CONFERENCE IV. 499 good and righteous '? And are you not convinced, that whole nations live under such unhappy circumstances, that their own reason is not practically sufficient to guide and conduct them into true religion and happiness ? Do you not own, as.well as I, that this is the present constitution of things ? And doth not your accusation of this conduct of providence fall as heavy upon the God of the deists, as upon the God of the christians ? Pray, bethink yourself a little, Sir, why must christianity have the blame of all these hardships thrown upon it, as though it was that which brought so many stumbling-blocks and darknesses into the scheme of God's government ? Are not you, who believe and reverence, and adore the wisdom, and justice, and goodness of God, as much bound to vindicate these perfections of the divine nature from any appearing difficulties and accusa- tions of the conduct of providence, as we are since you are convinced, that these difficulties are found in providence ? Pray, Sir, deal fairly with christianity, and let it not always bear such unjust criminations and reproaches. Let the religion ofthe deists try to solve and clear up all these difficulties, whichnow appear to lieupon their scheme as well as ours. Loc. You surprise me, Pithander, with this short turn upon me, Ihad not the least suspicion that . you would lay the labouringoar upon me, to shove away the burthen that I always thought belonged only to your scheme, and Pressed sohardupon it. But what shall I say to this ? let me think a little. A philo- sopher urged to vindicate the conduct of the divine Being toward the Americans and Hottentots ! Surely the conduct of God should be vindicated by all those who acknowledge his being, so far as they are able to do it. The case appears plain, and upon consideration, I own what you say seems just and right : The difficulty lies upon us infidels, as much as it Both uponyou belie- vers : And I confess I cannot remove nor relieve it : If youcan do it therefore, you will give me a further turn of thought in favour of the christian scheme. PITH. I will not pretend, 'Sir, to give a full solution of all the dark appearances and difficulties which attend the providence of God, in many parts of his conduct, relating to this world or another. But I will endeavour to set before yoti several consider- ations or suppositions, which will go a great way, at least, toward relieving the hardships which attend this part of God's conduct toward the heathens, in that so great a number of them are born, and growup, and live and die under si;ch unhappy circumstances, as that their reasoning powers are not in a practical sense suffi- cient to guide and carry them to religion and happiness. Now, Sir, if I can but propose an hypothesis or a rational and probable scheme of suppositions, drawn chiefly from the christian doctrine and the bible, whereby these difficulties and hardships may be ti2
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