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

1. Philosophers vehemently opposed the receiving of the Gospel. At the first view it may be just matter of wonder that they should be enemies to it, whether we consider the objects of Faith, or the rules of Life laid down in it. The objects of Faith were ⟨p. 437⟩new and noble, of infinite beauty and profit, and most worthy of a rational Contemplation to be exercised upon: Now that the Philosophers who were so diligent to improve their minds who received with complacency truths of a lower descent, and of infinitely less importance, should reject Evangelical Truths, sublime in their Nature, saving in their Efficacy, and revealed from Heaven, what account can be given of it? Tertullian reproaches them with reason, That the Christian Faith was the only thing, which Curiosity did not tempt them to search into. Hic solum curiositas humana torpescit. ¹Besides, whereas the Gospel is a plain and perfect Institution for the government of Life, wholly conversant about the Souls of men, and assures a Blessedness infinitely more excellent than was ever thought of by them, it might have been expected that those who in regard of Morality seemed most to approach to it, and whose profest design was to search after Happiness, should have readily entertained, and used their best endeavours to have drawn others to embrace it. But if we consider things aright, our wonder will vanish: for their Knowledge and Morality which in themselves were Preparatives, yet accidentally hindered their submission to the Gospel, and caused the most potent prejudices against it, and that upon a double account.²

1. Philosophers vehemently opposed the receiving of the Gospel. At the first view it may be just matter of wonder that they should be enemies to it, whether we consider the objects of Faith, or the rules of Life laid down in it. The objects of Faith were ⟨p. 437⟩new and noble, of infinite beauty and profit, and most worthy of a rational Contemplation to be exercised upon: Now that the Philosophers who were so diligent to improve their minds who receiv'd with complacency truths of a lower descent, and of infinitely less importance, should reject Evangelical Truths, sublime in their Nature, saving in their Efficacy, and reveal'd from Heaven, what account can be given of it? Tertullian reproaches them with reason, That the Christian Faith was the only thing, which Curiosity did not tempt them to search into. Hic solum curiositas humana torpescit.