Today we will be looking at p25-27 and the 5 reasons Charnock gives for why it is useful to know that God exist. Thus section is under the heading "Every atheist is a grand fool". Charnock's main thesis statement under this section is that, "If he were not a fool, he would not imagine a thing so contrary to the stream of the universal reason of the world, contrary to the rational dictates of his own soul, and contrary to the testimony of every creature, and link in the chain of creation: If he were not a fool, he would not strip himself of humanity, and degrade himself lower than the most despicable brute". What Charnock is saying is that you would have to be a complete fool to ignore what every thing around you is crying out--There is a God! The question I ask myself, though, is why am I such a fool. If Charnock is right, and I believe he is, then I too have "atheistical bubblings" within my own soul. Why am I so foolish in these moments, and how can I combat them?

If it is so obvious that God exist then why do we need to spend such time going about proving his existence? Charnock gives 5 reasons why this discipline is necessary.

1. Does not the growth of atheism prove that it is necessary? Charnock speaks of his age in the 17th century of growing in atheism--how much more is this true of our age? Our age is the fruit of Charnock's Age of the Enlightenment. The growing number of atheist in his day has greatly influenced the vast amount of bold atheist in ours. It is also interesting to note what Charnock does about the difference in the ministry of Paul and in ours today. "The apostles spent little time urging this truth [that God exist]; it was taken for granted all over the world, and they were generally devout in the worship of those idols they thought to be gods: that age run from one God to many, and our age is running from one God to none at all".
2. The existence of God is the foundation of all religion. When Charnock is speaking of religion he does not mean it as we do today. Today we think of the Buddhist religion, the Christian religion, the Muslim religion, etc. Religion is almost a dirty word in Christian circles today. We say, "we are not a religion we are a faith". Charnock's word "religion" would probably be similar to our word "piety". To a Puritan religion was synonymous with the devout fulfillment of religious obligations or reverence for God. This is why Charnock says, "We cannot pay God a due and regular homage [religion], unless we understand him in his perfections, what he is; and we can pay him no homage at all, unless we believe that he is." He is simply saying it is fundamental for us to know God's attributes and know God in his essence so that he can properly worshipped. However, if we do not know God at all, if he is unknown in his existence, then we cannot worship Him at all.
3. If our belief is resting on no more than our parents, teachers, or acquaintances then it cannot rightfully be said to be our own. "It is as much as to say there is no God, when we know not why we believe there is". This is a strong statement, but what I think Charnock is saying is that if we have no passion to know why we believe and a desire to dig deep then can we rightfully say that we even know Him?
4. It is also necessary to study the existence of God so as to lower the force of that secret atheism that bubbles up inside of us. Because of our residing sin and our desire for wickedness we secretly desire that atheism be true. Charnock's argument is that if we continuously keep in mind that God exist (and further know who this God is that exist) then it will serve a great purpose in keeping our secret atheistic tendencies in check. Furthermore he is using this as an argument for the unregenerate man as well. If he can come to see that God exists then it will keep him in check as far as his ungodly living and might actually serve to draw him to God.
5. Even when we are believing and loving God it is also important for us to study this because it is good for our own soul (it draws us away from sin and to God). It is also encouraging for us to see every creature in light of God. Charnock's point, I believe, is that the more we see God in creation and in the delight that others have for God then the more that we ourselves will delight in God.

Next time we will look at the folly of atheism as evident by the light of reason. For today ask yourself whether or not you have a passion to know God deeply. Also, think about how encouraging it is to see others have a delight in God. Does your delight in God cause others to want to know Him more, or less?