•260 OP THE NATURAL ATTRIBUTES 



equate to the magnitude, extent, and multiplicity of his op- 

 erations : which are not only vast beyond comparison with 

 those performed by any other power, but, so far as respects 

 our conceptions of them, infinite, because they are unlimit- 

 ed on all sides. 



Yet the contemplation of a nature so exalted, however 

 surely we arrive at the proof of its existence, overwhelms 

 our faculties. The mind feels its powers sink under the 

 subject. One consequence of which is. that from painful 

 abstraction the thoughts seek relief in sensible images. 

 Whence may be deduced the ancient and almost uni- 

 versal propensity to idolatrous substitutions. They are the 

 resources of a labouring imagination. False religions usu- 

 ally fall in with the natural propensity : true religions, or 

 such as have derived themselves from the true, resist it. 



It is one of the advantages of the revelations which we 

 acknowledge, that, whilst they reject idolatry with its many 

 pernicious accompaniments, they introduce the Deity to hu- 

 man apprehension, under an idea more personal, more de- 

 terminate, more within its compass, than the theology of 

 nature can do. And this they do by representing him ex- 

 clusively under the relation in which he stands to ourselves ; 

 and, for the most part, under some precise character, re« 

 suiting from that relation, or from the history of his provi- 

 dences : Which method suits the span of our intellects much 

 better, than the universality wliich enters into the idea of 

 God, as deduced from the views of nature. When there- 

 fore, these representations are well founded in point of au- 

 thority, (for all depends upon that,) they afford a conde- 

 scension to the state of our faculties, of which, they who 

 have reflected most upon the subject, will be the first to 

 acknowledge the want and the value. 



Nevertheless, if we be careful to imitate the documents of 

 our religion, by confining our explanations to what concerns 

 ourselves, and do not affect more precision in our ideas than 

 the subject allows of, the several terms, which are employ- 

 ed to denote the attributes of the Deity, may be made, even 

 in natural religion, to bear a sense, consistent with truth 

 and reason, and not surpassing our comprehension. 



These terms are, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipres- 

 ence, eternity, self-existence, necessary existence, spiritu- 

 ality. 



" Omnipotence," " omniscience ;" infinite power, infinite 

 knowledge, are superlatives ; expressing our conception of 

 these attributes in the strongest and most elevated terms 



