Saint Paul had this Title of Honour eminently conferred upon him, the Apostle of the Gentiles: This Office he performed with persevering Diligence, diffusing the Light of Life to those that sate in Darkness, and ⟨p. 148⟩in the Shadow of Death. In this Chapter we have recorded the Substance of his Sermon to the Athenians; wherein his admirable Zeal and Prudence are remarkable, in the matter and order of his Discourse, to convince and persuade them to receive the saving Truth of the Gospel. He first lays down the Principles of natural Religion, to prepare them for the more easy Belief of supernatural revealed Religion. The Depravation of the Minds of Men was in no Instance more prodigious than in their vilifying Conceits of the Deity: They attributed his Name and Honour to various Idols, and ascribed to him their own Figure, and which was infinitely more unworthy and dishonourable, their own Passions and Vices. They adored their own vain Imaginations. The Idols of their Hearts were erected on their Altars. Venus was a Goddess, because impure Love reigned in their Breasts. Bacchus had religious Rites, because sensual Pleasures, as sweet as Wine, intoxicated their Spirits. These Errors, as gross as impious, were universal: the Philosophers themselves were not exempted from the Contagion. The Apostle therefore makes use ⟨p. 149⟩of the clearest Arguments, to give Authority to the plain conspiring Voice of Nature, that had so long in vain recalled them from Idolatry to the Worship of the only true God. He therefore declares, that the Divine Maker of all things, the Father of Spirits, 1could not be represented by corporeal and corruptible things, but was to be acknowledged and adored in a manner becoming his spiritual and infinite Perfections.2 That he made all Nations of one Blood, though distinguished in their Habitations and Times, that they might seek and serve the one universal Creator. And though the Pagan World for many Ages had lived in an unnatural Oblivion of God, and he seemed unconcerned for their Violation of his Laws, yet it was not from the defect of Justice, but the Direction of his Wisdom, that his Patience was so long extended to them. And this he proves by the new and most express Declaration of his Will: But now he commanded all Men every where to repent;
SAint Paul had this Title of Honour eminently conferred upon him, the Apostle of the Gentiles: This Office he performed with persevering Diligence, diffusing the Light of Life to those that sate in Darkness, and ⟨p. 148⟩in the Shadow of Death. In this Chapter we have recorded the Substance of his Sermon to the Athenians; wherein his admirable Zeal and Prudence are remarkable, in the matter and order of his Discourse, to convince and perswade them to recive the saving Truth of the Gospel. He first lays down the Principles of natural Religion, to prepare them for the more easy Belief of supernatural revealed Religion. The Depravation of the Minds of Men was in no Instance more prodigious than in their vilifying Conceits of the Deity: They attributed his Name and Honour to various Idols, and ascribed to him their own Figure, and which was infinitely more unworthy and dishonourable, their own Passions and Vices. They adored their own vain Imaginations. The Idols of their Hearts were erected on their Altars. Venus was a Goddess, because impure Love reigned in their Brests. Bacchus had religious Rites, because sensual Pleasures, as sweet as Wine, intoxicated their Spirits. These Errors, as gross as impious, were universal: the Philosophers themselves were not exempted from the Contagion. The Apostle therefore makes use ⟨p. 149⟩of the clearest Arguments, to give Authority to the plain conspiring Voice of Nature, that had so long in vain recall'd them from Idolatry to the Worship of the only true God. He therefore declares, that the Divine Maker of all things, the Father of Spirits, 1could not be represented by corporeal and corruptible things, but was to be acknowledg'd and ador'd in a manner becoming his spiritual and infinite Perfections.2 That he made all Nations of one Blood, though distinguish'd in their Habitations and Times, that they might seek and serve the one universal Creator. And though the Pagan World for many Ages had lived in an unnatural Oblivion of God, and he seem'd unconcerned for their Violation of his Laws, yet it was not from the defect of Justice, but the Direction of his Wisdom, that his Patience was so long extended to them. And this he proves by the new and most express Declaration of his Will: But now he commanded all Men every where to repent;
- 1Ver. 29.
- 2Ver. 26.
