Not only among the heathen, but even in the most enlightened parts of the christian world, there ever have been, and still are, in many, very gross misapprehensions concerning the divine character, as well as concerning the nature of true religion.--How grossly ignorant the most enlightened of the heathen were with regard to God, and how much they were plunged into strange and absurd idolatries and pollutions, we read, in the following passage of inspired truth. _Professing themselves wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed beasts and creeping things._ Not only the common people, the vulgar, but their wisest men--their orators, philosophers, and legislators did this.--They were even worse, than the vulgar. Does this look like reason's being a sufficient guide in matters of religion, or man's having any principle within him by whatever name it may be called, which is able to lead him to the saving knowledge of God? In order to know God, so as to be saved, we must know him as he is; the one only living and true God. None but he himself can tell us what he is. This he hath most plainly done in his holy word. The scriptures, which were spoken and penned by the special influence and inspiration of the holy Ghost, declare to us WHAT and WHO God is. We only know him, in a saving manner, when we know him, as glorious in holiness, wonderful in works, and fearful in praises:--as the greatest, the wisest and best of all beings;--as a sin-hating, and, at the same time, sin-pardoning God;--as infinitely gracious and merciful. We must see him as infinitely excellent and transcendantly glorious, as infinitely amiable and worthy of all possible praise and adoration. He is goodness and benevolence itself. He is possessed of all natural and moral perfections.--_And, Jesus said, why callest thou me good? there is none good, but one that is God._ He is a being of impartial, universal and infinite benevolence. Reason cannot tell us what the true moral character of God is.--This revelation alone teaches us. And we cannot be happy with, unless we know the true God--and how he will be worshipped--how he can, and will accept of us--how we may live to his divine approbation. The light of reason cannot lead us into this true and saving knowledge of God. It is above all that reason ever did, or can do. Says Paul to the learned Athenian philosophers and judges--_for as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an Altar with this inscription TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, him therefore whom ye ignorantly worship declare I unto you_. Christ, as the great teacher come from God, alone gives us the saving knowledge of the supreme Jehovah. _Whosoever denieth the son, the same hath not the father: All things,_ says he, _are delivered unto me of my father; and no man knoweth the son but the father, neither knoweth any man the father, save the son, and he to