Others, who admit a divine Revelation, believe that man is not so fallen from God, but that he has a degree, though small, of real moral goodness or holiness, which being duly nourished and attended to, will issue in life eternal. But the Apostle, in the words now read, says that all men are, before the Gospel be preached unto and embraced by them, _without hope and without God in the world._--And, what was intended, in discoursing upon those words, was to prove that mankind, merely, by their own reason and wisdom, cannot attain to a saving knowledge of God, or, in themselves, are in a helpless and hopeless state--Two things were proposed to be largely considered,
I. How far the light of reason, unassisted, can go in the things of a religious and moral nature.--
II. And, to point out its insufficiency, in these respects, which are not only very important, but altogether necessary.----
The first of these has already been discussed.--And we entered, in the preceding discourse, upon the second--and illustrated the insufficiency of the mere light of reason.--1st. In regard to the essential glories and excellencies of the divine nature and character--and 2nd. in regard to the right way of worshipping and serving God.
3. The light of mere reason, or conscience of mankind is wholly insufficient to discover to us _whether God will accept_ of us, at all; and if he will, _upon what terms._ It can tell us that he is the Maker of all things, the Preserver of all things, the governor of all things; but can give us no instruction upon what terms he will receive us into his favour and friendship, or whether he will do it, at all. When we ponder deep on moral and religious subjects, we cannot be but conscious of many imperfections and Sins. We feel that there is a power on high whom we have offended. We dread his anger. When another world is seriously contemplated, we dare not appear in it without some firm hope. An invisible God--an incensed Judge is an alarming thought. The anxious enquiry is wherewith shall we come before him--and bow ourselves before a holy and pure God? Mere reason cannot satisfy the enquiry. It knows not how we may come before him, or with what sacrifices he will be pleased. Being truly humbled and deeply grieved for our offences seems the most natural way of hoping for pardon and acceptance. But, whether a holy and righteous sovereign, on our repentance, can forgive us consistently with his glories, or the safety of his Universe, reason cannot inform us. To cast ourselves upon his infinite clemency is what reason would advise. But, whether this would be safe or not, is a grand uncertainty. Without a revelation, therefore, we do not know whether we may be pardoned--or if we may, how it may be consistently done; or how we may be recovered from the evils, which all men feel, and of which the world is full. Reason can see the disease, under which all men labour, but can prescribe no method of cure. All the wise men of the heathen world for thousands of years together, have tried to discover a method of escape from the evils, which all felt, and of which they justly complained. But all in vain.--An infinitely wise God gave human nature a fair trial--all advantages--and time long enough to satisfy all reasonable men, how far it could go. Look round the world, at this day, and what success has boasted and almost idolized reason had in things of a moral and religious concern, among pagan nations?--Look back on past ages, and where alas! is the man--or the body of men that have found reason a sufficient guide? Even, in the countries blessed with the Gospel, what delusion, what Error, what superstition!--Without a divine Revelation all is darkness, in a moral view:--all is helpless and hopeless:--there is no pardon:--there is no salvation. Reason could never show one sin forgiven or lead a step beyond the grave--or have any idea of the resurrection of the body.