* Now if the _imperfect_ state of human nature, the _calamities_ of this life, the _diseases_ and mortality of human bodies, the _methods_ of God’s continual providence in governing human affairs, are things that as much concern us, as any methods of revealed religion; and if these are things that we cannot explain, according to any _fitness_ or _unfitness_ founded in the _nature_ of things, but must believe a great deal more of the infinite wisdom of God, than we can so explain; have we any reason to think, that God cannot, or ought not to raise us out of this unhappy state of things, help us to an higher order of life, and exalt us to a nearer enjoyment of himself, by any means, but such as our own poor reason can grope out of the nature and fitness of things? Now what is the reason, that all is thus mysterious and unmeasurable by human reason, in these matters so nearly concerning human nature? ’Tis because God is not an _arbitrary being_, but does that which the _incomprehensible perfections_ of his own nature, make it _fit_ and _reasonable_ for him to do. Do but grant that nothing can be _fit_ for God to do, but what is _according_ to his own _infinite perfections_: let but this be the _rule_ of his actions, and then you have the _fullest_ proof, that the fitness of his actions must be above our comprehension, who can only judge of a _fitness_ according to our _own perfections_; and then we must be surrounded with mystery for this very reason, because God acts according to a _certain rule_, his own nature. _Again_: What is the nature of a human soul, upon what _terms_, and in what manner it is _united_ to the body, how far it is _different_ from it, how far it is _subject_ to it, what powers and faculties it _derives_ from it; are things wherein the _wisdom_ and _goodness_ of God, and the _happiness_ of man are deeply concerned. Is it not necessary that these things should have their foundation in the _reason_ and _fitness_ of things? And yet what natural reason, uninspired from above, can shew that this _state_ of soul and body is founded therein? * _Again_: The origin of _sin_ and _evil_, or how it entered into the world consistently with the infinite wisdom of God, is a mystery of _natural religion_, which reason cannot unfold. For can we shew from the _reason_ and _nature_ of things, that it was _fit_ and _reasonable_, for the providence of God to suffer sin to enter, and continue in the world? Here therefore the man of natural religion must drop his method of reasoning from the fitness of things, and that in an article of the highest concern to the moral world, and be as mere a believer, as he that believes the most incomprehensible mystery of revealed religion.