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fhall we say of the Chinese, a Nation that wants not either Reafon or Learning, and in fome Parts of it pretends to excel the World? They have been daily improving in the Arts of Life, and in every Kind of Knowledge and Science; but yet in Religion they are ignorant and fuperftitious, and have but very little of what we call Natural Religion among them: And what Ground is there to imagine that Reason would have done more, made greater Discoveries of Truth, or more entirely fubdued the Paffions of Men, in England or France, or any other Country of Europe, than it has in the Eastern or Southern Parts of the World? Are not Men as reasonable Creatures in the Eaft, as they are in the Weft? and have not they the fame Means of exercising and improving their Reason too? Why then fhould you think that Reafon would do that now in this Place, which it has never yet been able to do in any Time or Place whatever?

This Fact is so very plain and undeniable, that I cannot but think, that, would Men confider it fairly, they would foon be convinced how much they are indebted to the Revelation of the Gofpel, even for that Natural Religion which they fo fondly boast of: For how comes it to pafs, that there is fo

much Reason, fuch clear Natural Religion, in every Country where the Gospel is profeffed, and fo little of both every-where else?

But is there then, you will fay, no such Thing as Natural Religion? Does not St. Paul lay the Heathen World under Condemnation for not attending to the Dictates of it? Because, fays he, that which may be known of God is manifeft in them; for God hath fhewed it unto them. For the invifible Things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being understood by the Things that are made, even his eternal Power and Godhead; fo that they are without Excufe: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their Imaginations, and their foolish Heart was darkened. Profeffing themselves to be wife, they became Fools; and changed the Glory of the uncorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible Man, and to Birds, and four-footed Beafts, and creeping Things.-A fad Account this of the State of Religion in the Heathen World, and a manifeft Proof how much Nature ftands in need of Affiftance! What we learn from St. Paul is plainly this; That, notwithstanding the Care which God had taken to display the Evidences of his own Being and Godhead in every Work of the

Creation,

Creation, fo that Men could not but have a Notion of the Deity; yet, fo little did they profit by that Knowledge, that it ferved only to render them inexcufable in their Superftition and Idolatry: For, when they knew God, (as indeed all the Heathen World had a Notion of a fupreme Being) yet they glorified him not as God; but changed the Glory of the uncorruptible God into an Image made like unto corruptible Man, and to Birds, and four-footed Beafts, and creeping Things. And was not Nature an excellent Guide to follow, that thus ftumbled at the very Threshold, and having from natural Reason the Notion of a fupreme Deity, fought to find him among the four-footed Beafts and creeping Things of the Earth? Can you fay what it was that thus debafed the Reason and Understanding of Mankind? What Evil was it that had diffused itself through the whole Race, and fo poffeffed their Senfes, that feeing they did not perceive, and hearing they did not understand? Or, do you think that you alone are exempt from this common, this univerfal Blindnefs, and that the fame Reason and Nature, that hitherto have mifguided all the World into Error and Idolatry, would lead you, out of the common Road, into Truth and pure Religion?

Is

Is it not the utmoft Prefumption to think thus, and to imagine that we alone are able to furmount the Difficulties which all the World before us has funk under? And yet thus every Man muft think, who fets up Natural Religion in oppofition to Revelation: For has mere Nature ever yet, in any one Part of the World, extricated itself from Error? Do the Nations of old, or those which now are, afford any Inftance of this Kind? But ftill you think that Nature is fufficient to direct you; and what else is this but to distinguish yourself from all the World, as if you only were privileged against the common Failings and Corruptions of Mankind?

But you'll fay, Are there not complete Schemes of Natural Religion drawn from Principles and Axioms of Reason, without calling in the Help of Revelation? and are they not evident Demonftrations that Nature is able to furnish us with a Religion that is pure and holy and agreeable to the divine Attributes? Allow this; but let us then be informed how it came to pafs, that never any Syftem of this pure Religion was in Use and Practice in any Nation, or indeed ever fully discovered, till the Gospel had enlightened the World. You may boast of Socrates

Socrates and Plato, and fome few others in the Heathen World, and tell us perhaps of their great Attainments upon the Strength of mere Reason. Be it fo: But what is this to the present Question? Must Millions in every Age of the World be left in Ignorance, because five or fix among them may happen to extricate themselves? Would it be reasonable to fuffer a whole Nation to perish without Help in a Plague, because fome few were not tainted with the Distemper? Or, will you say all Men are seven Feet high, because we fee now-and-then some who are?

I queftion not but the wife Creator of the World formed us for his own Service, and that he gave us whatever was requifite either to the Knowledge or the Performance of our Duty: And that there are still in Nature the Seeds and Principles of Religion, however buried under the Rubbish of Ignorance and Superstition, I as little queftion. But what was it, I beseech you, that oppreffed this Light of Reafon and Nature for fo many Ages? and what is it that has now fet it free? Whatever the Distemper was, Nature plainly wanted Affiftance, being unable to disengage herself from the Bonds and Fetters in which the was held: We may disagree perhaps in finding a Name for this Evil,

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