The reason why any reject altogether the Gospel, or reproach it as a mere fiction, is because they believe that the light of natural reason or conscience is entirely adequate to the purposes of discovering our duty, in its full extent, and guiding us safe to happiness.--And the reason, also, why others, who profess to believe it, have swerved so far from its pure doctrines, is a disbelief of the lost condition of man, or his being wholly under the power and dominion of sin.--Though it be acknowledged, that the world of mankind cannot, by mere natural reason and wisdom, attain to a true and saving knowledge of God; yet it may be very useful to enquire how far the light of nature can go.--And, we readily allow, that the light of nature and common reason may teach us some things concerning the being of God. That he doth exist, the whole universe is a clear demonstration. Sun, moon and stars declare that the hand which made them is divine. Every thing around us, and above us lead us to the Creator. The dawning and dying light equally proclaim the divine existence. Let a man but reason on the nature of cause and effect, and he cannot withhold his assent from this proposition, there doth exist some great intelligent cause of all things, both in the natural and moral world. Indeed, after opening our eyes on the beauties of Creation, it is an infinitely greater absurdity not to believe in the divine existence, than not to believe our own. In reason's ear, all nature from the highest to the lowest, cries aloud that there is a God. _Because that which may be known of God, is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible 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._--The Psalmist hath a most lofty and sublime passage to the same effect: _The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their light is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world._ It seems impossible for any, in the exercise of reason, to deny the being of a God; and of course, none can have any valid excuse for refusing to admit this first principle of all religion. The very frame of our bodies--the structure of the human mind--the curious and exquisite formation of every animal or insect cannot fail to convince us, that there doth exist an Almighty Creator. _Every house is built by some man, but he that built all things is God._ The worlds rolling on high--the wonderful revolution--the grandeur,--the distance,--the size of the heavenly bodies--the beautifully variegated canopy of heaven, which cannot but please and astonish us, when we open our eyes to behold it, prove, beyond all contradiction, that there is a God. The light of reason is