432 STSENaTH AND W ARNESS Or 11t1NAN REASON. Sort. What you propose, Sir, I think may be safely grant.. ed by Pithander, even ifhe admit my distinction of this remote and proximate sufficiency. But the surrounding darkness and ignorance in which most of these heathens were born, the pre- judices andcustoms of their nations, which they imbibe almost from their birth, their perpetual avocations by present sensible objects, the everlasting urgency of their appetites and passions, their native propensities to vice, and the constant temptations that attend them, are such a powerful hindrance to this right and due exercise of their reason on things moral, divine, and spiritual, and on things future and eternal, that though therehe a natural sufficiency in human reason to find out such a religion as might save them, yet it is ten thousand to one, if ever they duly and rightly exercise it. It is highly improbable, that ever their thoughts should be directed into such a track, and guarded and led onward in it so far, ttll they have found out such articles of faith and practice in religion, as youyourself have grantedto be necessary. And it is upon this account, Logisto, I say, that reason which is remotely sufficient in the nature of things, maybe called practically insufficient for the purposes of religion and happiness ; since so very few, or none, will actually exercise their reason well ; this is the chief thing which I mean by the practical insuf- ficiency of it, that not one in a thousand, or perhaps in many thousands, will so employ their reason as to guide them tò reli- gion and happiness under the present circumstances of the heathen world, and especially in the brutal and savage nations. PITH. Methinks, Sophronius, I feel myself inclined to accept of your distinction, and to agree to your reasoning on this subject. Loe. For my part, I thank you heartily Soporonius, for your good company, an l for your concluding discourse. I must confess, I cannot see how to get over the difficulties which Pi- thander has before proposed, and which you seem to confirm. Nor do I find anyjust ground to oppose your distinction of this speculative and practical sufficiency ofreason in matters of reli- gion, and your present application of it : For according to the light in which Pithander andyou have set these affairs, 1 think I must yield that our experience and observation seem to make it evident, that it is but a poor sufficiency that human reason, in these rude nations, has, to guide them into the knowledge of acceptable religion. Yet I have still some difficulties upon my mind, for there are several solid arguments drawnfrom various topics, relating to God and man, to prove that it is necessary God should furnish all mankind with sufficient powers for their own happiness : And these shall be the subject of our discourse to-morrow, when you please to favour me with your company.
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