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and they received their faith in whatever form the ignorance, the interest, or the fanaticism of their teachers chose to array it. And for ten centuries the ignorance, the superstition, and the cruelty of the times were so great, that they received the characteristic name of the "dark ages." The cause of the mind being thus abstracted from the word of God, must be referred to the same natural source of error, whence the Jews forsook the temple for the grove, namely, the pride of the heart to advance its own power, even upon the ruin of that almighty dominion whence its energies are derived. Augustine was one of the first to leave the wells of life, and mi the living waters with the intoxicating streams of Grecian philosophy; and after him, different sects arose, who grafted upon the parent tree their own fanciful scions. The effect is certain. Both priests and people who adulterate the pure word of God with the traditions, and glosses, and conceits of men, will find its "spirit volatilized by the touch, and passed off by evaporation."

You are acquainted with the history of the reformation, its cause and consequence. Whilst Henry VIII. seemed to threaten the extinction of the visible church, in his opposition to its restraints, and sacrifice of its revenues; like the tempest which threatens to overwhelm the islands of the sea in their own destruction, but leaves

them in calmer peace and purer health; he only removed the obstacles to the silent and unobtrusive course of religion herself. The clouds dispersed and the "bright and morning star" advanced high in the heavens. Men opened the book of life, and walked in the light of Christ; and again God was worshipped" in spirit and in truth." Not the god of nature, nor the god of reason; but HE who revealed himself to his servant Moses, and to his people Israel, who in sundry times, and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, and "hath in these latter days spoken to us by his Son."

The blindness of the heart which is thus natural to man, is named and lamented in the scriptures; and upon it, we shall hereafter see, that the necessity of the doctrine of regeneration is founded.

I am, &c.

LETTER IV.

ON THE BEING AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.

DEAR SIR,

47

LETTER IV.

1824.

It is the more necessary to ask your attention to a few observations on the revelation of the being and nature of the Deity, as some writers of pious habit, not content with that revelation, think that they are exalting the glory of the Lord by decking Him with imaginary attributes.

God is from everlasting*; and is eternal t; God is a spirit‡; omnipotent §; and omniscient ; and of this wonderful Being, man speaks and reasons as if he were able to comprehend His existence, and talks of His attributes, His knowledge, and His moral nature.

Now as God created man, man is a dependent being, and the faculties of his mind must be . limited. We find them, indeed, so limited, and so dependent for their action, upon the body, as to give rise to the notion with one description of reasoners, that they are the result of natural organization. The knowledge of man is also

* Gen. xxi. 33. Rev. xix. 6.

+ Deut. xxxiii. 27.
1 John, iii. 20.

‡ John iv. 24.

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