Men of this third sort are They who are vertuous in a Rational and Christian estimation; for if adherence to the Rule of Mens Actions (be that what it will) denominates Men vertuous among those of their own perswasion therein; then That which denominates a Man vertuous amongst Those who take the prescriptions of right Reason, or of the Gospel (for these are but one, and the same, differently promulg’d) for the Rule of their Actions, must be an adherence to the Law of right Reason, or of this Revelation:  Which Rule, is not (as all others are) a changeable, because (as we have seen) no Arbitrary thing; it being founded in Relations, and Connexions, which are as immutable as that determinate constitution in Things, which makes every thing what it is.  From whence it has been that such Men in all Ages, and Places, as were above the prejudices of their Country Religion, and Manners, viz. such as we have now spoken of, have ever had much the same Sentiments in respect of Vertue.  But these have always been but a small Number:  Custom, and blind Opinion, have ever govern’d the World; and the light of Reason has neither appear’d to Men to be, nor in Fact been any where sufficient to direct the generality of Mankind to Truth; as some imagine it capable of doing; who because of that clear Evidence which Reason gives to those verities that Revelation has already taught them, think that they owe, or might have ow’d to this light of Reason what they are not indebted to it for; and what it is a Thousand to One odds they would not have receiv’d from it, had they been Born where there was no other than Natural Light.

For we find not any Country in any Age of the World, wherein Men did generally acknowledge, by the meer force of Reason, Natural Religion in its full extent; or where the Law of Nature was by the Light of Nature universally own’d.  Some Dictates of it as suggested by necessity, or convenience, having only been receiv’d, (as has been already said) but not distinguish’d from the most Arbitrary Institutions of Men; altho’ it is probable that the greater Conformity any Law had to the dictates of right Reason, it did the more universally and easily obtain Belief of its being divinely reveal’d to him who pretended so to have receiv’d it; and this apparently it was which gave so great Success to the Peruvian Lawgivers; whose Idolatry was the most specious that was possible; and whose Rules of Living (pretended to have been receiv’d by them from the Sun, their Father, and Vicegerent of Pachacama, the Supream Invisible and Unapproachable God) were highly suitable to the dictates of right Reason.

This Law nevertheless not being receiv’d by that People but as a Supernatural Revelation, the great Morality of the Peruvians affords no Argument against, but (on the contrary) proves strongly the need of Revelation; since whatever Force of Reason these Natural Truths did appear to this People to carry with them, when represented as divine Commands, this light had never yet attracted their sight purely by its own Brightness; nor ever has any where done so, but here and there in a few Instances of Persons of more than ordinarily inquisitive Minds; and (probably) for the most part, exempted by a happy priviledge of Nature from the servitude of sensual, and sordid Passions.