PAMIR an STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF HUMAN REASON. Pithander was a man in years, but of vigorous parts, nor yet declining in his reasoning powers : A person of a grave and manly deportment, and a pious life, becoming his character : Ile was a warm advocate for the christian faith : He preached the gospel with zeal and diligence, to the edification of his flock, and had lately read some writings of his excellent diocesan, drawn up in an epistolaryway, upon the subject of the present designed debate, wherein the insuflicency of human reason in matters of religion; was strongly maintained. He publicly reconìmended these pastoral letters to the diligent and serious perusal of all his parish ; for he was charmed with these writings, as the best vin- dication of our holy religion., which he had ever met with in so few pages, and highly valued it as a noble defence of christiauity worthyof a christian bishop: Pithander had just entered Logisto's house, in order to ful- l] their mutual appointinent, and they-were gone down to an elegant summerhouse at the lower end of the garden, before Sophronious knocked at the gate. When he was admitted he chose to take a turn on the grass-plot, while the servant went to give notice to his master. Logisto espied him afar off; for he was of a tall acid comely stature, which, together with his griz- zled hair, had rendered his person more distinguished and con- spicuous. " See here, saith he to Pithander, a proper mode- rator for our intended debate, if you please to allow Sophronius to bear a part in the conversation of the evening." " 1 have someknowledge of him, replied Pithander ; he is a gentleman of good reading, and generally a pretty fair reasoner : Were it not for one thing, I should like him very well for a moderator; for I think he is in the main an honest man : But he indulges such a latitude of thought on some subjects, that I expect he will too easily allow reason to be a sufficient guide to lead heathens to heaven; for he not only speaks favourably of the presbyterians, but I myself once heard him say, that he believes even the pa- pists and the quakers may have some good things among them, and somegood men too?" " Good Sir, said Logisto, when shall we have done with all these party distinctions, and this narrowness of spirit ? Must charitybe always a dangerous thing? If you know Sophronius, youknow aman of ingenuity and honour ; he bath a certain sa- gacity with him, whereby he spies the force of an argument at once ; and knows the vast difference there is betwixt disputing and cavilling: He can tell you immediately where an objection pinches hardest, and is so honest as to feel and confess it, even when it is urged against his own opinions. He goes generally to church, and I take him to be a very sincere believer in his bible; and upon this account my good friend, I have more rea- son to say, he is unfit fora moderator in our present dispute, than
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