TAE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF 'HUMAN REASON ARGUED. IN FOUR CONFERENCES. FIRST CONFERENCE. THE declining sun had abated the heat of the day, when Sophronius took hiscustomary walk through the fields whichbor- dered on his own estate. Having roved onward in meditation,to a greater distance than he first designed, it came into his thoughts that he had not paid a visit fqr two months before to his neigh- bour Logisto : So he called in at his door, to pass away anhour with him in friendly discourse, as they were sometimeswont to do, upon any profitable theme that might offer in the vast and unlimited range of religion or learning. Logisto was a young gentleman of much larger circum- stances ; and ashe had a sprightly genius, so he had taken some care to cultivate it, and was a great admirer of human reason. He hadoften of late fallen into company with someof our mo- dern infidels, and for want ofdue caution, and better acquaint- ance with the true grounds of christianity, he had unhappily imbibed too many of their opinions. Yet the man had a candid soul, and seemed to be sincerely desirous of truth : He was ever enquiring after some further evidences of the christian doctrine, and as heartily attentive to the objections that were made against it. He had now seen somewhat more than thirty years of life, and he thought it was high time to settle his belief and hisprat- tiee in matters of religion, on a foundation that might justify his conduct to his own conscience, and to God his judge. He was willing to receive an argument from the lips of laityor clergy, andcould converse freely with a christian minister, in hopes to borrow light and instruction from him: Nor would he treat that rank of men with those disdainful airs which are become so fashionable among the pretenders to infidelity. Logisto had ap- pointed to spend that very evening in a set conference with Pithander, the Rector of the parish where he dwelt, upon that important point of controversy, ÇÁ Whether !roman reason were sufficient to guide and conduct mankind to future happiness?"
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=