Juftice, and a complete Conformity to the divine Law. Thefe, impracticable by Us, were configned over to CHRIST. By Him they were thoroughly accomplished; and by this Accomplishment of them, He merited for us all Bleffings. Among others, He merited the Gift of Faith, the Grace of Repentance, and Ability to yield thankful, dutiful, evangelical Obedience. These therefore are but improperly called the Terms, which are really constituent Parts of our Salvation.

To fum up all in a Word-The whole Tenour of Revelation fhews, that there are but two Methods, whereby any of the human Race can be justified.-Either by a perfect Obedience to the Law, in their own Perfons; and then the Reward is of Debt +. Or elfe, because the Surety of a better Covenant has satisfied all Demands in their Stead; and then the Reward is of Grace.-There is no trimming or reconciling Expedient. You may choose either of the two; but no third is propofed or allowed.

Ther. Was there not a different Method of Salvation, for the antient People of GOD?

Afp. None, Theron. In the State of primitive Innocency, a perfect and perfevering Obfervance of the divine Command, was the Condition of Salvation; or rather, of Life and Immortality . When, by

the

*A complete Conformity; for the Illuftration of this Truth, fee Dial. VIII, IX.

+ Rom. iv. 4.

Pactional Debt; founded on the Obligation of the Covenant, not fpringing from any Worth in the Obedience.

Afpafio makes a Distinction in this Place, between Salvation and Life eternal. The former is, strictly speakVOL. I.

Ꮓ

ing,

the first grand Apoftacy, this Condition, became impoffible; a free Pardon, and gracious Acceptance, through the bleffed JESUS, were substituted in its Stead. Which Oeconomy, like a Fountain of Life, was opened; when GOD promised the Seed of the Woman, to bruife the Serpent's Head *.-It ran, like a falutary Rivulet, through the Antediluvian World -Continued its Progress, and difpenfed its Bleffings, along the Patriarchal Age-Flowed, in broader and more numerous Streams, under the Mofaic Difpenfation-Is derived down to Us, enlarged by the Coming of CHRIST, and completed by the Miniftry of his Apoftles-Will be tranfmitted, without any farther Improvements, to the latest Pofterity. Henceforward increafing and extending, not its Perfection, but its Influence only. Which it will never ceafe to do, till, as the Fountain is become a River, the River is augmented into an Ocean; and the Knowledge of the LORD our Righteousness fill the Earth, as the Waters cover the Abyffes of the Sea t.

There was, I confefs, a Diversity in the Adminiftration, but no Difference in the Nature, of the Bleffing. JESUS CHRIST, however variously manifested, was the fame Yesterday, is the fame to Day, will be the fame for ever. As it is the very

fame

ing, a Language fuited to the Gofpel. The latter is precifely proper to the Law. The Covenant of Grace fays; Believe, and thou fhalt be faved. The Covenant of Works faid; He that doeth them, hall live by them. Salvation implies a Deliverance from fome Penalty or Mifery incurred, and a Reinstatement in fome Bleffing or Happiness forfeited. Which are evidently peculiar to the evangelical Difpenfation, and not applicable to the State of Integrity. Heb. xiii. 8.

* Gen. iii. 15. + Ifai. xi. 9.

fame Sun, which gleams at early Dawn; which fhines in the advancing Day; and glows at Height of Noon.

My Simile reminds Us of the Time, and leaves a most important Doctrine upon our Memories. Suppofe We take the Admonition, and begin to move homeward.

Ther. We need be in no Hurry, Afpafio. My Watch tells me, that We have half an Hour good. Befides, I have fomething farther to alledge, and from a very great Authority, which feems directly contrary to your Notion.

Afp. Juft as You please, Theron. If You choose to ftay, I am all Compliance with your Inclination. And, would Truth permit, I fhould be all Conformity to your Opinion.

Ther. You know, who it is that afks; What doth the LORD require of Thee? And neither of Us need be informed, What it is, that the Prophet replies; Do fuftice, love Mercy, and walk humbly with thy GOD *.. But I want to know, what You think of this Paffage ?

Afp. I think, it is abfolutely inconfiftent with your Scheme. This Paffage inculcates Humility. But your Scheme is the very Reverse of that amiable Virtue. A Self-jufticiary walking humbly with GOD, is little better than a Contradiction in Terms.

The LORD has faid;, Ye shall be faved by Grace t. Your Syftem replies; "No, but by our

* Mich. vi. 8.

66 own

† Eph. ii. 5. The Solicitude of the bleffed Apostle, to preferve inviolate the Honours of divine Grace, is, in this Place, very confpicuous.-He had told the Ephefians, that they were, by Nature, the Children of Wrath.

Z 2

Worthy

"own Sincerity, and our own Works."-It is declared in Scripture; That the Gift of GOD is eternal Life. It is implied in my Friend's Doctrine; That this Happiness is the Wages of our own Repentance and Reformation. "My SON fhall "have all the Glory of a Sinner's Salvation," is the unalterable Decree of the MOST HIGH. "We will have a Share in the Honour," is the Language of your Opinion.-Look, how wide therefore the Eaft is from the Weft! So remote is fuch a Strain of Teaching, from the Practice of walking humbly with our GOD.

Ther. But confider, good Afpafio; have I not the Prophet's Authority for my Opinion? Are not his Words exprefly on my Side? Does He not mention thofe Duties of Morality and Piety, as the appointed Method of obtaining the divine Favour?

Afp. He mentions, I apprehend, a folicitous Enquiry. To which He gives a fatisfactory Anfwer. Then fubjoins a practical Improvement of the Whole. -The Enquiry is expreffed in thefe Words; Wherewithal fhall I come before the LORD, and bow myself

before

Worthy of nothing but Indignation and Vengeance.That all their Privileges and Bleffings came, not from any Goodness of their own, but from a GOD who is rich in Mercy. That they were originally dead in Tref paffes and Sins. And what can dead Men do, either to obtain or deferve, heavenly and immortal Happiness?Sufficient this, One would imagine, to guard against the Encroachments of fpiritual Pride, and all Self-glorying whatever. But the zealous Writer, to cut off both the Root and Branch of this abominable Principle, adds in Verfe the fifth; By Grace, through infinitely free Favour, ye are faved. To give the utmoft Force to his Blow, He again inculcates the fame Truth, in the very fame Words; By Grace, purely, entirely, exclufive of all Works, are Ye faved, Ver. 8.

before the High GOD? Shall I come before Him with Burnt-offerings, with Calves of a Year old? Will the LORD be pleafed with Thousands of Rams; with ten Thousands of Rivers of Oil? Shall I give my First-born for my Tranfgreffion, the Fruit of my Body for the Sin of my Soul? Juftification is the Point in View. How shall I obtain Remiffion of Sin? In what Manner shall my Tranfgreffion be expiated? So that I may appear with Acceptance before the righteous GOD?

To which it is replied; He hath fhewed Thee, O Man, what is good for this important Purpofe; namely, the MESSIAH; pointed out by all thy Sacrifices †, and described in the preceding Chapter. Atonement for Sin, and Peace with GOD, are to be made by a better Hand, and in a better Way, than thou propofeft. HE, whofe Outgoings have been from of old, from everlafting ; HE, who is the Son of the HIGHEST, and yet the Seed of Her that travaileth; HE hath undertaken, and will fully execute, this great Office.

And what doth the LORD thy GOD require of Thee? What Temper, what Conduct, what Expreffions of Gratitude, from his People? Who are reconciled through the Blood of CHRIST, and admitted to the Bleffings of the New Covenant §.They

* Mic. vi. 7, 8.

+ The ceremonial Law was to the Jews a real Gospel; which held Blood, Death, and Tranflation of Guilt, before their Eyes continually, as the only Way of Salvation. BOSTON's Fourfold State.

+ Mic. v. z.

| Mic. v. 3.

Which denotes an Inte

Thy GOD, is the Phrafe. reft; implies an Appropriation; and is the peculiar Lanof the Covenant.-Thy

guage

23

GOD; not made fo by

thy