Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

4. With unreasonable partiality, they confess their own Ignorance. There is a God unknown to them, to whom they had erected an Altar, and offered Sacrifices: Now here comes a Man of a sober Deportment, of quick and ready Parts, clear Judgment, and a close Disputer, who offers to instruct them, and tell them who this unknown God is, and how he ought to be Worshipped; but Brutes as they were, they'll rather be Ignorant still, than learn by the Apostle: And though a patient, and attentive hearing of the Apostle would have filled Athens with greater and better News than ever was brought to their Ears; yet they who made it their business to hear all News, make it their Sin and Folly to refuse this News.

4. With unreasonable partiality, they confess their own Ignorance. There is a God unknown to them, to whom they had erected an Altar, and offered Sacrifices: Now here comes a Man of a sober Deportment, of quick and ready Parts, clear Judgment, and a close Disputer, who offers to instruct them, and tell them who this unknown God is, and how he ought to be Worshipped; but Bruits as they were, they'l rather be Ignorant still, than learn by the Apostle: And though a patient, and attentive hearing of the Apostle would have filled Athens with greater and better News than ever was brought to their Ears; yet they who made it their business to hear all News, make it their Sin and Folly to refuse this News.

5. With Resolutions not to be persuaded, though they were silenced, or convinced: This appeareth partly from their contempt of his Person, before they heard his Doctrine, and the reasons of it; partly from their obstinate adhering to Idols, and Worship of them, though the Apostle had by clearest reason discovered the absurdity thereof in his Excellent Discourse of the Nature of God, and his Worship, &c.

5. With Resolutions not to be perswaded, though they were silenced, or convinced: This appeareth partly from their contempt of his Person, before they heard his Doctrine, and the reasons of it; partly from their obstinate adhearing to Idols, and Worship of them, though the Apostle had by clearest reason discovered the absurdity thereof in his Excellent Discourse of the Nature of God, and his Worship, &c.