1. Atheism is cherished by self-ignorance. The knowledge of our selves as men doth notably conduce to our knowledge of God. Here God is known but darkly, and as in a glass, 1 Cor. 13.12. and by his Image; and not as face to face. And, except his Incarnate and his written word, what Glass revealeth him so clearly as the soul of man? We bear a double Image of our Maker: His Natural Image in the nature of our faculties; and his Moral Image in their Holy qualifications, in the nature of grace, and frame of the new man. By knowing our selves it is easy to know, that there is a God; and it much assisteth us to know, what he is, not only in his Attributes and Relations, but even in the Trinity it self. He may easily know that there is a Primitive Being and Life, that knoweth he hath himself a Derived Being and Life. He must know that there is a Creator, that knoweth he is a creature. He that findeth a capacious Intellect, a Will, and Power in the creature, and ⟨p. 12⟩that is conscious of any Wisdom, and Goodness in himself, may well know that formaliter or eminenter all these are infinite in the first cause that must thus have in it self whatsoever it doth communicate. He that knoweth that he made not, and preserveth not himself, may well know that he is not his Own, but his that made him and preserveth him, who must needs be his Absolute Proprietary and Lord. He that knoweth that he is an Intellectual free agent, and therefore to act Morally, and therefore to be moved by Moral means, and that he is a sociable creature, a member of the Universe, living among men, may well be sure, that he is made to be a subject, and Governed by Laws, and by moral means to be directed and moved to his End: and therefore that none but his Absolute Lord, the Infinite Wisdom, Goodness, and Power, can be his Absolute and Highest Sovereign. He that is convinced that he is, he lives, he hopeth and enjoyeth all that's good, from a Superior Bounty, may be sure that God is his Principal Benefactor. And to be [The First and Infinite Being, Intellect, Will, and Power, Wisdom, Goodness, and Cause of all things; the Absolute Owner, the most Righteous Governor, and the most Bounteous Benefactor,] ⟨p. 13⟩this is to be [GOD.] This being the Description of him that is so called:
1. Atheism is cherished by self-ignorance. The knowledge of our selves as men doth notably conduce to our knowledge of God. Here God is known but darkly, and as in a glass, 1 Cor. 13.12. and by his Image; and not as face to face. And, except his Incarnate and his written word, what Glass revealeth him so clearly as the soul of man? We bear a double Image of our Maker: His Natural Image in the nature of our facuities; and his Moral Image in their Holy qualifications, in the nature of grace, and frame of the new man. By knowing our selves it is easie to know, that there is a God; and it much assisteth us to know, what he is, not only in his Attributes and Relations, but even in the Trinity it self. He may easily know that there is a Primitive Being and Life, that knoweth he hath himself a Derived Being and Life. He must know that there is a Creator, that knoweth he is a creature. He that findeth a capacious Intellect, a Will, and Power in the creature, and ⟨p. 12⟩that is conscious of any Wisdom, and Goodness in himself, may well know that formaliter or eminenter all these are infinite in the first cause that must thus have in it self whatsoever it doth communicate. He that knoweth that he made not, and preserveth not himself, may well know that he is not his Own, but his that made him and preserveth him, who must needs be his Absolute Proprietary and Lord. He that knoweth that he is an Intellectual free agent, and therefore to act Morally, and therefore to be moved by Moral means, and that he is a sociable creature, a member of the Ʋniverse, living among men, may well be sure, that he is made to be a subject, and Governed by Laws, and by morall means to be directed and moved to his End: and therefore that none but his Absolute Lord, the Infinite Wisdom, Goodness, and Power, can be his Absolute and Highest Soveraign. He that is convinced that he is, he lives, he hopeth and enjoyeth all thats good, from a Superior Bounty, may be sure that God is his Principal Benefactor. And to be [The First and Infinite Being, Intellect, Will, and Power, Wisdom, Goodness, and Cause of all things; the Absolute Owner, the most Righteous Governor, and the most Bounteous Benefactor,] ⟨p. 13⟩this is to be [GOD.] This being the Description of him that is so called:
