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To this Sufficiency, which he boasts, not as his own, but derived from God, he afcribes in the Words following his Preaching of the Gofpel: Who hath alfo made us able Minifters of the New Teftament, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit. He exprefly infifts, that he neither received his Gofpel of Men, neither was he taught it but by the Revelation of Fefus Chrift. He calls it the Revelation of the Myfiery, which was kept fecret fince the World began; but now is made manifeft, and by the Scriptures of the Prophets, according to the Commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all Nations, for the Obedience of Faith. +

I have chosen this Text, and recited these Passages with Design to examine into a certain Sufficiency lately advanced in oppofition to that of St. Paul, the Sufficiency of Human Reason.

*Gal. I. 12. + Rom. xvi. 25, 26.

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It must be allowed, that there have been Times when fome Men have fo far exalted Revelation, as wholly to fet by and destroy Reafon: But now Reason is to make Reprizals, to hold up its Head, to boast its abfolute Sufficiency, and as it were take its Revenge, by representing Revelation, not only to be a needlefs, but an abfurd and ridiculous thing. Thus instead of receiving and enjoying the united Gifts of God with Humility and Thankfulness, fome Men, by overvaluing One, have thrown back the Other upon his Hands with Impiety and Ingratitude.

The Advocates of this new-dif cover'd Sufficiency affert, That had God from time to time spoke to all Mankind in their feveral Languages, and his Words miraculously convey'd the fame Ideas to all Perfons, yet he could not speak more plainly than

he has done by the Things themfelves, and the Relation which Reafon fhews there is between them *. The Inference from this is, That Revelation is needlefs and abfurd. Another Author affirms, that Human Reason is in itself fufficient in all Circumftances to guide Men to Virtue, and Happiness confequent to it.

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That Reafon is a much more fure Guide in Matters of Religion, than Senfe is, or can be in the Affairs of this Life, that is, Reason affifted by Senfe. That the Difference of Good and Evil, and the Obligation of natural Piety, are as manifeft as any Objects of Senfe can be, and have that Certainty and Demonftration, which the others are not capable of t. All this is faid with a view to prove Revelation not neceffary, but expedient and useful only.

*

Christianity as old, &c. p. 27. + Plea, &c. p. 10. 12.

These

These Writers carry this Matter very high. Had they affirmed, that fome Men of very happy Talents, and uncommon Genius, Men who had the Advantages of a good Education, Conversation, Books, Leisure and Retirement, had after much Application and Study difcover'd all our moral and religious Obligations; this, tho' we know no fuch Man, had been a much modefter way of talking, than to affirm that the Reafon of every Man, in all States and Circumstances, is capable of these Discoveries; that they lie as open to our Understandings, as fenfible Objects do to our Senfes. Those great Men, who have been thought to have discover'd fome few moral and religious Obligations, have been hitherto highly esteemed and applauded: But now on a fudden, the Wonder is, that every Man in all States and Circumftances, is not able to demonstrate

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every religious and moral Relation, as clearly as he perceives the Brightnefs of the Sun, or that Snow is white. Affertions, fo contrary to Fact, fo repugnant to the Experience of Mankind from first to laft, require fome extraordinary Proof to gain our Credit and Affent. Mankind wou'd doubtless be very fond of this Sufficiency, cou'd they be fure to find it in themselves: But, as it is what none ever had, or pretended to have, except a few Perfons in this Age, who have at laft demonftrated nothing fo clearly, as that they are very poor Mafters of Reason, it is to be hoped we fhall not be flattered into a Belief of this Sufficiency of our Reason, and so lose the little Understanding which we have, or attempt dangerous Flights, 'till we are well affured that we have Wings to fupport us.

Let us therefore take this bold Propofition under Examination.

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