CONFERENCE 1V. 513 ' Loo. Gentlemen, your mutual compliments return so thick on each other, that I have scarce room to put in my thanks to both of you, for the information I have received from both, I was wondering indeed, how Pithander came to deliver so long a dis- course, in so regular a method and connexion on the sudden in free conversation : But Sophronius bath explained it to me, when he saith, it is the repetitionof his sermon last Sunday. I acknow- ledge your goodness, Pithander, that you have givenme the pleasure of hearing this excellent discourse, though I was not so good as to be at church: I must confess, Sir, these suppositions or considerations of yours are not at all improbable, and carry a good force of argument with them. You give me a little better opinion of the bible than I had before, since it teaches you toun- fold such a difficulty, and to shew us that God may be wise and good, notwithstanding thepresent wretched condition of the hea- thens, who overspread so great a part of this earth where we dwell. But then there is another difficulty ariseth here, and it is the very last I shall mention. " Has God, who is sowise and good a Being, left the greatest part of his creation to become finally miserable ?" Is this consistent with the designs of a Being whopossesses infinite goodness and equal wisdom ? PtTn. Truly, Sir, the scripture seems to inform us, that there are but few which shall be saved: Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that leads to life, and they are but few who find it; whereas the way to destruction is broad, and crouded with multitudes; Mat. vii. 13, 14. And the apostle John tells us that though we who believe in Christ, are of God, yet the whole world lieth in wickedness ; 1 John v. 19. And if at last it should prove, that there are fargreater numbers condemned to bear the anger of their Maker, than those who enjoy his love, they have nothing justly to complain of but their own ill conduct, sincethey shall be all condemned, even by their own consciences. God is just, even though all his creatures should make themselves miserable. Sorn. Will you give me leave, Pithander,, to try whether upon some principles of philosophy and the rules of government, together with ssmo charitable turns of thought, I may not beable to give satisfactory answers to the present inquiry and objection of Logisto. PITH. With all my heart, Sir, and I shall be happy to learn 'from you any furthermethods of relieving the difficulties that are supposed to attend the conduct of providence in its transactions with the race of men. Soru. In the first place then, what if I should .venture to tell you of ,another supposition that has been raised from some charitable turns of thought concerning those rude and barbarous nations, those guilty and unhappy creatures who lived and died Vol.. in. K x 1
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