the
persons from whom any opposition can be ex-
pected III These two grounds, namely, the
existence of God, and his conversableness with
men, proposed to be more strictly considered
apart. And, FIRST, The existence of God,
where the notion of God is assigned. The parts
whereof are proposed to be evinced severally of
some existent being. First, Eternity. Secondly,
Self-origination. Thirdly, Independency. Fourth-
by Necessity of existence. Fifthly, Self-activity.
(The impossibility that this world should be
this necessary self-active being. The incon-
sistency of necessary alterable matter, more
largely deduced in a marginal digression.)
Siathly, Life. Seventhly, Vast and mighty power.
A corollary.
CHAP. III Wisdom asserted to belong to this
Being. The production of this world by a
mighty agent destitute of wisdom impossible.
On consideration of, 1. What would be adverse
to this production. 2. What would be wanting;
some effects to which a designing cause will, on
all bands, be confessed necessary, having mani-
fest characters of skill and design upon them.
Absurd here to except the works of nature;
wherein at least equal characters of wisdom and
design are to be seen, as in any the most confess-
ed pieces of art, instanced in the frame and mo-
tion of heavenly bodies. A mean unphilosophical
temper, to be more taken with novelties, than
common things of greater importance. Further
instance, in the composition of the bodies of
animals. Two contrary causes of men's not
acknowledging the wisdom of their Maker
herein. Progress is made from the consideration
of the parts and frame, to the powers and func-
tions, of terrestrial creatures. Growth, nutrition,
propagation of kind. Spontaneous motion, sen-
sation. The pretence considered, that the bodies
1
9
CHAP. IV. Generally all supposable perfection
asserted of this Being; where, First, A being
absolutely perfect is endeavoured to be evinced
from the (already proved) necessary bei ig; which
is shown to import, in the general, the utmost
fulness of being. Also divers things in particular
that tend to evince that general. As that it is at
the remotest distance from no being. Most pure-
ly actual. Most abstracted being. The produc-
tive and conserving cause of all things else. Un-
diminishable. Incapable of addition. Secondly,
Hence is more expressly deduced, The infinite-
ness of this being. An inquiry whether it be
possible the creature can be actually infinite?
Difficulties concerning the absolute fulness and
infiniteness of God considered. 2. The oneliness
of this being. The trinity not thereby excluded. 30
CHAP. V. Demands in reference to what hath been
hitherto discoursed, with some reasonings there-
upon 1. Is it possible that, upon supposition of
this being's existence, it may be, in any way
suitable to our present state, made known to us
that it doth exist? Proved, 1. That it may. 2.
That, since any other fit way that can be thought
on is as much liable to exception as that we have
already, this must be, therefore, sufficient. Strong
impressions. Glorious apparitions. Terrible
voices. Surprising transformations. If these are
necessary, is it needful they be universal? fre-
quent? If not, more rare things of this sort not
wanting. 2. Demand. Can subjects, remote from
their prince, sufficiently be assured of his exist-
ence? 3. Demand. Can we be sure there are
men on earth? .
37
CHAP. VI. What is intended by God's conversa-
bleness with men, considered only as fundamen-
tal and presupposed to a temple. An account of
the Epicurean deity. Its existence impossible
any way to be proved, if it did exist. Nor can
be affirmed to any good intent. That such a be-
ing is not God. That the absolute perfection
proved of God represents him a fit object of re-
ligion. From thence more particularly deduced
to this purpose, His omnisciency, omnipotency,
unlimited goodness, immensity. Curcellæus's
arguments against this last considered. ... 45
PART II. Containing Animadversions on Spinosa,
and a French Writer pretending to confute him.
With a Recapitulation of the Former Part, and
an Account of the Destitution and Restitution
of God's Temple among men.
CHAP. I. Wherein is shown, the destructiveness of
Spinosa's scheme and design to religion and the
temple of God. The repugnancy of his doctrine
to this assertion-That whatsoever exists neces-
sarily and of itself, is absolutely perfect; which
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