After all, he bid me consider, What fruits must spring from such a nature-how they must appear when compared with such a law-what they must deserve when tried before such a God? These, I must confess, are very weighty and startling queries. If these represen. tations are true, the face of human affairs carries a most gloomy aspect; or rather, a most dreadful storm is hanging over the children of men. Aspasio urges me to fly, without any delay, to the covert of Christ's meritorious obedience. This, he says, was wrought out in my name and in my stead; this will be admitted both at the throne of grace and the bar of judgment, as my justifying righteousness.

This, he adds, opens a way, on God's part, for the largest emanations and most honourable exercise of mercy on man's part, it founds a title to pardon, to life, and every spiritual blessing. This doctrine, especially in such a connexion, begins to put on a more recommending appearance; my prejudices are really wearing away; I am almost a convert.

Aspasio overheard the close of these reflections. Unwilling to interrupt his friend in so serious an inquiry, and desirous to observe the issue of so interesting a debate, he had hitherto concealed himself; but thinking this a favourable minute, he stept forward, and said

Asp. Almost! and why not altogether a convert? What should hinder my dear Theron from submitting to so rational a scheme with the most entire acquiesence? What should hinder him from embracing so comfortable a doctrine with the utmost complacency? Why should he not subscribe, both with hand and heart, that divine decree? their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."

Ther. If, by this doctrine, the claims of the law are answered; if the perfections of God are glorified; if the interests of morality are secured; I must acknow. ledge, it will be more worthy of acceptance than I could once have imagined.

shews how the poison may be so overruled by divine grace, and so managed by the watchful patient, as to become medicinal, salutary, and conducive to the most beneficial purposes.

VOL. II.

Isa. liv. 17.
D

Asp. And if all these points are not gained; gained too in the most eminent manner; I solemnly declare, that I will never plead for imputed righteousness more.

But the claims of the law are all answered; for there is nothing in its sacred injunctions which Christ did not perform, and nothing in its awful threatenings which Christ did not sustain. He fulfilled all its precepts, by an unspotted purity of heart and the most perfect integrity of life. He exhausted its whole curse 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 law, than it could 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 me thod of justification, inconceivably rich in shewing mercy, yet steady, inflexibly steady in executing vengeance. The sceptre of grace and the sword of justice have each its due exercise, each its full scope. The holiness of the divine nature, and the dignity of the divine government, are not only maintained, but most magnificently displayed. Indeed it is the peculiar excellence of this wonderful expedient, that it renders all the divine attributes supremely venerable, and supremely amiable.

Ther. But are the interests of morality secured? This is what I am strongly inclined to doubt; and, to say the truth, this is now my principal objection to your scheme.

Asp. I shall never blame my friend for being vigilant and jealous over the interests of morality. If our doctrine had a malignant aspect on true morality, I would give my voice against it, and use all my endeavours to suppress it; but it is formed with every tendency to awaken the utmost dread of sin, and affect us with the warmest sense 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 interests of morality is the chief obstacle in the way of your assent;

because I am persuaded, it is much of the same nature with those forbidding and mistaken apprehensions which our ancestors entertained concerning the ocean. They looked upon it as an unsurmountable obstruction to universal society; whereas, it is in fact, the very cement of society, the only means of accomplishing a general intercourse, and the great highway to all the nations of the earth. What is here affirmed, may, on some future occasion, be proved; at present, let me desire 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 for obtaining all the bless. ings of time and eternity. Then let me ask, will this alienate your affections from your Almighty Benefactor? Will this irritate evil concupiscence, or send you to carnal gratifications in quest of happiness? quite the reverse, When this faith is wrought in your heart, nothing will be so powerful to produce holy love and willing obedience, to exalt your desires, and enable you to overcome the world.

What says the apostle? I through the law am dead to the law." Being made to understand its spirituality and perfection, I have no longer any hope of justifica, tion from my own conformity to its precepts. Did this prompt him, did this embolden him, to neglect or violate his duty? Hear the sacred writer's own declaration I am released from the rigour and bondage of the law; I am directed to Christ for righteousness and salvation, that I may live unto God; that my whole life may be devoted to his honour, who has brought me into a state so delightful, into a liberty so glorious.'

Ther. This liberty I am afraid will be of very little service to the licentious and gay world.

Asp. I shall be in no pain even for the gay world, if once they cordially receive this grace, and are vitally influenced by this doctrine; which, far from dissolving the least obligation to obedience, or weakening any one principle of piety, adds to every other motive the en

* Gal. ii. 29.

dearing engagements of gratitude, and the winning persuasives of love.

Nay, I verily believe that multitudes in the gay and licentious world are held fast in the fatal snare by their ignorance of this sweet, alluring, consolatory truth: they find themselves deeply obnoxious to divine justice, and feel themselves strongly bound with the chains of sensuality: they think it is impossible to clear the enormous score of their guilt, impossible to deliver themselves from the confirmed dominion of sin; therefore, like desperate debtors, they stifle every serious thought, lest a consciousness of their long arrears, and a prospect of the dreadful reckoning, should' torment them before the time."*

But if they were informed that the infinitely merciful Son of God has undertaken to redeem such undone and helpless sinners, that he has thoroughly expiated the most horrid transgressions, and procured, even for ungodly wretches, all the needful supplies of strengthening grace; that instead of being prohibited, they are invited to partake, freely to partake, of these unspeakable blessings; were they acquainted with these glad tidings of the gospel, surely they would burst their chains and spring to liberty. These truths, if once revealed in their hearts, would, of all considerations, be most effectual to make them free.'t

What shall I say more to obtain my Theron's approbation? Shall I point out and plead the most illustrious precedents? God the Father is well pleased with this righteousness of our Redeemer: he expresses his complacency by the most emphatical words: 'Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.' In Christ and his righteousness God is not only pleased, but delighted: his very soul, every perfection of the Godhead, with ineffable satisfaction, rests and acquiesces in them. I said ineffable, for he has declared this in a manner superior to all the energy of language, by raising our crucified Surety from the dead, by exalting him to the heaven of hea vens, and placing him at his own right hand in glory. Matt. viii. 29. † John viii. 32. Isa. xlii. 1.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is well pleased: he esteems it his.honour to shine forth as the everlasting righteousness of his people: it is the brightest jewel of his mediatorial crown. In this he sees of the travail of his soul, and is satisfied;' accounting himself fully recom pensed for all the labours of his life, and all the sor rows of his death, when sinners are washed from their guilt in his blood, and presented faultless by his obe dience.

The Holy Spirit is equally pleased with this great transaction and its noble effects. It is his peculiar office and favourite employ to convince the world of their Saviour's righteousness; not only that his nature was spotlessly pure, and his conversation perfectly holy, but that from both results a righteousness of infi. nite dignity and everlasting efficacy; sufficient, throughout all ages sufficient, for the acceptance and salvation of the most unworthy creatures.

Since then this method of acceptance and salvation is excellent and glorious in the eyes of the adorable Trinity; since it magnifies the law, and yields the most exalted honour to its divine Author; since it makes ample provision for the holiness of a corrupt, and the happiness of a ruined world; why should my friend any longer dislike it, oppose it, or treat it with a cold indifference? Surely all these grand recommendations are enough to overrule any little objections which may arise from the suspicions of timidity, or may be started by the artifices of sophistry.

Ther. I know not how it is, Aspasio, but I cannot reconcile myself to this doctrine of imputed righteousness, notwithstanding all the pains you have taken to make me a convert.

Asp. The disappointment is mine, but the loss is yours, Theron, However, let me entreat you not to reject my sentiments absolutely, nor to condemn them prematurely. Suppose it possible at least that they may be true, and weigh them in an even balance. Learn wisdom from your Aspasio's folly. I was once exactly in your situation, saw things in your light, and through your medium.

Conversing, I well remember, with a devout but