Sketches from the Life of Paul (1883) — PDF Scan 101

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94 LIFE OF PAUL . With earnestand fervideloquence,the apostle continued:"God thatmade theworldandallthings therein, seeingthat he is Lord of Heaven and earth,dwellethnot in templesmade with hands; neitherisworshipedwithmen'shands,asthough he neededanything, seeinghe givethto alllife, and breath,and allthings; and hathmade of one blood allnations of men for to dwell on allthe face of the earth,and hath determinedthe times before appointed, and the bounds of theirhabitation; thatthey shouldseek the Lord, if haply they mightfeelafterhim,and findhim,thoughhe be not farfrom everyone ofus." Thus , in the most impressivemanner , with hand outstretchedtowardthetemplecrowdedwithidols, Paulpouredoutthe burdenof hissoul,and ably exposedthefallaciesof the religionof the Athenians . The wisest of his hearers were astonished as theylistenedtohisreasoning. His wordscouldnot be controverted. He showed himself familiarwith theirworksofart,theirliterature,andtheirreligion. Pointingto theirstatuaryand idols,he declaredto them that God could not be likened to forms of man's device. The works of artcould not,in the faintestsense, representthe gloryof the infinite God . He remindedthem thattheirimageshad no breathnor life. They were controlledby human power; they could move only as the hands of men moved them; and thosewho worshipedthem were in everyway superiorto thatwhich they worshiped. Pointingtonoblespecimensofmanhood abouthim,he declared," Forasmuch,then,as we aretheoffspringofGod ,we oughtnottothink thatthe Godhead islikeunto gold,orsilver,or stone,gravenby artand man'sdevice." Man was createdin the image of thisinfinite