The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

Yet some famous Philosophers became thus vain in their imaginations, ¹fancying that the World proceeded from the casual concourse of Atoms. And the rest of them neglected to know God so far as they might, and to honour him so far as they knew. They debased the Deity by unworthy conceptions of his Nature, and by performing such acts of Worship, as were not fit for a rational Spirit to offer, nor for the pure Majesty of Heaven to receive. Besides, they ascribed his Name, Attributes and Honour to Creatures; not only the Lights of Heaven, and the secret Powers which they supposed did govern them, not only Kings, and Great Men, who were by their Authority raised above others, but the most despicable things in nature, Beasts and ⟨p. 100⟩Birds were the objects of their Adoration. They changed the Glory of the uncorruptible God, into an image made like to a corruptible man, ²and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. A Sin so foul, that it betrayed them to brutish Blindness, and to the most infamous Lusts, natural and unnatural. Now since the most clear and open discovery of Gods Wisdom was ineffectual to reclaim the World, He was pleased to change his method. They neglected Him appearing in his Majesty, and he now comes clothed with Infirmities: And since by natural light they would not see God the Creator, He is imperceptible to the light of Nature as Redeemer: The discovery of Him depends on revelation. The Wisdom of God in making the World is evident to every Eye, but in the Gospel 'tis Wisdom in a Mystery. The Deity was conspicuous in the Creation, ³but concealed under a veil of Flesh when he wrought our Redemption. He was more easily discovered when invisible, than when visible: He created the World by Power, but restored it by Sufferings.

Yet some famous Philosophers became thus vain in their imaginations, ¹fancying that the World proceeded from the casual concourse of Atomes. And the rest of them neglected to know God so far as they might, and to honour him so far as they knew. They debased the Deity by unworthy conceptions of his Nature, and by performing such acts of Worship, as were not fit for a rational Spirit to offer, nor for the pure Majesty of Heaven to receive. Besides, they ascribed his Name, Attributes and Honour to Creatures; not only the Lights of Heaven, and the secret Powers which they supposed did govern them, not only Kings, and Great Men, who were by their Authority raised above others, but the most despicable things in nature, Beasts and