Bates - BT775 B274 1675

o panmotnp of*Zíbítte Itttrtbttfev, Chap. I. God greatly affe&ed Man, yet the excellencies fcat- ter'd among them are but an imperfe& and mutable fhadowofGod's infinite and unchangeable Perfe&ions. How much more delightful was it to his pure under- {landing, tracing the footfleps and impreffions of God in Natural things, to afcend to him who is the glo- rious Original of all Perfe&ions ? And though his finite underflanding could not comprehend the Divine excellencies, yet his knowledgewas anfwerableto the degrees of Revelation wherein. God was manifefl'ed. He faw the admirable Beauty of the Creator through the tranfparent vail of the creatures. And from hence there arofe in the Soul a pleafure pure, folid and fa- tisfying, a pleafure divine ; for God takes infinitecon- tentment in the contemplationof Hirnfelf. 2. The Happinefs of Man confif}ed in theLove of God. 'Twas not the naked(peculation of the Deity that made him happy, but fuch a knowledge as ravitht his Affe&ions ; For haplíinefs refults from the fruiti- ensof all the Faculties. 'Tis true, that by the media- tion of the underflanding the other Faculties have accefs to an objet`; the Will and Affe&ions can't be enclin'd to any thing, but by vertue of an aE of the mind which propounds it as worthy of them: It fol- lows therefore that when by the difcovery of the tran- feendent excellencies in God, the Soul is excited to love and to delight in Him as its supreme Good , 'tis then really and perfeecly happy. Now as Adam had a perfe& knowledge of God, fo the height of his love was anfwerable to his knowledge, and the compleat- nefs of his enjoyment was according to his Love. All the Divine Excellencies were amiable to him.. The Majefty, Purity, juffice, and power of God, which are the terrour of guilty creatures, fecur'd his happi- nefs whileft he continued in his obedience. His Con- fcience

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