Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion | Page 4

is now expected of
philosophical inquirers, naturally throws a man into the methodical and didactic manner;
where he can immediately, without preparation, explain the point at which he aims; and
thence proceed, without interruption, to deduce the proofs on which it is established. To
deliver a SYSTEM in conversation, scarcely appears natural; and while the
dialogue-writer desires, by departing from the direct style of composition, to give a freer
air to his performance, and avoid the appearance of Author and Reader, he is apt to run
into a worse inconvenience, and convey the image of Pedagogue and Pupil. Or, if he
carries on the dispute in the natural spirit of good company, by throwing in a variety of
topics, and preserving a proper balance among the speakers, he often loses so much time
in preparations and transitions, that the reader will scarcely think himself compensated,
by all the graces of dialogue, for the order, brevity, and precision, which are sacrificed to
them.
There are some subjects, however, to which dialogue-writing is peculiarly adapted, and
where it is still preferable to the direct and simple method of composition.
Any point of doctrine, which is so obvious that it scarcely admits of dispute, but at the
same time so important that it cannot be too often inculcated, seems to require some such
method of handling it; where the novelty of the manner may compensate the triteness of
the subject; where the vivacity of conversation may enforce the precept; and where the
variety of lights, presented by various personages and characters, may appear neither
tedious nor redundant.
Any question of philosophy, on the other hand, which is so OBSCURE and
UNCERTAIN, that human reason can reach no fixed determination with regard to it; if it
should be treated at all, seems to lead us naturally into the style of dialogue and
conversation. Reasonable men may be allowed to differ, where no one can reasonably be
positive. Opposite sentiments, even without any decision, afford an agreeable amusement;
and if the subject be curious and interesting, the book carries us, in a manner, into
company; and unites the two greatest and purest pleasures of human life, study and
society.
Happily, these circumstances are all to be found in the subject of NATURAL RELIGION.
What truth so obvious, so certain, as the being of a God, which the most ignorant ages
have acknowledged, for which the most refined geniuses have ambitiously striven to
produce new proofs and arguments? What truth so important as this, which is the ground
of all our hopes, the surest foundation of morality, the firmest support of society, and the
only principle which ought never to be a moment absent from our thoughts and
meditations? But, in treating of this obvious and important truth, what obscure questions
occur concerning the nature of that Divine Being, his attributes, his decrees, his plan of
providence? These have been always subjected to the disputations of men; concerning
these human reason has not reached any certain determination. But these are topics so
interesting, that we cannot restrain our restless inquiry with regard to them; though
nothing but doubt, uncertainty, and contradiction, have as yet been the result of our most

accurate researches.
This I had lately occasion to observe, while I passed, as usual, part of the summer season
with CLEANTHES, and was present at those conversations of his with PHILO and
DEMEA, of which I gave you lately some imperfect account. Your curiosity, you then
told me, was so excited, that I must, of necessity, enter into a more exact detail of their
reasonings, and display those various systems which they advanced with regard to so
delicate a subject as that of natural religion. The remarkable contrast in their characters
still further raised your expectations; while you opposed the accurate philosophical turn
of CLEANTHES to the careless scepticism of PHILO, or compared either of their
dispositions with the rigid inflexible orthodoxy of DEMEA. My youth rendered me a
mere auditor of their disputes; and that curiosity, natural to the early season of life, has so
deeply imprinted in my memory the whole chain and connection of their arguments, that,
I hope, I shall not omit or confound any considerable part of them in the recital.

PART 1

After I joined the company, whom I found sitting in CLEANTHES's library, DEMEA
paid CLEANTHES some compliments on the great care which he took of my education,
and on his unwearied perseverance and constancy in all his friendships. The father of
PAMPHILUS, said he, was your intimate friend: The son is your pupil; and may indeed
be regarded as your adopted son, were we to judge by the pains which you bestow in
conveying to him every useful branch of literature and science. You are no more