of Righteousness performed in our Lives, which could never be fufficient for the Purpofe; but by Faith, or a fiduciary Reliance on the Righteousness of Another. The one invariable Method, by which the Almighty SOVEREIGN has justified all his People, ever fince the World began *.

Justin-who was first à Gentile Philofopher, then an eminent Chriftian, and at last a Martyr for the Truth-fpeaks more fully to the Point +: What elfe could cover our Sins, but the Righteousness of JESUS CHRIST? By what poffible Means could We, unrighteous and unholy Creatures, be juftified, but only by the Interpofition of the SON of GOD in our Behalf?-Having, in this Claufe, made a Profeffion of his Faith; the good Man, on the Contemplation of such a Privilege, breaks out into a kind of holy Transport. O SWEET AND DELIGHTFUL EXCHANGE! A Difpenfation unfearchably wife and gracious! Benefits, quite unexpected, and rich beyond all our Hopes! That the Tranfgreffion of Many, fhould

εν

be

* Ου δι' εσύλων δικαιωμεθα, ουδε δια της ημέτερας (οφιας, η υ Θεσεως, η ευσέβιας, η ερίων ων καθειρίασαμεθα καλειρίασάμεθα ἐν οσιότητι καρδίας αλλα δια της πίτεως, δι' ης παλας τες απ' αιώνα ο παντοκράτως Θεος εδικαίωσεν. dinaσE. 1 Epift. ad Corinth.-This Quotation is explained, as well as tranflated. But that every Reader may diftinguifh the Text from the Paraphrafe, the firft is printed in Italic, the laft in Roman Characters.

* Τι άλλο τας αμαρτίας ημών ηδυνήθη καλυψαι, η εκεινε δικαιοσυνη ; Εν τινι δικαιωθηκαι δυνατον τις ανομες ημας και ασέβεις, η εν τω υιω τε Θες; Ω ΤΗΣ ΓΛΥΚΕΙΑΣ ΚΑΤΑΛΛΑΓΗΣ, ω της ανεξιχνίας δημιεργίας, ω των απροσδοκηλων ευεργεσιων, ενα ανομία πολλών ω δικαιω ενα κρυβη, δικαιοσύνη δε ενός πολλές ανομες nawon. Epift. ad Diogn.-Though Du PIN queftions the Authenticity of this Epiftle, He allows it to have been written by an antient Hand. Dr. CAVE, as capable a Judge, thinks there is no Reason to doubt, but it is the genuine Work of Juftin.

be hid by one righteous PERSON; and that the Righteoufness of ONE, should justify many Tranfgreffors.

The following Words are remarkably strong, and the Sentiments peculiarly bold. But they come from the Pen of the finest Writer in Ecclefiaftical Antiquity. They have the great Name, and venerable Character of St. Chryfoftom, for their recommendatory Preface *.-Fear not, fays He, on Account of any of thy past Tranfgreffions of the Law, when once Thou haft fled by Faith to JESUS CHRIST. The most enormous and the most deftructive Violation of the Law, is, To be with-held by the Consciousness of any Guilt whatever, from believing on CHRIST. When Thou actest Faith on Him, Thou haft fulfilled, I might fay, more than fulfilled the Law. For Thou haft received a better Righteousness, than it could ever require: Thou art possessed of a better Obedience, than any Creature could possibly pay.

Two or three Witnesses of distinguished Ability, and undoubted Veracity, are a fufficient Confirmation of any Cause. For this Reason, and to avoid a tiresome Prolixity, I have fet afide a Multitude of Voices; which, from the Writings of our own and foreign Divines, are ready to pour their united Evidence. And left the Bufinefs of Quotation, though fparingly managed, should seem dry and tedious; I will relieve your Wearinefs, and enliven the Collection, by an Extract from the Prince of English Poetry.-Michael, the prophetic Archangel, mentioning

Μη τοινυν φοβηθης, ως τον νόμον παραβαίνων, επειδαν τη τοις εν προσήλθες τότε γας αυλον παραβαίνεις, δε δι' αυτόν τω Χρισω μη πίςευσης ως αν πιςευσης αύλω, κακείνον επληρώσας, και πολλω πλεον η εκέλευσε πολλω γαρ μείζονα δικαιοσυνην έλαβες. Homil. XVII. in X ad Rom.

tioning the destructive Confequences of the Fall; and afferting the GODHEAD of that glorious PERSON, who undertook to be the Repairer of this deadly Breach; adds,

Which HE, who comes thy SAVIOUR, shall re-cure,
Not by deftroying Satan, but his Works,

In Thee and in Thy Seed. Nor can this be,
But by fulfilling (that which Thou didst want)
Obedience to the Law of GOD, impos'd
On Penalty of Death; and fuffering Death,
The Penalty to thy Tranfgreffion due;
And due to theirs, which out of thine will grow.
So ONLY can high Justice rest appaid *.

The fame celeftial Teacher, fpeaking of the divine Law; explaining its Nature and Defign; that it demonftrates, by ineftimable Evidence, the very beft of Men to be guilty of Sin and obnoxious to Wrath; difplays likewife the great Remedy provided by the Gospel.

That when they fee

Law can difcover Sin, but not remove,
(Save by thofe fhadowy Expiations weak,
The Blood of Bulls and Goats) they may conclude,
Some Blood more precious must be paid for Man;
Just for Unjust; that, in fuch Righteousness,
To them by Faith imputed, they may find
Juftification towards GOD, and Peace
Of Confcience +.

Here

* MILTON, Book XII. 393.

+ Book XII. 289.

Here then is the exprefs Determination of our Homilies-fupported by the Authority of our Articles -established by the Concurrence of our Liturgy ftill farther ratified by the unanimous Atteftation of feveral celebrated Divines; whofe Lives were the brightest Ornament to our Church, and whose Writings are the most unexceptionable Interpretation of her Meaning. As a Capital, to crown and complete this grand Column, fupervenes the Declaration of the antient Fathers; thofe who flourished, and with the highest Renown, in the first and pureft Ages of Christianity. So that, if great Authorities carry any Weight; if illuftrious Names challenge any Regard; this Tenet comes attended and dignified with very confiderable Credentials.

Yet, I will venture to affirm, that all these, confiderable as they appear, are the leaft of thofe Teftimonials, which recommend the Doctrine to my Theron's Acceptance, and which have gained it Admittance into the Heart of

His most affectionate

ASPASIO.

LET

366

LETTER

IV.

ASPASIO to THERON.

Dear THERON,

THE Family, in which I have the Satisfaction to refide, though remarkable for their genteel Figure and ample Fortune, are ftill more amiably diftinguished by their Benevolence, Hofpitality, and Charity. As they live at a Distance from the Market-town, the Lady has converted one Apartment of her House into a little Difpenfatory; and stocked it with fome of the moft common, the moft needed, and moft falutary Medicines. Which, in Cases of ordinary Indifpofition, She diftributes to her indigent Neighbours, with fingular Compaffion, and with no fmall Succefs. This fine Morning, Emilia has ordered fome skilful Hands into the Fields, to cull their healing Simples, and lay up a Magazine of Health for the afflicted Poor. Camillus is withdrawn, to receive his Rents, and fettle Accounts with his Tenants.

Suppose, We act in Concert with thefe valuable Perfons. Suppose, We range the delightful Fields of Scripture, and form a Collection, not of falutiferous Herbs, but of ineftimable Texts; fuch as may be of fovereign Efficacy, to assuage the Anguish of a guilty Conscience, and impart saving Health to the diftempered Soul.-Suppofe, We open the Mines of

divine