Stephen Charnock: “To conclude this, is it not folly for any man to deny or doubt of the being of a God, to dissent from all mankind, and stand in contradiction to human nature?”
Clay Miller: It is folly. Because only in this area will we compromise rationality. Only in this area will we allow wishes and presuppositions interfere with sense. No where in life will we stand for absurdity such as is stood for in the idea of this world with all its intricacies being the product of itself. Not one atheist would truly believe the Empire State Building, Sears Tower or a computer evolved from nothing with no designer behind it. I think the complexity of the universe alludes them. Those things put together are as nothing in complexity as the universe we live in…not even near as complex as our own bodies. But they will lay all reason aside to “prove” God does not exist…It is folly to any honest mind. I am not trying to win arguments. I could not care less to sound smart or be superior in debate…I would lose from lack of giftedness in that area. I only hope to remind my fellow Christians of the great truth and reasonableness of our God and Savior. Foremost I just want to glorify God and de-glorify all competitors. And lastly, I wish I could just get some people to begin considering the truth of God so they can discover what they need to do in order to know this Creator.
Stephen Charnock: “What is the general dictate [guiding or governing principle] of nature is a certain truth. It is impossible that nature can naturally and universally lie. And therefore those that ascribe all to nature, and set it in the place of God, contradict themselves, if they give not credit to it in that which it universally affirms.”
Clay Miller: If something is true everywhere, in every instance but perhaps a few, by definition, it is natural. This would take into account all times and places as a whole in general. If every man and woman in the world is held on the ground by gravity, gravity is a certain truth…even if a few deny it and try to fly, falling to their death. Denying God may not lead to immediate death as a fall off a cliff, but just consider it a very long fall…eventually you will hit the ground (death).
On a spiritual level, with one exception (Jesus Christ), all men are corrupt and sin. This is true of every man everywhere. It is natural to fallen man. Man tries to deny it, but it is undeniable. It is nature, and nature(ally) it is therefore true. We say “naturally” because it is according to nature. It cannot be said to be a lie when it is true without fail.
To end with tonight…Charnock says, “And therefore those that ascribe all to nature, and set it in the place of God, contradict themselves, if they give not credit to it in that which it universally affirms.” This is profound. He is saying, those who attribute all existence to nature, turn around and deny their god (nature) when it comes to the universal assent to a deity. They contradict themselves in saying nature defines reality and in the same breath deny the nature of their own hearts which testifies of the Creator.
Romans 1:18-20
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 2:14-16
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus
More later
