Gospel of our Salvation prescribes, prepares, and difpenfes it. The Language of CHRIST in his holy Word is, I will bring her Health and Cure *. And the Beginning of our Cure is, to be fenfible of our Disorder.

Hence We are taught to be humble.-To review the Catalogue of our actual Tranfgreffions, is a mortifying Employ. But that which lays the Soul in the lowest Abasement, is the Conviction of inbred Iniquity. This ftrikes at the Root of human Vanity, and cuts afunder the very Sinews of Selfconceit. A total Lofs of Righteoufnefs and true Holinefs; an utter Impotency to all Good, and an impetuous Propenfity to all Evil; these are not Vifitants, but † Inhabitants; congenial with our Frame, and ingrained in our Conftitution. How then-O! how can We be vain of our moral Beauty, who have fuch an hereditary Defilement and Deformity cleaving to all our Faculties? Surely, this muft banish the Pharifee from our Breaft, and infpire Us with the Sentiments of that fincere Penitent, Behold! I am vile ! Muft teach Us the Language of the abashed Leper, Unclean! Unclean!

Ther. I fhould think, it would make Us melancholy, rather than humble. Serve no other Purpose, than to introduce an afflictive Senfe of extreme Wretchednefs.

Jer. xxxiii. 6.

Afp.

Accordingly, this Corruption is ftyled, not barely napaxвuam, that which is at our Elbow. Rom. vii. 21. neursalos, that which easily surrounds Us. Heb. xii. 1. but ameoa, that which dwelleth in Us. Rom. vii. and n qulacca, that which, like a ftrong Man armed, keepeth Garrifon in our Souls. Luke xi. 21. ↑ Job xl. 4.

|| Lev. xiii. 45.

Afp. Did We intend to reft Here, your Apprehenfions would be juft. But We urge the Doctrine of original Corruption, as a Preparative for the Redemption of CHRIST.

It is obfervable, that very Few applied to the bleffed JESUS in the Days of his Flesh, but the Sons and Daughters of Affliction. The Levee of that PRINCE of Peace, was crouded by the Lame, the Blind, the Diseased. These, being fenfible of Diftrefs, and longing for Relief, fell as humble Supplicants at his Feet. While Others, who were firm in their Health, and gay in their Spirits, rejected Him with contemptuous Scorn.-When We perceive the Plague of our Heart," and feel those worse than ulcerous Sores, which overspread our Nature; We also fhall ardently feek to the LORD our Healer. When we find Ourselves subject to the Curfe of the Law, in Bondage to the Tyranny of Satan, and liable to everlasting Damnation; then the Divine PHYSICIAN, and the Divine REDEEMER will be precious indeed.-Whereas, if We remain infenfible of our Misery, the Gospel, which is faving Health to the contrite Soul, will be an unaffecting Story to our Ears. We may hear it, We may read it, as an amufing Narrative; but fhall not receive it, as a fovereign Remedy.

Ther. Not receive the Gospel, Afpafio! I hardly understand what You mean. I often study the Gofpel; I believe it to be a divine Revelation; and endeavour to follow its Directions.-I look upon it, as containing the moft refined Syftem of Marality; as enforcing every Virtue, by the strongest Motives; and recommending all, by the most perLect Example,

Afp.

Afp. To which You fhould add-as revealing that great MEDIATOR, who has fulfilled all Righteousness, to effect our Juftification; who has alfa the Fulnefs of the SPIRIT, to accomplish our Regeneration. Otherwife, what You mention, is infinitely fhort of the Goffel.-It brings no glad Tidings to fallen Creatures. It adminifters no Succours to ruined Sinners. It is like writing a correc Copy for the Blind; or fetting a laborious Task to the Difabled. Which would rather be an Infult on their Impotence, than a Relief of their Diftrefs.

The firft Particular I wave at prefent. Only let me afk your Opinion of the laft; which is a grand Doctrine, and a very diftinguishing Privilege of the Gospel. I mean the Doctrine and the Privilege of Spiritual Regeneration. Exclufive of which, all your Endeavours to poffefs Virtue and practise Morality, will be no better than Endeavours, to fly without Wings, or to run without Feet.

While unimpreffed with a Senfe of our original Depravity, We fhall probably fit down contented with fome fuperficial Reformation, and not aspire after a Renewal of the Heart. Civility will pafs for Sanctity, and a temperate Difpofition for a gracious. Habit. Why is the New Birth, why are all the faving Operations of the bleffed SPIRIT, difregarded by fome, derided by Others? Becaufe, these Perfons are infenfible of their utter Inability to all Good, and of their abject Slavery to all Evil. Therefore, they fet no Reafon for this divine Agency, or for that univerfal Change.

You also, my dear Friend, while unacquainted with your natural Corruption, cannot apprehend either the Reasonablenefs or the Neceffity, of being

renewed

renewed in the Spirit of your Mind *. But when Experience has taught You the former, You will want no Arguments to convince You of the latter.-Can Creatures, who are blind in their Underftandings," difcern the Things which belong to their eternal Peace? Can Creatures, who are dead in Sin, exercife the Graces, or difcharge the Duties, of a Chriftian Life?-Can Creatures, whofe Hearts are at Enmity against GOD, either delight to do his Will Here, or be meet for his beatific Presence Hereafter?

Under the Influence of fuch Convictions, that New Birth, which the Gospel of CHRIST promifes, which the SPIRIT of GOD produces, will appear as neceflary for your State, and be as welcome to your Soul, as these gentle Dews are neceffary for the languishing Herbs, and welcome to the thirsty Soil.

Ther. The Dews, though refreshing to the Flowers, may be too chilly for our Conftitutions. And fee! The Star of Evening, by proclaiming the Approach of Night, has given Us a Warning to quit our Arbour.-Some other Time We must resume this Enquiry. For I am by no means fatisfied, that your Theory agrees with Experience.

Afp. I fear, I have already kept You out too long. Let me juft obferve, as We go in

That the Doctrine, however difagreeable in itself, is conducted to an advantageous Iffue. It is productive of a much more fubftantial Confolation, than Hiftory affigns to the great, but exiled Marius. When he fled, with his ruined Circumftances, to linger out the poor Remains of Life among the Ruins of Carthage,

* Eph. iv. 23.

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thage, what was his chief Support?" Contemplating, fays my Author, that famous City in "the Duft, He was the less afflicted with his own "Downfal *.”

We have not been put off with fuch cold Comforts, fuch negative Benefits. The Belief of original Sin has a Tendency-To make Us humble-To fhew Us our Need of CHRIST-To create in Us a Hunger and Thirst after the renewing Influences of his SPIRIT, and the justifying Merit of his Righteousness.—So that it must be owing to our own Perverseness, or our own Negligence, if We do not levy a Tax upon our Lofs, and rife even by our Fall.

Inopem Vitam in Tugurio Ruinarum Carthaginenfium toleravit: cum Marius afpiciens Carthaginem, illa intuens Marium, alter alteri poffent effe Solatio.

VELL. PATERC.

DIA