322eeíotio_ Foíti1. have fame knowledge of God, the fupreain good, but the only accefs to him is by faith. The Philofophers, whole profeffion was the flu- dy of wifdom, and whofe lamp of reafon burn- ed brighter then others, were no better then De civit at. the blind Sodomites, unable to find the door of Dei./. 19. happinefs. Hence, as St. Aultin relates out of c. t Varrn, the Philofophers might be divided into two hundred eighty eight Sees about the chief good, which faith can indubitably immediately point at. Some Philofophers placed mans hap - pinefs in pleafures, which yet are but the fad .. transformations of men into bruits. Some in honours, which yet are but great fervituder, which made the Noble Charles the fife weep o-' ver his Son, upon whofe fhoulders, at his re- tire out of the world, he left the burden of a Crown. Some in riches, which yet aye but thorns choaking that precious feed of the word, which would grow up (if embraced) into life eternal. Others,which were better marks-men, in moral virtues, yet even thefe (as a learned man obferves) are but circa res humans, their fphear is but humane convert ; and they do not (as faith) elevate the foul into a conjunction with God, which is the only true happinefs. When the Apofile in his Catalogue of graces (which miniver an entrance into the everlafling kingdom) puts in temperance and patience, 2 Pet.r.6. he fpeaks of them as Graces, not as meer moral virtues, but as Chriftianized by Faith, which in that place is fet in the van. But waving the Pagan world , let us come to the
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