ThereforeIshallnotundertakeheretoprovebynaturalreasonseithertheexistenceofGod, ortheTrinity, ortheimmortalityofthesoul, oranythingofthatnature; notonlybecauseIshouldnotfeelmyselfsufficientlyabletofindinnatureargumentstoconvincehardenedatheists, , eternalanddependentonafirsttruth, inwhichtheysubsist, andwhichiscalledGod, Ishouldnotthinkhimfaradvancedtowardshisownsalvation.
TheGodofChristiansisnotaGodwhoissimplytheauthorofmathematicaltruths, oroftheorderoftheelements; , , theGodofIsaac, theGodofJacob, theGodofChristians, isaGodofloveandofcomfort, aGodwhofillsthesoulandheartofthosewhomHepossesses, aGodwhomakesthemconsciousoftheirinwardwretchedness, andHisinfinitemercy, whounitesHimselftotheirinmostsoul, whofillsitwithhumilityandjoy, withconfidenceandlove, whorendersthemincapableofanyotherendthanHimself.
AllwhoseekGodwithoutJesusChrist, andwhorestinnature, eitherfindnolighttosatisfythem, , orintodeism, twothingswhichtheChristianreligionabhorsalmostequally.
WithoutJesusChristtheworldwouldnotexist; foritshouldneedsbeeitherthatitwouldbedestroyedorbeahell.
IftheworldexistedtoinstructmanofGod, Hisdivinitywouldshinethrougheverypartinitinanindisputablemanner; butasitexistsonlybyJesusChrist, andforJesusChrist, andtoteachmenboththeircorruptionandtheirredemption, alldisplaystheproofsofthesetwotruths.
Allappearanceindicatesneitheratotalexclusionnoramanifestpresenceofdivinity, .
...Shallhealonewhoknowshisnatureknowitonlytobemiserable? Shallhealonewhoknowsitbealoneunhappy?
