"and contemplated the Works of his adorable Hand, ❝amidst your mofs-grown Cells, and rocky Shades. "How inelegant, or how infenfible is the Mind,

which has no awakened lively Relish for these fweet Receffes, and their exquifite Beauties!"

But whither am I carried? Is not this rural Enthufiafm? I find myself talking to Trees; and forget the momentous Question, which waits for our Decifion. Here then let my Rhapfody cease, and my Inquiry proceed.-Does it betray a Want of true Delicacy, to be infenfible of Nature's Charms? My Afpafio thinks, it argues as wrong a Taste in practical Divinity, not to acquiefce in the imputed Righteoufnefs of JESUS CHRIST.-To this Doctrine I have always been extremely averfe. I fet myself to oppose it with Objections, drawn from the Reafon of Things, and from various Paffages of Scripture. To all which my Friend replied. And though I was fcarely convinced, yet I was filenced by his Anfwers.

I pleaded for the Sufficiency of cur fincere Obedience. Especially, when accompanied with Repentance, and recommended by the Merits of CHRİST.

-Neither was this Attempt fuccefsful. His Arguments, fomewhat like the flaming Sword, planted at the Entrance of Paradife, turned every Wayt; and precluded all Accefs to Life, on the Foot of our own Duty.

At length, Afpafio quitted the defenfive, and attacked me in his Turn. He explained the Precepts, and inforced the Threatnings, of the divine Law. So exact its Tenour! That it demands a perfect and perfevering Conformity to every Injunction.So extenfive its Authority! That it reaches the inmost Thoughts; and requires Obedience, not barely in the Actions of the Life, but the very Intentions of the Heart. So inexorable its Severity! That it condemns

+ Gen. iii. 24.

demns every the fmalleft Offence, and curfes every the leaft.Offender.

This Remonftrance had fome of the Terror, and almost all the Effect, of a mafked Battery. It was quite unexpected, and alarmed me confiderably. To push his Advantage, he inlarged upon the infinite Purity of GOD. A GOD glorious in Holiness> Who cannot look upon Evil, with any Connivance, or, without the utmost Abhorrence. Before whom the very Heavens are unclean, and who will in no wifeclear the Guilty.

To complete his Victory, he played off the Doc, trine of original Guilt, and original Depravity.That, befides the Imputation of Adam's Apoftacy; befides the Commiffion of numberlefs Iniquities; we were born in Sin-Are, by Nature, Enmity against GOD-In all our Faculties corrupt- -In every magination evil And, even when renewed by Grace, are ftill, ftill tainted with fome bafe Remains of the old Leprofy.

*

I

After all, he bid me confider-What Fruits muft fpring from fuch a Nature?How they muft apF 2

pear,

* Even when renewed-For a Difplay of this important Truth, and a Remedy against this ftubborn Evil, let me refer the Reader to a little Treatife published by Dr. Owen, and intitled The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of the Remainders of indwelling Sin in Believers. The Author's Pen is indeed a diffecting Knife, goes deep into his Subject, and lays open this Plague of the Heart. Like a Work-man that need not be ashamed, he demonstrates his Point, from the unerring Word of GOD, and the acknowledged Experience of Chriftians. Like a compaffionate as well as able Phyfician, he all along prescribes the proper Antidote; nay, he fhews how the Poifon may be fo over-ruled by divine Grace, and fo managed by the watchful Patient, as to become medicinal, falutary, and conducive to the most beneficial Purposes.

pear, when compared with fuch a Law? What they muft deferve, when tried before fuch a GOD? -Thefe, I must confefs, are very weighty and startling Queries. If thefe Reprefentations are true, the Face of human Affairs carries a moft gloomy Afpect. Or rather, a moft dreadful Storm is hanging over the Children of Men.-Afpafio urges me to fly, with out any Delay, to the Covert of CHRIST's meritorious Obedience. This, he fays, was wrought out in my Name, and in my Stead: this will be admitted, both at the Throne of Grace, and the Bar of Judgment, as my justifying Righteoufnefs.

This, he adds, opens a Way, on GOD's Part, for the largest Emanations and moft honourable Exercise of Mercy. On Man's Part, it founds a Title to Pardon, to Life, and every fpiritual Bleffing. This Doctrine, especially in fuch a Connexion, begins to put on a more recommending Appearance. My Prejudi ces are really wearing away. I am almost a Convert.

Afpafio over-heard the Clofe of thefe Reflections. Unwilling to interrupt his Friend, in so serious an Inquiry; and defirous to obferve the Iffue of fo interesting a Debate; he had hitherto concealed himfelf. But thinking this a favourable Minute, he ftepped forward, and faid

Afp. Almoft and why not altogether a Convert? What should hinder my dear Theren, from fubmitting to fo rationel a Scheme, with the most intire Acquiefcence? What should hinder him from embracing fo comfortable a Doctrine, with the utmoft Complacency? Why fhould he not fubfcribe, both with Hand and Heart, that divine Decree? Their Righteoufnefs is of me, faith the LORD *.

Ther. If, by this Doctrine, the Claims of the Law are answered-If the Perfections of GOD are glorified If the Interefts of Morality are fecuredI muft

* Ifai. liv. 17.

I'muft acknowledge, it will be more worthy of Acceptance, than I could once have imagined.

Afp. And if all these Points are not gained; gained too in the moft eminent Manner; I folemnly declare, that I will never plead for imputed Rigliteoufnels more.

But the Claims of the Law are all answered.For, there is nothing in its facred Injunctions, which CHRIST did not perform; and nothing in its awful Threatenings, which CHRIST did not fuftain. He fulfilled all its Precepts, by an unspotted Purity of Heart, and the most perfect Integrity of Life. He exhaufted its whole Curfe, when he hung upon the Crofs, abandoned by his FATHER, and a bleeding Victim for the Sins of his People.This Obedience brings higher Honour to the divine Law, than it could have received, from the uninterrupted Duty of Adam, and all his Pofterity, in all their Generations.

The Perfections of GOD, which were dishonoured by our Rebellion, are glorified. He appears, by this Method of Juftification, inconceivably rich in---thewing Mercy; yet fteady, inflexibly steady, in executing Vengeance. The Sceptre of Grace, and the Sword of Justice, have each its due Exercife, each its full Scope. The Holinefs of the divine Nature, and the Dignity of the divine Government, are not only maintained, but moft magnificently dif played. Indeed,, it is the peculiar Excellence of this wonderful Expedient, that it renders all the divine Attributes fupremely venerable, and fupremely amiable.

Ther. But are the Interests of Morality fecured? This is what I am strongly inclined to doubt. And to fay the Truth, this is now my principal Objection to your Scheme.

Afp. I fhall never blame my Friend, for being

F3

vigilant

vigilant and jealous over the Interefts of Morality, If our Doctrine had a malignant Afpect on true Morality, I would give my Voice against it, and ufe all my Endeavours to fupprefs it. But it is formed with every Tendency, to awaken the utmost Dread of Sin, and affect us with the warmest Senfe of our CREATOR's Love. And is not that the ftrongest Barrier against the Incroachments of Vice? Is not this the fweeteft Inducement to the Practice of Virtue?

I am glad to find, that a Jealoufy for the Interests of Morality, is the chief Obftacle in the Way of your Affent. Becaufe, I am perfuaded, it is much of the fame Nature with thofe forbidding and mistaken Apprehenfions, which our Ancestors entertained, concerning the Ocean. They looked upon it, as an unfurmountable Obstruction, to univerfal Society. Whereas it is in Fact, the very Cement of Society; the only Means of accomplishing a general Intercourfe; and the great Highway to all the Nations of the Earth. What is here affirmed, may, on fome future Occafion, be proved. At prefent, let me defire you to imagine, rather, may the bleffed SPIRIT enable you to believe, that your Sins are expiated, thro' the Death of JESUS CHRIST: That a Righteoufnels is given you, by virtue of which, you may have free and welcome Accefs to GOD; the Merit of which you may plead, for obtaining all the Bleffings of Time and Eternity.Then let me afk; Will this alienate your Affections from your Almighty BENEFACTOR? Will this irritate evil Concupifcence, or fend you to carnal Gratifications in queft of Happiness? Quite the Reverse. When this Faith is wrought in your Heart, nothing will be fo powerful, to produce holy Love, and willing Obedience; to exalt your Defires, and enable you to overcome the World.

What