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The Christian Philosopher; or, Science and Religion

Note XIII.—Extracts from Dr. Dwight's Theology

Note XIII.—Extracts from Dr. Dwight's Theology

As authority has a considerable degree of weight on some minds, I shall conclude with an extract on the subject of this volume, from that respectable and enlightened divine, Dr. Dwight, late President of Yale College:—“The works of God were by him intended to be, and are, in fact, manifestations of himself; proofs of his character, presence, and agency. In this light he requires men continually to regard them; and to refuse this regard is considered by him as grossly wicked, and highly deserving of punishment. Psalm xxviii, 5; Isaiah, v, 12–14. I am apprehensive that even good men are prone to pay less attention to the works of creation and providence than piety demands and the Scriptures require. We say and hear so much concerning the insufficiency of these works to unfold the character of God and the nature of genuine religion, that we are prone to consider them as almost uninstructive in moral things, and in a great measure useless to the promotion of piety. This, however, is a palpable and dangerous error. The works alone, without the aid of the Scriptures, would, I acknowledge, be far less instructive than they now are, and utterly insufficient to guide us in the way of righteousness. The Scriptures were designed to be a comment on these works; to explain their nature, and to show us the agency, purposes, wisdom, and goodness of God in their formation. Thus explained, thus illuminated, they become means of knowledge, very extensive and eminently useful. He who does not find in the various, beautiful, sublime, awful, and astonishing objects presented to us in creation and providence, irresistible and glorious reasons for admiring, adoring, loving, and praising his Creator, has not a claim to evangelical piety.”—System of Theology, vol. iii, p. 477.