Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

These unworthy imaginations of God are likewise,

A vilifying of him: Debasing the Creator, to be a Creature of their own fancies; putting their own stamp upon him; and fashioning him not according to that beautiful Image he imprest upon them by Creation; but the defaced Image they inherit by their fall, and which is worse, the Image of the Devil which spread it self over them at their revolt and apostasy. Were it possible to see a Picture of God, according to the fancies of Men, it would be the most Monstrous being, such a God that never was, nor ever can be.

A vilifying of him: Debasing the Creator, to be a Creature of their own fancies; putting their own stamp upon him; and fashioning him not according to that beautiful Image he imprest upon them by Creation; but the defaced Image they inherit by their fall, and which is worse, the Image of the Devil which spread it self over them at their revolt and apostacy. Were it possible to see a Picture of God, according to the fancies of Men, it would be the most Monstrous being, such a God that never was, nor ever can be.

We honour God when we have worthy opinions of him suitable to his nature; when we conceive of him as a being of unbounded loveliness and perfection: We detract from him when we ascribe to him such qualities as would be a horrible disgrace to a wise and good Man: As Injustice and Impurity. Thus Men debase God when they invert his order, and would Create him according to their Image, as he first Created them according to his own: And think him not worthy to be a God, unless he fully answer the mould they would cast him into, and be what is unworthy of his nature: Men do not conceive of God as he would have them; but he must be what they would have him, one of their own shaping.

VVe honour God when we have worthy opinions of him sutable to his nature; when we conceive of him as a being of unbounded loveliness and perfection: VVe detract from him when we ascribe to him such qualities as would be a horrible disgrace to a wise and good Man: As Injustice and Impurity. Thus Men debase God when they invert his order, and would Create him according to their Image, as he first Created them according to his own: And think him not worthy to be a God, unless he fully answer the mould they would cast him into, and be what is unworthy of his nature: Men do not conceive of God as he would have them; but he must be what they would have him, one of their own shaping.