472 STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF HUMAN REASON. THE THIRD CONFERENCE. IN the days that passed after thelast meeting, Logisto had been reviewing several books which have been written in vindi- cation of the sufficiency of human reason to conduct men to hap- piness in a way of religion ; and as he had renewed his own difficulties, so he had furnished his memory with ,some of their strongest arguments : but he !bond none so hard to answer, as that great and important one, which is derived from the wisdom, the equity, and the goodness of God ; upon which aécount he resolved to reserve this to the last: When his company were come, he led them down to the usual place of learnedconversa- tion, and began the conference thus : Loc. Theonly thing that remains before us, gentlemen, is, that I should propose some arguments, drawn front the reason of things, and from the nature of God, and man, why it appears necessary that the principle of human reason should be sufficient, in all mankind, to guide and conduct them to the belief and practice of such a religion, wherein theymay obtain the favour of God, and happiness in a future state. Prat. I wait with some impatience, Sir, to hear these ar. guments of yours, which you have so often intimated : And yet it may not be improper, before you produce them, to consider, what is the particular proposition your arguments can possibly prove, or what it is you can expect from them. Will you please to remember, Sir, it has been plainly proved and determined already, and agreed in our past debate, as a certain matter of fact, that there are several large countries of heathenism wherein the inhabitants havenot reason sufficientto guide them into true religion, considering their vast prejudices and aversions . to God and goodness ; much less is it sufficient to enable them to prac- tise it ; that is, according to the distinction of our worthy friend Sophronius, that though there may be in them a remote , natural, and speculative sufficiency for this purpose, yet their reasoning powers are so poor and low, so unpractised, and so much per- verted by a thousand errors, evil customs, vicions pro ensities, and wilful - ignorance, that they are not practically and experi- mentally sufficient for this greatdesign. This itas been abun- dandy confirmed by the melancholy, and yet entertaining accounts Sophronius bath given us of African and American heathens. Now I humbly hope, Sir, you will not suppose that. any of your arguments can destroy plain matter of fact, nor prove that to be sufficient, which has before been plainly declared and proved, and agreed to be insufficient. Loo. I must acknowledge, Pithander, I know not bow to oppose what you say. It seems to bo plainly proved, that reason
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