this? what more worthy kind of worship can be paid to God
than we pay, where the entire body of the people are
prepared for religion, where an extraordinary degree of care
is required in the priests, and where the whole polity is so
ordered as if it were a certain religious solemnity? For what
things foreigners, when they solemnize such festivals, are not
able to observe for a few days' time, and call them Mysteries
and Sacred Ceremonies, we observe with great pleasure and
an unshaken resolution during our whole lives. What are the
things then that we are commanded or forbidden? They are
simple, and easily known. The first command is concerning
God, and affirms that God contains all things, and is a Being
every way perfect and happy, self-sufficient, and supplying all
other beings; the beginning, the middle, and the end of all
things. He is manifest in his works and benefits, and more
conspicuous than any other being whatsoever; but as to his
form and magnitude, he is most obscure. All materials, let
them be ever so costly, are unworthy to compose an image
for him, and all arts are unartful to express the notion we
ought to have of him. We can neither see nor think of any
thing like him, nor is it agreeable to piety to form a
resemblance of him. We see his works, the light, the heaven,
the earth, the sun and the moon, the waters, the generations
of animals, the productions of fruits. These things hath God
made, not with hands, nor with labor, nor as wanting the
assistance of any to cooperate with him; but as his will
resolved they should be made and be good also, they were
made and became good immediately. All men ought to follow
this Being, and to worship him in the exercise of virtue; for
this way of worship of God is the most holy of all others.