Feet, He fkulks close to the fhady Margin. All immersed in the Wave, excepting only his Noftrils, He baffles, for a while, the prying Eye of Man, and the keener Sinell of Brute.

Discovered, at length, and forced to quit this unavailing Refuge, He climbs the flippery Bank. Unable to fly any longer, He ftands at bay against an aged Willow. Stands, all faint with Toil, and fobbing with Anguish. The Crouds that gather round Him, with mercilefs and outrageous Tranfport, triumph in his Mifery. A Multitude of blood-thirsty Throats, joined with the fonorous Horn, ring his funeral Knell.-The Tears, till this fatal Inftant unknown, gufh from his languishing Eyes, and roll down his recking Cheeks. He cafts one more Look on the Woods, the Lawns, the pleafing Scenes of his former Delights. Adieu! A long Adieu to thefe! He now expects his Murderers; and prepares, as his laft poor Confolation, to fell his Life as dear as poffible.

At this moft critical Juncture, the royal Sportsman comes up. He fees the diftreffed Creature; and, as foon as he fees, He pities. The Clemency, which attends the Throne, accompanies even the Diverfions of Majefty. He iffues the high Command. The prohibitory Signal is given. The Pack, though eager for Blood, are checked in a Moment. And not checked only, but called off* from the Prey, Difap

Called off, I apprehend, is too flat. Tore off would have been more expreffive. And this would have reminded Us of a most beautiful Metaphor, ufed by the facred Historian; when He defcribes, or rather paints, the Procedure of David, in the Cave, 1 Sam. xxiv. 7. His Men urged Him, and with great Vehemence, to flay Saul; fince Providence had delivered that implacable Perfecutor

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Difappointed and growling, they retire; and leave the intended Victim of their Fury, to enjoy his Liberty, his Safety, and his Eafe again.

I have now followed the Stag, till I have tired your Patience. Why did You fuffer me to run on, at this extravagant Rate? You know I am, on thefe favourite Topics, an everlasting Talker.

Afp. Why this Apology, Theron? I am fure You did not fee my Mouth yawn, or my Head nod, while You was pursuing your Subject.. Befides, I intend to make Reprifals, and put your Attention to the fame Tryal.

Thus the Strictnefs of the Law purfues the Soul; diflodges it from every Refuge of Lies; and never remits its terrifying Menaces, till the poor Delinquent ceafes from Self-confidence, and fixes on CHRIST for his whole Salvation *.

The Man, perhaps, is awakened into a serious Concern for his eternal State. In confequence of VOL. II. which,

C

Perfecutor into his Hand. Our Tranflation fays, He broke them. Whereas the Original fays, He tore them off, eager and impatient as they were; and retained them from murdering the helplefs King. It seems to be an Allufion to the above-mentioned Practice of Huntsmen ; who tear off the ravenous Pack, and with-hold them from devouring the fallen Prey.-It is the fame Word, which expreffes the Action of Sampfon; when He rent asunder the young Lion, and tore Him Limb from Limb. yDW). See Judg. xiv. 6.

* Lex Hominem urget, donec is ad CHRISTUM confugit. Tum ipfa dicit; Afylum es nactus; defino Te perfequi; fapis, falvus es. BENGEL. That is; the Law urges and purfues the Sinner, till He flies for Refuge to JESUS CHRIST. Then the Law fpeaks to this Effect; "You are entered into the Strong-hold, and I remit the "Purfuit; my Demands are fatisfied, and my Curfes " filenced.

"happy."

You are wife; You are fafe; You are

which, He relinquishes his profane and iniquitous Practices. Breaks the Sabbath, and defrauds his Neighbour no more.-But the Law quickly reprefents, and in a glaring Light, that a negative Obedience is by no means fufficient.

Upon this, He betakes Himself to a Course of pofitive Holiness. Gets acquainted with religious People, and performs religious Duties. Prays in fecret, and attends public Ordinances. Confcientioufly obferves the LORD's Day, and regulates his Behaviour by the Rule of GOD's Commandments. Now, He is ready to congratulate Himself on his remarkable and hopeful Reformation.

Soon he perceives, that all his Proficiency is but Skin-deep a mere outfide Varnifh: which has not penetrated the inner Man. He begins, therefore, to watch over the Motions, and bewail the Evils of his Heart. He labours to fubdue Pride, and curb Paffion; to purge out filthy Lufts, and to banish spiritual Wickedness. Notwithstanding all his Vigilance, Confcience flies in his Face, either for the Neglect of fome Virtue, or the Commiffion of fome Sin. The Law rings in his Ear that terrible Denunciation; Curfed is He, that performeth not "all Things."

Struck by this Conviction, his Wounds bleed afresh. He is obliged to feek fome new Balm for his Sore. In order to appeafe an offended GOD, and atone for his finful Relapfes, He makes many forrowful Confeffions; poffibly, fubmits to voluntary Sufferings. He denies Himfelf, and beftows liberally on the Poor. He fighs deeply, and mourns bitterly. But can Waters that are muddy, cleanse the Garment that is filthy? Wilt Thou fatisfy, O

3

vain

vain Man, wilt Thou fatisfy for one Sin, by committing another? In thefe penitential Exercises, were thy Thoughts fteadily devout? In those Acts of Beneficence, were thy Affections truly charitable? And did both proceed from a pure undefiled Heart? If not, fuch fanfied Reparations of past Faults, only aggravate the heavy Score.

What shall He do? He cannot pay. To beg He is afhamed. Fain would He enter into Life, yet, not be too much indebted to Grace. He attempts therefore to compound with Heaven. He binds Himfelf by folemn Vows, perhaps by facramental Engagements, to use greater Circumfpection for the future. Then turns his Eye to the divine MEDIATOR; not with a View of relying wholly on his Righteousness; but only to obtain such a Supply, as may make up the Deficiencies of his own.-Somewhat like this was the Miftake of the Galatian Converts; against which St. Paul, in his Epiftle to that People, fo folidly disputes, and so sharply inveighs *. Affuring them, that if they add to their R EDEEMER's Death and Obedience, any other Requisite whatsoever, in the Matter of Acceptance with GOD, CHRIST fhall profit them nothing.

For a while, He holds faft his purposed Integrity. At length, falling fhort, evidently if not scandaloufly fhort, in executing his Part, a ftartling Voice

*

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Sharply indeed! For, inftead of faluting them, under the honourable Title of Saints, and Faithful in CHRIST JESUS; He ftigmatizes them with that fevere Appellation, O foolish Galatians!—And as to their Practice, which was a Departure from Juftification by CHRIST alone, He flyles it, not merely an Error, but an Error of the moft mifchievous and horrid Kind-an Infatuation, a Bewitchery, Ti Gagna. Gal. iii. 1.

Voice founds in his Ear, that dreadful Alarm; "Curfed is He that continueth not in all Things." An impartial Confcience interprets the Voice; and undeniably proves, that whoever commits the leaft Sin, or fails in any Point, does not continue in all Things. His Heart finks with Discouragement, and all his Refolutions hang their enfeebled Heads, He has tried every Method, that He can devise; and has found every Method ineffectual. All his Expedients are a Spider's Web; and his Hope is, as the Giving up of the Ghoft *.

His Soul, purfued by the Law, and hunted by Terror, is brought to the Gates of Death, or the very Brink of Defpair. And now the PRINCE of Peace, now the LORD our Righteousness, appears for his Refcue. Now is accomplished that gracious Declaration; O Ifrael, thou haft destroyed thyfelf, but in me is thy Help +.-Driven from every falfe Refuge, and drawn by the bleffed SPIRIT, He comes weary and heavy laden to CHRIST. Convinced of the Sin of his Nature, the Sin of his

Life,

Υπο

St. Paul expreffes all this in his ufual Manner; that is, very concifely, yet very forcibly, Gal. iii. 23. Yo νόμον εφρερέμεθα (υΓκεκλεισμένοι εις την στιςιν. We were kept under the Law, but up unto Faith. He compares the Law, its Demands and its Curfes, to a Garrison or Prifon. The Walls fo ftrong, that it is impoffible to make a Breach in them; fo high, that it is equally impoffible to overleap them. Let the confined Captive, turn which Way He will, make whatever Attempt He can, there appears no Hope of a Releafe; nay, there remains no Poffibility of Efcape. Until the bleffed REDEEMER, by his Obedience and Death, open a Door of Deliverance. This Door Faith difcerns; through this Door Faith conducts the Sinner; and thus tranfmits Him into Light and Liberty.

+ Hof. xiii. 9.