A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THOMAS AND TIMOTHY ON PHILOSOPHICAL SCEPTICISM, TIM. Whither away fo faft, man? Where art going this morning? TOм. I am going to be made a Christian. TIM. The very last thing I fhould have dreamed of. But pray, who is to make you one? Том. David Hume. TIм. David Hume? Why, I thought he was an Atheist. Tом. The world never was more mistaken about any one man, than about David Hume. He was deemed a fworn foe to Chriftianity, whereas his whole life was spent in its fervice. LET. IV. IV. LET. His works compofe altogether a complete Præparatio Evangelica. They lead men gently, and gradually, as it were, to the Gospel. TIM, As how, TOм? Be pleased to take me along with you. Tом. Why look you, here is chapter and verse for you. Dialogues concerning Natural Religion, P. 263, "To "be a philofophical Sceptic, is, in a "man of letters, the firft and most "effential step towards being a found "believing Chriftian." TIM. When David was at Paris, I have heard, the wits there fhould fay, he was a very worthy gentleman, but had his religious prejudices, like other people. As folks are quick fcented in that country, perhaps they fmelled a rat. Indeed, in a Supplement to the Life of Mr. H. we are told, that that a brother of his ufed to obferve of him, "My brother Davie is a good enough fort of a man, but rather 66 narrow minded."-Well, I cannot tell what so say to it; there are abun dance of pretty fancies ftirring. I fuppofe there may be different ways of becoming a Chriftian. A man of letters, enters, belike, at the back door, and fo goes round the house to come at it; a compass which we plain folk do not think it neceffary to take. One thing is certain, that if fcepticism be the road to Chriftianity, Mr. H. is a very proper perfon to keep the turnpike gate upon it. But what progrefs must one make, if one had a mind to try the experiment, in this fame philofophical fcepticism, before one could become a good found believ LET. IV. LIT. Hs works compofe a complete Preparatio Evar lead men gently, and gra” were, to the Gospel. T:x. As how, Tom? to take me along with you Tow. Why look you, ter and verfe for you. 1: cerning Natural Religion, I - be a philsophical feep = * man of letters, the fi *erential ftep towards t ← jeleving Chrijlis.” T:M. When David 1I have heard, the wits Sy, he was a very worth but had his religious pr As foll other people. ment to the Life of Mr. H 51 31 a opleve LET. *4. Din rather - 1 cannot true are abun ¿ferent ways nd the house to which we plain neceffary to take. that if fcepting 3 Chriftianity, M. 11. perfon to keep pon it. But what pr make, if one had a te experiment, At tal Sceptici, D 2 |