CONFERENCE IIr. 493 By whose mysteries; as Tully.observes, men from a savage life, becameformed and cultivated, as it were to humanity. "Such an universal consent must needs be owing toan uni- versal conviction and experience of the insufficiency ofreason, and seems to be the voice of nature disclaiming it as a guide in the case of religion : And 'thus our author's scheme, by the con- fession of all antiquity, and even by his own, must appear foolish and irrational, in attempting to set up that for a perfect rule of life, which from the nature of things never was or could hé re- ceived as such in any age or countrywhatsoever. Should he then gain his end, and actuallydemolish christianity, what would be the Consequence, what the fruit of his labouts, but confusion and disorder ; till some other traditional religion couldbe set- tled in its place ; till wehadagreed to recall either the gods ofthe oldworld, Jupiter, Minerva, Venus, &c. or with the idolaters of the new, to worship sun, moon, and stars, or instead of Je- sus take Mahornet or Confucius for the author of our faith ? And hence may be demonstrated, the immorality also of his scheme, even upon his own principles." Now though I cannot think this writer has argued so effectually against Doctor Water- land, in his Remarks upon him, as to leave no just room for a defence of the scripture history of the fall and circumcision, &c. yet his sketch or plan ofan answer to the author of " Christianity as Old as the Creation," has some valuable thoughts in it, and worthy of the reader's best notice. Loa. Well, gentlemen, I will pursue this manner of de- bate no longer : I see my cause cannot be supported by it. Y will immediately therefore betake myself to my last and strongest argument, to prove, that the natural and rational powers of man must have a greater sufficiency than this which you allow, to lead all mankind to religion and happiness ; far I think the contrary doctrine bears very hard upon the wisdom, the justice, and the goodness of the great and blessed God. I am at a loss to £Ind how it is consistent with his justice and his benevolence to his creatures, to leave such millions of mankind, from age to age, under so poor a capacity to find out or to prastise the way of pleasing their Maker in this world, and yet to judge and con. demn them in the other world for displeasing him. PITH. I grant, Logisto, this is a point of argument which . has great difficulties attending it, and therefore I propose that we adjourn the debate for one half hour, and if you please to give us your company, and lead us through the several walks and divi- . sions of your beautiful garden we will there relax our thoughts for a season, and I hope we shall each Of us resume the debate again with fresh spirits, and to our mutual satisfaction. Loa. With all my heart, gentlemen, I attend you with the greatest readiness and delight.
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