368 Of the Blejïednff of the Pm-e in Hcarta S E R M, raders of clear, diftin&, and affectionate ; XIII. it bath no influence upon their temper, nor produceth any devout acknowledgment of the Deity. Such was the vain fcience of the Greeks, who profefling to be wife, became foolifh, being vain in their imaginations, and having their hearts darkened, of whom St. Paul faith, Rom, i. 21. not that they were ignorant of the Deity, for they knew him, but they glorified him not as God, nor were thankful; their knowledge was without the proper fruits, which it ought to have had upon their difpofitions and their behaviour. But the fincere mind, pure and unbiafed by any irregular affeEtion, a lover of virtue, en- tertaineth with pleafure the idea of God, not only as a felf-exiflent being, independent, infinitely powerful, and intelligent, but per - fealy pure and good. And to the producing this clear, affec- tionate impreffion and belief, God himfelf Both co-operate by his fpirit. I cannot ima- gine there is any thing unintelligible in fup- poling that the Father of light, from whom every good and per feil gift cometh down, whofe infpiration giveth men underflanding, who teacheth them difcretion even in the ordinary affairs of life, (and force of the molt diligent fearchers into nature, particularly into the human
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