And now-fince my Theron confeffes Himself to be miferable, and poor, and naked: fince the Eyes of his "the Eaftern Affes are much larger and more graceful That Patriarchs and Judges thought it no than ours. "Difgrace to ride upon them." This Obfervation has, I fear, more of falfe Delicacy, than of real Truth, or Chriftian Simplicity. In the Patriarchal Ages, I acknowledge, Perfons of high Diftinction thought it no Dishonour, to appear on this Animal. But I very much queflion, whether the fame Fashion subfifted, or the fame Way of Thinking prevailed, in the Reign of Tiberius Cæfar. The Apoftle mentions, not Affes, but Horfes, as the ufual Means of Conveyance. See Jam. iii. 3.-Nay, I am ftrongly inclined to fufpect, that the plain primitive Custom was fuperfeded, even in the Days of Zechariah. For, long before this Time I find, that Solomon had four theufand Stalls of Horfes for his Chariots, and twelve thorfand Horfemen; and that Horfes were brought to Him out of Egypt, and divers other Countries, 1 Kings iv. 26. x. 28, 29. From this Period, it is probable, none but the poor and inferior Sort of People rode upon Affes.-When Ifaiah prophefied, The Land was full of Horfes, Ifai. ii. 7. Under the Perfian Monarchy, when Zechariah flourished, Horfes were in ftill greater Repute. Well therefore might the Prophet fay, with Wonder and Delight-lowly; and, as a Demonftration thereof, riding upon an Afs! Whereas, if the Proceffion had been performed on a graceful Animal, and in a refpectable Manner, how was this an Evidence of our REDEEMER's Lowlinefs. They, who would dignify this Action, any otherwise than from its greatly to be admired Abasement, seem to have forgotten the Stable, the Manger, and the Crofs.-They, who would ennoble this Animal, from any Confideration whatever, feem to mistake entirely the Defign of the Prophet. He intends to exhibit a Picture, where Magnificence and Humiliation meet in their Extremes. A King, clothed with Righteoufnefs, and difpenfing Salvation; yet defpifed and rejected, by the Wife, the Mighty, the Proud. Supremely majeftic and defirable, to the Eye of Faith; yet having no Form nor Comelinefs, his Underftanding are enlightened, to fee the Impurity of his Heart, and the Imperfection of his Righteoufnefs-what Advice, chearing and falutary, fhall I fuggeft? O! let Him liften to an ADVISER, infinitely more able and compaffionate. Liften to HIM, who is the ANTIENT OF DAYS, and the WISDOM OF GOD; 'I counsel Thee, fays the Bleffed JESUS, to buy of me Gold tried in the Fire, that Thou mayeft be rich; and white Raiment, that Thou mayeft be clothed *.— Gold! What can this denote, but all thofe fpiritual Treasures, which are hid in CHRIST? Which are, in Measure, unfearchable; in Value, ineftimable; in Duration, eternal.-White Raiment! Surely this must fignify the Righteousness of our REDEEMER; which is all Purity, and all Perfection. Which clothes the Soul, as a moft fuitable and commodious Garment arrays the Body. Which will present the Believer, void of Shame, and free from Blemish; will prefent Him, with Confidence and Honour, before the Throne of the MAJESTY in the Heavens. This, nefs, in the Eye of Senfe. Higher, far higher than the Heavens, yet offering Himfelf and his Benefits to the Vulgar, the Sordid, the Vile. Was it a mean Attitude? Exceedingly mean? Mean even to Contempt? I make no Scruple to grant it: nay, I make my Boaft of it! It is for the Honour of my LORD's Condefcenfion: it is for the utter Confufion of all worldly Pomp and Grandeur: and it is for the unSpeakable Comfort of my finful Soul.--Moft charming Humility! Moft endearing Gentleness! HE, uho rideth upon the Heavens as it were upon an Horfe, and maketh the Cloud's his Chariot, to atone for my Pride, and to encou rage my Hope, difdained not, in the Days of his Flesh, to ride upon an Afs. * Rev. iii. 18. This, to use the delicate Language, and amiable Images of Ifaiah-This Doctrine, embraced by a realizing Faith, is the only Pillow of Reft, wherewith Ye may cause the weary and heavy-laden Soul to find Repofe; and this is the fovereign Cordial, prepared by infinite Mercy, for the Refreshment of anxious and defponding Tranfgreffòrs. O! Let Us not be in the Number of those proud and refractory Creatures, who, though they infinitely needed, yet would not hear the gracious News, nor receive the unspeakable Benefit.-In this Respect, and in this moft eminently, is that other Saying of the fame fublime Teacher, true; The LORD of Hofts fball be for a Crown of Glory, and for a Diadem of Beauty, to the Refidue of his People +. Shall we tear from our Temples, or reject with Disdain, this unfading and heavenly Ornament; in order to substitute a mean and tawdry Chaplet of our own? * Let me add a pertinent Paffage from one of our cclebrated dramatic Writers. Which, if proper in bis Senfe, will be incomparably more fo, according to our Manner of Application. It were contemning, With impious felf-fufficient Arrogance, I might proceed to urge this Expoftulation of the Poet, as I might eafily have multiplied my Quotations from holy Writ. But, ftudious of Brevity, I refign both, without farther Enlargement, to your own Meditation. Yet, more ftudious of my Friend's Happi * Ifai. xxviii. 12. + Ifai. xxviii. 5. Happiness, I cannot conclude without wishing Him an Intereft, a clear and established Intereft, in this everlasting Righteousness of CHRIST. For fo, and fo only, can He have everlasting Confolation and good Hope through Grace.—I am, my dear Theron, Inviolably Yours, ASPASIO. P. S. Oppofite to the Room in which I write, is a moft agreeable Profpect of the Gardens and the Fields. Thefe, covered with Herbage, and loaded with Corn: thofe adorned with Flowers, and abounding with Efculents. All appearing with fo florid and fo beautiful an Afpect, that they really seem, in Conformity to the Pfalmift's Description, even to laugh and fing.-Let me juft obferve, That all these fine Scenes, all these rich Productions fprung - from what? From the Diffolution of the refpective Seeds. The Seeds planted by the Gardener, and the Grain fowed by the Hufbandman, first perished in the Ground, and then the copious Increase arofe. Much after the fame Manner, a true Faith in CHRIST and his Righteousness arisesfrom what? From the Ruins of Self-fufficiency, and the Death of perfonal Excellency. Let me therefore intreat my Theron, ftill to take the Diary for his Counsellor; ftill to keep an Eye on the Depravity of his Nature, and the Mifcarriages of his Life. The more clearly We fee, the more deeply We feel, our 4 Guilt Guilt and our Mifery, the more highly fhall G LETTER ASPASIO to THERON. Dear THERON, V. IVE me leave to relate an uncommon Accident; which happened a little while ago, in this Neighbourhood; and of which I myself was a Spectator.-The Day was the Sabbath; the Place appropriated to divine Worfhip, was the Scene of this remarkable Affair; and the Inftant of its taking Place, was the Beginning of the Sermon. When the Ambaffador of CHRIST, rifen with a venerable Afpect, and addreffing his Audience with becoming Gravity, drew Attention "ftill as Night, "or Summer's Noon-tide Air." At this Interval of deep Compofure, a Boy came running into the Church, breathlefs and trembling. He told, but in a low Voice, thofe who ftood near, 6 that |