N07809:353
Two dissertations, I. Concerning the end for which God created the world. II. The…
Two dissertations, I. Concerning the end for which God created the world. II. The nature of true virtue. / by the late Reverend, learned and pious Jonathan Edwards, A.M. president of the College in New-Jersey.
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland, 1765
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. III.
Concerning the secondary and inferior kind of beauty.
THOUGH this which has been spoken of, alone, is justly esteemed the true beauty of moral agents, or spiritual Beings: this alone being what would appear beautiful in them, upon a clear & comprehensive view of things: and therefore alone is the moral amiableness of Beings that have understanding and will, in the eyes of him that perfectly sees all things as they are. Yet there are other qualities, other sensations, propensities and affections of mind, and principles o• action, that often obtain the epithet of virtuous, and by many are supposed to have the nature of true virtue: which are entirely of a distinct nature from this, and have nothing of that kind; and therefore are erroneously confounded with real virtue:— ⟨p. 135⟩as may particularly and fully appear from things which will be observed in this and the following chapters.
THOUGH this which has been spoken of, alone, is justly esteemed the true beauty of moral agents, or spiritual Beings: this alone being what would appear beautiful in them, upon a clear & comprehensive view of things: and therefore alone is the moral amiableness of Beings that have understanding and will, in the eyes of him that perfectly sees all things as they are. Yet there are other qualities, other sensations, propensities and affections of mind, and principles o• action, that often obtain the epithet of virtuous, and by many are supposed to have the nature of true virtue: which are intirely of a distinct nature from this, and have nothing of that kind; and therefore are erroneously confounded with real virtue:—