The Speakers Arnobius, Eugenius, Pyrocles and Timotheus.
Arnob.
I Was very glad, Gentlemen, to learn this morning of Sophronius some things, whence ‘twas easie to conclude, that by the Discourse you had with him last night, he has made it allowable for me to demand, and rational for you to grant, nay to proffer me, a Dispensation of the Task you imposed on me at our last meeting. For tho’ he spake with the modesty that became him of your Conference, and gave me, but a hasty and imperfect Account of what pass’d between you; yet I think I may presume, that by his Discourse Pyrocles himself was at least inclin’d, and you two, Gentlemen, fully perswaded to admit, that there are Things above Reason; which was the main point about which you expected at our last Congress that I should entertain you, at our then next, or now present meeting.
Eugen.
I deny not, that Sophronius’s Considerations were prevalent on Timotheus and me; and have, I hope, made a good impression on Pyrocles himself; but that ought not to hinder us from coming, as we now do, to claim your promise of entertaining us about things above Reason. And if you will needs be dispens’d with from repeating those Considerations that Sophronius has employed already, (tho’ I doubt not but by repeating them, you would both strengthen and advance them;) we will not be rigid Exactors of our Right: but yet we must not remit your Task, tho’ we are content to change it. For I question not but these Gentlemen will consent with me, to discharge you of your promise of discoursing of the Arguments that may infer some things to be above Reason, if you will please to afford us your Thoughts, about the ways of avoiding to be imposed on by our selves or others, when such sublime Subjects are treated or discours’d of.
Arnob.
Tho’ in the recital of your Conference, Sophronius did but touch on several Subjects whereon it would be proper for me to insist, in the Discourse you seem to expect from me; yet I am apt to fear, that he has so prevented me in what I should say, that he has left little or nothing for me to do, but to make Repetitions of what you have heard already much better express’d: which will be an Employment far enough from being grateful, either to you or me.
Eugen.
Your Modesty, Sir, is not like to defeat our Curiosity; and that you may not think your self hardly used, or condemned to bear Repetitions; be pleased to take notice, both that, what we desire as a Favor, we might claim as a Compensation, and that the things we expect from you now, are not Arguments to make out that there are things above Reason, but that you would afford us some Rules and Directions how to regulate the Ratiocinations we make; and estimate those we meet with, about such Transcendent Subjects.
Arnob.
I hope Eugenius, you do not in earnest think me so vain as to pretend to frame a Logick about things above Logick; or magisterially to deliver Rules about things that are as Anomalous, as they are either Remote or Abstruse. Besides that all you have said, do’s not exempt me from a fear, that by reason of Sophronius’s omitting divers points of his Discourse, and my imperfect Remembrance of those he transiently and summarily mention’d, he has anticipated much of what were otherwise proper for me to say. But yet because ‘tis possible that his thoughts and mine, may have lead us, to have made some Reflections that are not at all the same; and that even when others happen to be coincident, it may be not altogether useless, that I should endeavour to inlarge some things that he has but hinted, and illustrate or vindicate some others that will not be prejudic’d by being cleared, or confirm’d; and above all this, because I would shew you, that I am willing to comply with you somewhat to the hazard of my Discretion, I shall not refuse to offer you some, not Rules, but Advices; provided you freely interrupt me, when I begin to trouble you with the Repetition of any thing that you have, tho’ I have not heard before; and provided too, that you look not on these Advices so much as directions to find the truth in such abstruse matters, as Cautions that may chance to assist you to avoid some Errors and Mistakes.
Eugen.
We are not so scrupulous but that we shall upon your own terms gladly receive your thoughts, whatever names you please to give them.
Arnob.
I shall then without further preamble comply with your Commands, and propose as my
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