424 STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF HUMAN REASON. bably forgive him a hundred times over ? That God will call him to no pains and sufferings in a future state, on account of his sins in this life ? Or if he endure some pain, can his reason teach him, that God will probably take him afterward into his favour, so far as to give an immortal reward to any of his poor pretences to virtue, which are so often interrupted and defiled by sin ? And whatever inferences you and I may be able to make in Great-Britain, I doubt the skill of a negro on this theme. Loc. I am sensible I have been too confident upon these matters; and I begin to think there is some need of a revelation to give men more clear discoveries of true religion, and more evident, substantial, and encouraging hopes of the pardon of sin and eternal happiness. But however, my friend, you seem at present to have got the better of me, by running over all the particular articles which Sophronius has mentioned, as belong- ing to natural religion, and I confess I cannot see how a wild negro, or an American, can so well find them out as I imagined : yet I cannot but think still, that human reason must or should havesufficient ability to guide and to conduct mankind to the favour of God, and happiness in a way of religion; and I have something further to offer upon this head : Andwhen I lead the argument, and cast it into another form, we shall try whether your skill can refute it. PITH. Let your arguments be proposed, Sir, in what new form you please, I think I shall, be able to shew you their weak- ness, or if they are convincing, I desire to be so honest as to yield to their force. But the hours are passed away, Sir, with uncommon speed in such an agreeable conversation : The 'sun bath been set almóst this half hour : I think it was full moon yesterday, and we shall have the light of that planet to guide us home in a little time, which is far more than the Ameri- can savages have to guide them to heaven, or the African tribe of negroes to relieve their midnight darkness. If you please, Logisto, we will agree and meet here to morrow even- ing, and carry on the discourse. But let us have Sophronius's impartial sentiments on our debate thus far, before we break up. Loc. With all my heart, gentlemen, and I shall be very glad to see you both here to- morrowon so agreeable an occa- sion : And now I entreat you, Sophronius, to make use of no compliments, but fulfil the office of an impartial moderator, for which we both chose you; for our business is the search of truth. SorH. Gentlemen, I have been a careful hearer of your free and learned debate, and I cannot but observe with pleasure, that you have avoided all the little paltry methods of cavilling, into which disputants, are too often betrayed when they aim at
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