cannot see God. Could we but see Him, say they, as we see a man, we
should believe that He is, and believing obey His commands. But alas, we
need only open our eyes to see the Sovereign Lord of all things, with a
more full and clear view than we do any one of our fellow--creatures. Not
that I imagine we see God (as some will have it) by a direct and
immediate view; or see corporeal things, not by themselves, but by seeing
that which represents them in the essence of God, which doctrine is, I
must confess, to me incomprehensible. But I shall explain my meaning;--A
human spirit or person is not perceived by sense, as not being an idea;
when therefore we see the colour, size, figure, and motions of a man, we
perceive only certain sensations or ideas excited in our own minds; and
these being exhibited to our view in sundry distinct collections, serve
to mark out unto us the existence of finite and created spirits like
ourselves. Hence it is plain we do not see a man--if by man is meant that
which lives, moves, perceives, and thinks as we do--but only such a
certain collection of ideas as directs us to think there is a distinct
principle of thought and motion, like to ourselves, accompanying and
represented by it. And after the same manner we see God; all the
difference is that, whereas some one finite and narrow assemblage of
ideas denotes a particular human mind, whithersoever we direct our view,
we do at all times and in all places perceive manifest tokens of the
Divinity: everything we see, hear, feel, or anywise perceive by sense,
being a sign or effect of the power of God; as is our perception of those
very motions which are produced by men.

149. It is therefore plain that nothing can be more evident to any one
that is capable of the least reflexion than the existence of God, or a
Spirit who is intimately present to our minds, producing in them all that
variety of ideas or sensations which continually affect us, on whom we
have an absolute and entire dependence, in short "in whom we live, and