THE ATHEIST ANSWERED, AND HIS ERROR CONFUTED  By George eliot, Author of God's Warning-Piece to London. 
Each Spire of Grass, and every silly Fly,  
Bias us take heed how we a God deny;  
This whole Creation with a sweet conseat,  
Proclaim a Being that's Omnipotent.  
DEny a God? blind Atheist cast thine Eye  
Up to the Sun, View well the Starry Sky,  
Those glittering Orbs, how they in Order stand,  
Each in his place, since Heavens mighty hand,  
First set them there; See how the watery Cloud  
Flies swiftly o'er thy Head, proclaiming loud,  
Its Maker's praise: there's not one drop doth fall  
Till God bids go, and then he numbers all  
That comes from thence, yea Heavens Eye doth look  
On every single Drop: 
Contrary to the Nature of the Element.  in God's great Book  
It is Recorded: and when they have done,  
How swift to other Regions they do run?  
For to refresh the dry and parchy Ground,  
And thus they fly about this mighty Round,  
For not a Minute will they longer stay,  
In any place when God bids come away,  
What thing can make itself before it be?  
That is impossible, 'tis only he  
Who ne'er beginning had that doth and can  
(Whose fist doth Fathom Heaven with a Span) 
Mark tris.   
Create all things; can that a being give?  
Unto itself? or make another Live?  
That's void of life itself? O fools and blind!  
What frantic Folly doth possess your mind?  
Wholly besotted? 
Nothing can make itself.  void of common sense?  
To let a Beast have the pre-eminence  
Above a Man: by what way doth the Light?  
Divide itself? how comes the day and Night?  
Such order for to keep? the Sun to Rise?  
At his appointed time? in one day flies  
About this mighty Globe, can any stay,  
His fiery Chariot? who dare in his way,  
Vouchsafe to stand? with what Majestic Ire?  
(This Lamp of Lights, the Element of fire?)  
Views all the Heathen World? and on their face  
Doth set a Brand, and stamps a foul disgrace  
On every Atheist, who doth God deny;  
To let us see how Heaven doth defy  
That sin athiestical. Observe the Snow,  
How soft it falls: and how the winds do blow  
At God's command, and when he faith be still  
They cease their rage, most humbly to his Will  
They do submit: for all things him obey,  
He speaks the word, and who dare say him nay?  
Can any stop the Tide? how doth it keep  
Its constant custom when we are asleep?  
So doth the Sun, Moon, Stars, and every thing  
Which from the Bowels of the Earth doth Spring,  
As Corn and Grass: 
Observe this & believe.  without our care doth grow,  
The Heavens o'er our heads, all things below  
Cries our there is a God; this mighty round  
On which we live and die, the very Ground  
Whereoe we tread, proclaims a God, yea all  
That live and move on this vast massy Ball  
With joint consent their Maker's praise doth sing.  
(It is absurd to think that any thing,  
Can make itself:) the Lily and the Rose,  
One to the Eye the other to the Nose  
Gives sweet content: there's not the smallest Clod  
We trample on: but proves there is a God.  
What fragrant Flowers doth the earth produce?  
And all things necessary for our use?  
Can it take care for us? or know what need  
We have of things? or how can fruit proceed  
From out its Bowels without Providence?  
That man must needs be void of common Sense,  
As stupid as a Stone, to think it can  
By its own Power for the use of Man  
Produce all things, and wisely to provide  
For Man and Beast. And in each order guide  
Each Species in its kind: how can a Clod?  
(Without the Blessing of Almighty God  
who is Omnipotent) have any power?  
Unto a Spire of Grass, or smallest Flower  
To give a being? no that cannot be,  
It is impossible, there's none but he,  
Who with a word did out of nothing call  
This mighty Round, Earth's vast and Massy Ball  
The goodly Golden Canopy the Skies  
With every Fowl that under Heaven flies.  
Who in the twinkling of an Eye can turn  
Earth into nothing: in a moment burn  
The Heavens o'er our Heads, who with a frown  
Can pull the Pillars of Earth's Fabric down  
Unhinge the Heavens, (and the lowest Hell  
Wherein the Devils and the Damned dwell)  
In far less space than th' twinkling of an Eye 
God's infinite Power.   
Can make those fierce, unruly Spirits lie  
As dead as any Stone. 'tis by his Power  
And his alone, that every fragrant Flower  
Hath its peculiar Scent, that bread doth give  
Such strength to Man, so that he cannot live  
Without it long; that clothes do keep us warm,  
Lest that the Cold should do our Body's harm▪  
What care can Nature take? can she provide?  
For all things living? or how can she Guide  
This Great Creation? and in Order keep  
All this vast Bulk? and when we be asleep  
Doth she watch o'er us? or can she defend  
In time of danger? on a sudden send?  
A speedy help? that's void of Life and Sense?  
It is in vain to expect Providence  
From such a one: did she make Earth to hang  
i'th' open Air? when all the Angels Sang  
Aloud for Joy, and clapped their Heavenly Wings,  
To see how God in order placed all things  
Wherein they keep: and in that order stand,  
ere since that day that Heavens mighty hand  
First placed them there: with what equality,  
Both Sexes in all things produced be,  
Men, Beasts, and Birds, and every kind of thing, 
This utterly convinceth the Atheist, for by Nature it is impossible.   
Which do by Carnal Copulation bring  
Their Young ones forth: there is not any lack  
Of Male or Female, Nature unto wrrck  
Long before this World run. (It is not she,  
That can appoint what every thing shall be,  
When in the Womb it's put) if she were left  
To Guide herself, she soon would be bereft  
Of all her Children: She'd not long remain,  
But to a Chaos quickly turn again.  
How many thousands with their Lips confess 
The practical Atheist.   
The being of a God? who neverless  
Are perfect Atheists? for they him deny  
(As well as those who openly defy  
Their Great Creator) for to wish a Curse  
Upon ourselves, how can the Devil worse  
Deprive us of all hopes? for how can we?  
At that Great Day expect to Saved be?  
Pray to be Damned? and in this time of Grace, 
That execrable Oath.   
Defy Salvation, and in Heaven's Face  
In Scorn to Spit? is such a horrid Sin,  
(Though in this Age too many live therein)  
The Devils dare not own: they would be glad  
That any gracious prossers might be had  
Whereby they might be Saved, though all in vain. 
Against Blasphemy.   
Nor can we Read the Devi's do blaspheme  
Gods Holy Name: or any where deny,  
Their Great Creator, but doth give the Lie  
To every Atheist: for they fear and quake  
Like Aspen Leaves: with horrid tremble shake  
And do believe a God: when on a Flame,  
He sets this World: then his most Holy Name  
Will be admired, every Atheist then  
Unto his praise will freely say Amen.  
FINIS.   

LONDON, Printed by E. 〈◊〉 for for Thomas 〈◊〉 Book Seller 〈…〉