ver be Chriftian Charity; this is unfufferable Cenforioufnefs.

Afp. Let me befeech You, Theron, not to misap prehend my Defign. I fpeak not as a malevolent Satirift, but wonld imitate the faithful Physician. I am opening the Sore, that it may admit the healing Balm and fhould I perform the Operation with an envenomed Inftrument? My Soul abhors the Thought. I muft entreat You likewife to remember the Diftinction, between a State of Nature, and a State of Grace. We are all naturally evil. The World, fays the Apostle-left We should imagine, that the Charge is advanced only against fome abandoned Wretches, He enlarges the Indictment; He renders it univerfal-the whole World; not barely flips by Inadvertence into a single Sin, or falls through Infirmity into frequent Miscarriages, but lieth in Wickedness *. As the Ax-head, men+ tioned by the facred Hiftorian, lay all torpid and fluggish at the Bottom of Jordan +. In this miferable Condition We fhould remain; yes, ever remain, did not a fupernatural Power work in Us both to will and to do; fomewhat like that Power which caufed the ponderous Iron to rife in the Water, and fwim on the Surface.

It is this fupernatural Power, which makes some to differ, both from their original Selves, and from the Generality of their Neighbours. Are they refined in their Temper, and reformed in their Life?

I

1 John v. 19. Keila, lieth, as a Babe in its Swadlingcloaths, without any Inclination to rife; vor er Palm. Luke ii. 12.-as a Corpfe on the Field of Battle, with out any Ability to rife; om en malo Taotus. Iliad. T.

0

† 2 Kings vi. 6.

I grant it. But then it is not any Ability of their own, it is the Influence of the fanctifying SPIRIT, which purges away their Drofs; yet not without leaving fome Alloy.

Ther. Here, Afpafio, You certainly ftrain the Bow, till it breaks. Since Scripture itself celebrates fome Perfons, as abfolutely perfect.-What fays Mofes, the infpired Hiftorian? Noah was perfect in his Ge neration What fays the GOD of Mofes, who can neither deceive, nor be deceived? Job was a perfect Man and an upright †.—Consequently, their Nature must be entirely cleansed from this hereditary Defilement; and their Character confutes your derogatory Reprefentations of Mankind.

W

Afp. Thofe eminent Saints were perfect. That is, they were fanctified throughout. Sanctified in all their Faculties. No one Grace of Religion was lacking. As in the new-born Infant, there is a human Creature complete: no conftituent Part of the vital Frame is wanting: though each is tender; all are very feeble; and none arrived at the full Size.

They were upright. This Word feems to be explanatory of the preceding; and fignifies an un feigned Defire, joined with a hearty Endeavour, to obey the whole Will of GOD: excluding, not all Defect, but all prevailing Hypocrify, and wilful Remiffnefs.-The Interpretation, thus limited, is of a Piece with their Conduct. If ftretched to a higher Pitch, it is evidently inconfiftent with the Narrative of their Lives.

Pray, what was your Motive, for decorating the filvan Retirement (which fheltered Us Yefterday) with the Statue of Elijah? Ther

&

· Ther. Because I thought, his folitary Life, and gloomy Temper, fuited that fequeftered Bower. Because the memorable Adventure, there reprefented, is, with me, a favourite Portion of facred History.

Are We pleased with spirited and delicate Rallery? Nothing exceeds his pungent Sarcafm, on the ftupid and despicable Dupes of Idolatry. Every Sentence is keen as a Razor, and pointed as a Dagger, yet wears the Appearance of the most courtly Complaifance. We may truly fay, in the beautiful Language of the Pfalmift, His Words are fmoother than Oil, and yet be they very Swords *.

Are We delighted with Inftances of Magnanimity? A fingle Prophet, unfupported by any human Aid, maintains the Caufe of Truth, against the King, his Grandees, and hundreds of the apoftate Priefts. He ventures to stake all his Credit, to rifk his very Life, and (what was dearer to Him than perfonal Credit, or bodily Life) the Honour of the true GOD, and Interests of his holy Religion-to rifk all on the immediate Interpofition of a moft furprifing Miracle.

Do We admire the Triumphs of Faith? His Faith was, in a manner, omnipotent. He prays, and Torrents of Fire defcend from the Sky, to devour his Adverfaries +.-He prays again, and the Sluices of Heaven are but; there is neither Dew nor Shower for feveral Years 1.-A third Time He prays, and the Windows from on High are opened;

Abuh

1 Kings xviii. 27. And it came to pafs at Noon, that Elijah mocked them, and faid; Cry aloud; for He is a God. Either He is talking, or He is pursuing, or He is in a fourney, or feradventure He fleepeth, and must be awaked. † 2 Kings 10. 1 Kings xvii. 1.

Abundance of Rain waters the Earth *.-On another Occafion, He prefents his Supplications, and GOD makes his Feet like Harts Feet. Infomuch that an aged Prophet outruns the royal Chariot +.

Afp. I commend your Tafte, Theron and am particularly pleased with the Reasons of your Choice. -But do not you remember, that even the Wonder-working Tifhbite failed in his Refignation, and failed in his Faith? Eminent as He was for Mortification, He gave way to unreasonable Discontent; and, though a Champion for the living GOD, He yielded to unbelieving Fear The Man Mofes was very meek, above all the Men which were upon the -Face of the Earth : Yet He, even He was provoked in his Spirit, and spake unadvifedly with his Lips §. -Was not Peter the Hero among our LORD's Followers? Yet He trembles, more than trembles, at the Shaking of a Leaf; He denies his Divine MASTER, feared by the Voice of a Woman.

3

Look where-ever We will, We find Proofs of human Depravity; reigning uncontrouled in Some, making frequent Infurrection in All. It is written on our own Hearts, by the Pen of Experience; the Finger

James v. 17, 18. +1 Kings xviii. 46. Elias, or rather Elijah, was a Man fubject to like Paf fions as We are. James v. 17. Upon which Paffage, an eminent Commentator makes the following Remark; "This probably is faid, with refpect to his Fear and Dif " content, manifefted 1 Kings xix. 3, 4.—Quaozabn; must, I think, imply a State, liable to the irregular Workings of Paffion; not free from the finful Infirmities of Nature. Otherwife, it is an Inftance foreign to the Purpofe; does by no means anfwer the End defigned; which is to encourage the Heart, and ftrengthen the Faith, even of frail, corrupt, offending Creatures. See Ver. 16. Pfal. cvi, 33,

Numb. xii. 3.

Finger of Observation points it out, in the Practice of Others.-Even in the Practice of Thofe, who have been Saints of the firft Rank, and of the highest Endowments. Yet they were defective.-Defective too, in that very Quality, which was their distinguishing Gift; in which they particularly excelled.

Ther. While We are talking, the Day has infenfibly stole itself away, and left Us furrounded with Twilight. Which is a Sort of Luftre intermingled with Darkness: no Part wholly lucid; no Part wholly obfcure. An Emblem, according to your Representation, of the renewed Soul, and its imperfect Holiness.

Afp. A very juft one.-Even where the Gospel fhines, ftill there is an intercurrent Gloom of Corruption. Ignorance mixes itself with our Knowledge. Unbelief cleaves to our Faith. Nor is our Purity free from all Contamination. The Prophet Zechariah, foretelling the Establishment of the Gofpel Kingdom, and defcribing the State of its fpiritual Subjects, fays; It fhall come to pass in that Day, that the Light fhall not be clear, nor dark. This, as to

its

*Zech. xiv. 6, 7. This Paffage feems to be one of the duovonla, Things difficult to be understood. Therefore, I may be pardoned for an Attempt to clear up the Meaning; and not feverely cenfured, even though I fhould mifcarry in the Attempt. It fhall come to pass in that Day, there fhall not be Light, full, unintermitted, and ftrong; but now Effulgence ( Preciousness, fee Job xxxi. 26.) and Clearnefs of Vifion, anon Obfcurity (INDP Coagulatio, Denfity) and Dimnefs of Vifion. Yet it fall be one, real, determinate Day; whofe Duration, whofe Properties, and all whofe Circumftances, are known to the LORD. Thus much He hath gracioufly revealed by his Prophet, that, during the firft Periods of this wonderful