II. To point out the insufficiency of reason, in things of a moral and religious nature, in those respects, which are not only important, but necessary.--And, here it will appear that mankind, while _without Christ, are without hope and without God in the world,_ with an evidence, I trust, convincing to every candid and honest enquirer after truth and duty.--And,
1. The light of nature and highest wisdom of mankind, cannot attain to such a clear knowledge of God as is necessary to salvation. What God is, and who they are that have true conformity to, and communion with him, are questions of the greatest importance in Religion. And, they are questions which have been as little understood, and perhaps as much misapprehended, by mankind, in general, as almost any which have been discussed. Though, as St. Paul observes, the invisible things of God be clearly displayed by, and to be understood from the visible Creation, so that those are without excuse, who have not the knowledge of God from the light of nature alone, yet the heathen, after all their laborious researches, have not obtained this knowledge. Upon a fair trial of human reason, in matters of religion, under the greatest improvements of natural and moral philosophy, _the world by wisdom knew not God._ So far from it, that the most learned nations, and the greatest adepts in the sublime mysteries of divinity, in the pagan world, have been so _vain in their imaginations,_ as we are told and _their foolish hearts_ were _so darkened,_ that they have represented and worshipped, the glorious incorruptible God, by images made like to corruptible man, and to the meanest and most despicable creatures, in the animal kingdom. They have attributed to what they worshipped as God, all the weaknesses and vices of fallen and depraved man--PRIDE--ENVY--CRUELTY--REVENGE--and, even, INTEMPERANCE, and LEWDNESS.