myself to oppose it with Objections, drawn from the Reason of Things, and from various Paffages of Scripture. To all which my Friend replied. And though I was scarcely convinced, yet I was filenced by his Answers.

I pleaded for the Sufficiency of our fincere Obedience. Especially, when accompanied with Repentance, and recommended by the Merits of CHRIST. Neither was this Attempt fuccefsful. His Arguments, fomewhat like the flaming Sword, planted at the Entrance of Paradife, turned every Way*; and precluded all Access to Life, on the Foot of our own Duties.

At length, Afpafio quitted the defensive, and attacked me in his Turn. He explained the Precepts, and enforced the Threatenings of the divine Law. So exact its Tenour! That it demands a perfect and perfevering Conformity to every Injunction.-So extensive 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 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 pufh his Advantage, He enlarged upon the infinite Purity of GOD. A GOD glorious in Holinefs: Who cannot look upon Evil, with any Connivance, or without the utmost Abhorrence. Whe will affuredly destroy, either the Sin, or the Sinner, from before his Face.

* Gen. iii. 24.

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To complete his Victory, He played off the Doctrine of original Guilt, and original Depravity.That I am, by Nature, a Child of Wrath. Fallen from GOD by the Apoftacy of the firft Adam. Dead in Trefpaffes and Sins. My Will, Enmity against GOD: all my Faculties corrupt: every Imagination evil!

After all, He bid me confider-What Fruits muft fpring, from fuch a Nature ?-How they muft appear, when compared with fuch a Law?-What they muft deserve, when tried before fuch a GOD? And whether I will venture to put myself upon Trial at the divine Tribunal, on the Plea of such Performances ?

Thefe, I must confefs, are very weighty and ftartling Queries. If these Representations are true, the Face of human Affairs carries a moft gloomy Afpect. Or rather, a most dreadful Storm is hanging over the Children of Men.-Afpafis urges me to fly, without any Delay, to the Covert of CHRIST's meritorious Obedience. This, He fays, was wrought out, in the Name, and in the Stead of Sinners: this will be admitted, both at the Throne of Grace, and the Bar of Judgment, as their justifying Righteousness.

This, He adds, opens a Way, on GOD's Part, for the largest Emanations and moft honourable Exercife of Mercy. On Man's Part, it founds a Title to Pardon, to Life, and every fpiritual Bleffing.This Doctrine, especially in such a Connection, begins to put on a more recommending Appearance. My Prejudices are really wearing away. I am almoft a Convert.

Afpafio

Afpafia over-heard the Clofe of thefe, Reflections. Unwilling to interrupt his Friend, in fo ferious an Enquiry, and defirous to obferve the Iflue of fo interefting a Debate; He had hitherto concealed Himfelf. But thinking this a favourable Minute, He ftepped forward, and faidyt v

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Pe Afp. Almoft! and why not altogether a Convert? What should hinder my dear Theron, from fubmiting to fo rational a Scheme, with the most entire Acquiefcence? What should hinder Him from embracing fo comfortable a Doctrine, with the utmost Complacency? Why should he not fubfcribe, both with Hand and Heart, that divine Decree? Their Righteoufnefs is of me, faith the LORD.. LORD alsoxd 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 fecured-I muft acknowledge, it will be more worthy of Accep tance, than I could once have imagined an

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

13. 96 150 wo i But the Claims of the Law are all anfwered. 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 unfpotted Purity of Heart, and the moft perfect Integrity of Life. He exhaufted its whole Curfe, when he hung upon the Cross, abandoned by his FATHER, and a bleeding Victim for the Sins of his People. This Obedience brings higher Honour to the divine rah Law,

• Ifai. liv. 17.

Law, than it could poffibly have received, from the uninterrupted Duty of Adam, and all his Posterity, 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 fhewing Mercy; yet fteady, inflexibly fteady, in executing Vengeance. The Scepter of Grace, and the Sword of Justice, have each its due Exercise, each its full Scope. The Holinefs of the divine Nature, and the Dignity of the divine Government, are not only maintained, but most magnificently difplayed. 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 Interefts of Morality secured? This is what I am ftrongly 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 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 strongest Barrier against the Encroachments of Vice? Is not this the sweetest Inducement to the Practice of Virtue?

I am glad to find, that a Jealousy for the Interefts of Morality, is the chief Obstacle in the Way of your Affent. Becaufe, this Jealoufy, I am perVOL. II.

U

fuaded,

fuaded, is much of the fame Nature with those for bidding and mistaken Apprehenfions, which our Ancestors entertained, concerning the Ocean. They looked upon the Ocean, as an unfurmountable Ob→ · ftruction and Bar to univerfal Society. Whereas, it is in Fact, the very Opening and Avenue to this Society; the only Means of setting on Foot a general Intercourse; 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 Blessed SPIRIT enable You to believe, That your Sins are expiated, through the Death of JESUS CHRIST: That a Righteousness is given You, by virtue of which, You may have free and welcome Access to GOD; the Merit of which You may plead, in order to enjoy 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 Reverfe. When this Faith is wrought in your Heart, nothing will be fo powerful, to produce holy Love, and willing Obedience; nothing fo effectual, to refine your Temper, to exalt your Defires, and enable You to overcome the World.

What fays the Apostle? I through the Law am dead to the Law *. Being made to underftand its great Extent, and high Perfection, I have no longer any Hope of Juftification, through my own Conformity to its Precepts.-Did this prompt Him, did this embolden Him, to neglect or violate his Duty?

* Gal. ii. 19.

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