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THEROJSrand ASPASIO:
O R, A
SERIES
O F
D I ALOGUES
AND
LETTERS,
UPON THE
Moft LnportafJt and Interejiing Subjedls,
IN THREE VOLUMES. By J AM E S ^ H E R V E Y, A. M.
JRedor of IFeJion-Favell^ in NorthamptonJ})ire.
Fur T^ion's Juke ivill 1 not hold my Peace, and for JerufalemVy«/f<? / <Txill not reji, until tie Righteoufnefs thereof go forth as Bright' nefs, and the Salvation thereof as a Latnp that burneth. Ifai, \\\\. i .
VOL. III.
LONDON:
Printed for John and James Riving ton, at the Bible and Crown, in St, PauPs Chiirch-yanL
M DCCL V.
S E R I E
O F
LETTERS.
LETTER VI.
T HERON to ASPASIO.
Hear A s'p a s i o, 2^.t*5*^i0i?p^ H E laft Evening was one of the •^^ finell I ever faw. According to S^J my C adorn, I made an Excur- ^0^^^^ iion into the open Fields ; and v,v^.. .yu ^ ^^j^^g^j nothing to complete the
Satisfa6lion, but my Friend's Company *. I could not but obferve, hov/ much your im- proving Converfation heightened the Charms of Nature. When Religion applied Philofo-
phy,
* Tu qtiod abes cxcepioy cater a latus.
Vol. III. ' B
2 Th£Ron/(?Aspasio. Let. 6.
phy, every Thing was inJlruBive, as well as plcajing. — Not a Breeze fwept over the Plains, to clear the Sky, and cool the Air; but it tended alfo to difperfe our Doubts, and in- liven our Faith in the fupreme all-fufficient GOOD. Not a Cloud tinged the Firma- ment with radiant Colours, or amufed the Sight with romantic Shapes ; but We beheld a PicLure of the prefent World, of \X.sfadi?ig Acquifitions 2>.\\A fantaflic Joys, in the mimic
Forms and the tranfitory Scene. Even the
weakeft of the Infeft-tribe, that fkim the Air in fportive Silence, addrefled Us with the ftrongefl Incitements, and gave Us the loudefl Calls, to be aBhe in our Day, and ujefiil in our Generation. They cried, at leaft when You lent them your Tongue,
^iich is vain Life^ an idle Flight of Days^ Afiill dehifive Round of fickly Joys, A Scene of little Cares, and trifling Pajpons, If not ennobled by the Deeds of Virtue,
How often, at the Approach of fober Eve, have We ftole along the Cloyfters of a fequef- -tred Bower j attentive to the Tale of fome querulous Current, that feemed to be flruck with Horror at the awful Gloom -, and com- plained with heavier Murmurs, as it pafTed under the blackening Shades, and along the PvOot-obll:ru6ledChan]iel. — Or elfe, far from the
bab-
Let. 6. Thei^on/^Aspasio. 3
babbling Brook, and foftly treading the grafly Path, We liflened to the Nightingales Song : while every Gale held its Breath, and all the Leaves forbore their Motion, that they might neither drown nor interrupt the melodious
Woe. From both which penfive Strains,
You endeavoured to temper and chaflife the exuberant Gaiety of my Spirits. You con- vinced me, that true Joy is a ferious Thing * : Is the Child of fedate Thought, not the Spawn of Intemperate Mirth : nurfed, not by the Sal- lies of diflblute Merriment, but by the Exer- cife of ferene Contemplation.
Sometimes, at the gladfome Return of Morn, we have afcended an airy Eminence j and hail- ed the new-born Day -, and followed, with our delighted Eye, ' the Mazes of fome glitter- ing Stream. Here riijlnng^ with impetuous
Fury, from the Mountain's Side ; foaming over the rifted Rocks, and roaring dov/n the craggy Steep. Impatient, as it were, to get free from fuch rugged Paths, and mingle with
the Beauties of the lower Vale. There,
flackening its headlong Career, and fmooth- ing its Eddies into an even Flow. Vv^hile, deep embofomed in the verdant Mead, it glides through the cheriflied and fmiling Herbage. Sometimes, loft amidft clofaig Willows; fomctimes, emerging with frefli Beauty from
the
■* Res fever a ejl vcrum Gaiidlum, Sen.
B 2
4 TiiERON/oAsPAsio. Let. 6.
the leafy Covert j always, roving with an Air of amorous Complacency ; and carelTing, as •it were, the fringed Banks, and flowery Glebe. — Reminded, by this watery Monitor, of that Conftancy and Vigour, with which the Af- fe6lions Ihould move towards the great Ctiiter
of Happinefs, CHRIST JESUS of that
determined Ardour, with which we fiiould break through the Intanglements of Temp- tation, and^Obfbacles of the World, in order
to reach our everlailing Rcji and of the
mighty DifFt-rence between the turbulent, the frothy, the precipitate Gratifications of Vice, and the calm, the fubftantial, the permanent Delights of Religion.
Or elfe, with eager View, we have furveyed the extenfive Profiecl, and wandered over all the Magnificence of Things — an endlefs Va- riety of graceful Obje6ls, and delightful Scenes ! Each foliciting our chief Regard ; every one worthy of our whole Attention ; all confpir- ing to touch the Heart with a mingled Tranf- port of Wonder, of Gratitude, and of Joy.
So that we have returned from our rural
Expecition, not as the Spendthrift from the Gaming-table, cuifing his Stars, and raving at his ill Luck 5 gulled of his Money, and the derided Dupe of Sharpers : Not as the Libertine from the Ilcufe of Wanton-
nefs.
Let. 6. Theron^'oAspasio. 5
nefs *, furfeited with the rank Debauch, dog- ged by Shame, goaded by Remorfe, with a thoufand recent Poiibns tingling in his Veins. But we returned, as Ships of Commerce from the ^oA/^/z Continent, or t\\Qfpicy Iflands, with new Acceliions of fubUme Improvement, and folid Pleafure. With a deeper Veneration for the Almighty CREATOR} with a warmer Senfe of his unfpeakable Favours ; and with a more inflamed Defire, " to know him now " by Faith, and after this Life to have the " Fruition of his glorious GODHEAD."
Sometimes, with an agreeable Relaxation, we have transferred our Cares, from the Wel- fare
* Solomon^ in order to deter unwary Youth from thofe Sinks of Uncleannefs, reprefents the Harlot under the Cha- racter of a peftilent Hag, or baleful Sorcerefs. Her Feet ^9 down to Death, Prov. v. 5. Her Hoiifc is the high Road )o Hell ; Prov. viii. 27. yea, her Gucjh are in the Depths of Hell; Prov. ix. 18.— The fecond Claufe feems to be em- phaticaL The original Exprefiion is in the plural Number 0"T1 I choofe therefore to render it, not fimply The Road^ but more largely The high Road: from which many other Ways of Guilt branch out, in which many other Paths of Ruin coincide. There, Murder is often icnown, to drench her Dagger in Blood ; and Robbery forms tlie ralii Reiblve, which ends in the ignominious Halter. There, Intempe ranee daily brews the Bowl, which enervates the Conftitu- tion, and transforms the Man into a Bead. While Difeafe, pale cadaverous noifome Difeafe, anticipates the Putrefac- tion of the Grave, and caufes the wretched Marfps of Fice
to rot even above Ground Well may ever}' one, that loves
Life, and would fain fee good Days, cry out with a Mixture ofDeteftation and Dread; " O my Soul, come not tiiou «' into their horrid Haunts I"
Vii mcliora piis, Errorem^ne HJlibus ilium ! Y'lri.
B3
6 THERoN^i?AsPAsio. Let. 6,
fare of the Nation, to the Flourilhing of the Farm j and, inftead of enacting Regulations for the civil Community, we have planned Schemes for the Cultivation of our Ground, and the Profperity of our Cattle, — Inftead of attending to the Courfe of Fleets, and the Deftination of Armies, We have dire6led the Plough, where to rend the grally Turf; or taught the Honeyfuckle to wind round the Ar- bour, ■ and the Jefiamine to climb upon the
"VVall. Inftead of interpofmg our friendly
Offices, to reconcile contending Kingdoms ; We have formed a I'reaty of Coalition^ between the ftranger Cyon, and the adopting Tree ; nnd, by the remarkable McHoration of the enfuing Fruit, demonftrated (would contend- ing Empires regard the Precedent) what Ad- vantages flow from pacific Meafures, and an amicable Union. — Inftead of unraveUng the Labyrinths of State, and tracing the FinefTes of foreign Courts -, We have made ourfelves acquainted with the Politics of Nature, and obferved, how wonderfully, how myfterioufly, that great Proje6lrers a{5ls. — In this Place flie rears a vaft Trunk, and unfolds a multipHcity of Branches, from one fmall Berry. She qua- lifies, by her amazing Operations, a few con- temptible Acorns, that were formerly carried in a Child's Lap, to bear the Britip Thunder round the Globe, and fecure to our Illand the
Sove-
Let. 6. The RON to Aspasio. 7
Sovereignty of the Ocean. — In another Place, fhe produces from a dry Grain, fi7'ft the green Blade j then the turgid Ear ; afterwards the full- grown and ripened Corn in the Ear *. Repay- ing, with exadt Punftuality, and with lavifh Ufury, the Hufbandman's Toil, and the Huf- bandman's Loan : caufing, by a moil furprif- ing Refurre6tion, the Death of one Seed, to be fruitful in the Birth of Hundreds.
But I forget your Caution, Afpafio ; forget, how kindly you have checked me, when I have been haranguing upon, I know not what, Powers and Works of Nature. Where- as, it is GOD who worketh hitherto -f- : who to this Day exerts, and to the End of Time will exert, that fecret but unremitted Energy, which is the Life of this majeftic Syftem, and the Caufe of all its ftupendous Operations. — Let this fhew you, how much I want my Guide, my Philofopher, and Friend. With- out his prompting Aid, my Genius is dull j my Refle6tions are auk ward ; and my religi- ous Improvements jejune ; fomewhat like the bungling Imitations of the Tool, compared
with the mafterly EfleiSls of Vegetation.
However, I will proceed. Yet, not from any View of informing my Jfpafio^ but only to draw a Bill upon his Pen ; and lay him under an Obligation to enrich me with another Let- ter,
* Mark iv. 28. f John v, 17.
B 4
8 Theron/(?Aspasio. Let. 6,
ter, upon the grand and excellent Subje6l of his lall.
Art is dim-fighted in her Plans, and defec- tive even in her moft elaborate Eifays. But Nature, or rather Nature's fublime AUTHOR, is indeed a Defigner and a Workmen that need not be afiamed"^. His Eye ilrikes out ten thou- fand elegant Models, and his Touch executes all with inimitable Perfection. — What an ad- mirable Specimen is Here> of the divine Skill, and of the divine Goodnefs ! This terraqueous Globe is intended, not only for a Place of Habitation, but for a Storehoufe of Conveni- encies. If We examine the feveral Apart- ments of our great Abode ; if We take a ge- neral Inventory of our common Goods -, We fnall find the utmoft Realbn to be charmed with the Difplays, both of nice Oeconomy, and boundlefs Profufion.
Obferve the Surface of this univerfal Mef-^ fuage. The Ground, coarfe as it may feem, and trodden by every Foot, is neverthelefs the Laboratory, v/here the moft exquifite Opera- tions are performed ; the Shop, if I may fo fpeak, where the finell Manufaftures are wrought. Though a Multitude of Genera- tions have always been accommodated, and though a Multitude of Nations arc daily fup-
pliecj
* 2 Tim. iii. 15.
Let. 6. Theron/oAspasio. 9
plied by its Liberalities, it flill continues in- exhauflible. Is a Refource, that never fails ; a Magazine, never to be drained.
The Unevemiefs of the Ground, far from being a Blemifh or a Defedj heightens its Beauty, and augments its Ulefulnefs. — Herey it is fcooped into deep and fheltered Vales, almofl conftantly covered with a fpontaneous Grov^th of Verdure : which, all tender and fucculent, compofes an eafy Couch, and yields the mofl agreeable Fodder, for the various
Tribes of Cattle. "Thef-ey it is extended into
a wide, open, champain Country : which, an- nually repleniflied with the Hufbandman's ^eed, fhoots into a copious Harveft. A Har- veft, not only of that principal Wheat, which is the Staff of our Life, and ftrengthens our Heart ; but of the appointed Barley *, aiid va- rious other Sorts of Grain, which yield an excellent Food for our Animals ; and either enable them to difpatch our Drudgery, or elfe fatten their Flefh for our Tables.
The Furrows, obedient to the Will of Man, vary their Produce -f-. They bring forth a Crop of tall, flexile, flender Plants % - whofe thin filmy Coat, dried, attenuated, and ikil-
fully
* Ifai. xxvlii. 25.
t One may venture to fay of the Earth, with regard ta its vegetable Operations ;
Omnia transformat fefe in Miracula Rerum, X Flax and Hemp.
lo Theron^oAspasio. Let. 6.
fully manufa6lured, transforms itfelf into feme of the moil necefTary Accofnmodations of Life, and genteeleft E?nbelUJJjments of Society.
It is wove into ample Volumes of Cloth ;
which, fixed to the Maft, give Wings to our Ships, and v^aft them to the Extremities of the Ocean. — It is twifted into vaft Lengths of Cordage ; which add Nerves to the Crane, and lend Sinews to the Pulley ; or elfe, adhering to the Anchor, they faften the VefTel even on the flu6luating Element, and fecure it even
amidfl: driving Tempefts. It furniflies the
Duchefs with her coflly Head-drefs, and deli- cately fine Ruffles. No lefs ftrong than neat, it fupplies the Plowman with his coarfe Frock, and the Sailor with his clumfy Trowfers. Its Fibres, artfully ranged by the Operations of the Loom, cover our Tables with a graceful Elegance, and furround our Bodies with a che- rifliing Warmth. On this the Painter fpreads the Colours, which inchant the Eye j in this the Merchant packs the Wares, which enrich the World.
Yonder, the Hills, like a grand Amphithe- atre, arife. Amphitheatre ! All the pompous Works of Roman Magnificence, are lefs than Mole-banks, are mere Cockle-fliells, compar- ed with thofe majeflic Elevations of the Earth. Some clad with manthng Vines -, fome crown- ed with towering Cedars ; fome ragged with
mif-
Let. 6. Theron/oAspasio. ii
mifliapen Rocks, or yawning with fubterra- neous Dens. Whofe rough and inacceflible Craggs, whofe hideous and gloomy Cavities, are not only a continual Refuge for the wild Goats, but have often proved an Afylum to perfecuted Merit*, and a Safeguard to the rnoft valuable Lives.
At a greater Diftance, the Moiintaim lift their frozen Brows, or penetrate the Clouds with their afpiring Peaks. Their frozen Brows arrefi the roving, and condenfe the rarefied Va- pours -f-. Their caverned Bowels collect the dripping Treafures, and fend them abroad, in gradual Communications, by trickling Springs. While their fVeep Sides precipitate the watery Treafures ; rolling them on with fuch a forci- ble Impulfe J, that they never intermit their
unwearied
* To David, from SauVs Malice j to EUjah, from Je- zehePs Vengeance ; to mapy of the primitive Chr'ijUans, from the Rage of perfecuting Emperors : they wandered in Defarts and in Mountains, in Dens and Caves of the Earth. Heb, xi. 38. •
t Therefore ftyled — Nimhoja Cacumina Monti;, Virg.
X It is obferved, that the largeft Rivers in the World, thofe which roll the heavieft Burden of Waters, and per- form the moft extenfive Circuit through the Nations, gene- rally take their Rife from Mountains. The PJnne, the Rhone, and the Po, all defcend from the Jlps. The Tygris derives its rapid Flood, from the everlafting Snows, and fteep Ridges of Niphates. And, to mention no more Infbnces, the River Ama-Lones, which pours itfelf through a Multitude of Provinces, and waters near eighteen hundred Leagues of Land, has its Urn in the Caverns, and its Impetus from the Pre<:ipices, of that irnmenfe Range of Hills the Andes,
If
12 Theron/oAspasio. Let. 6.
unwearied Courfe, till they have fwept through the moil extenfive CUmes, and regained their native Seas.
The Vineyard fwells into a Profufion of Clufters : fome, tinged with the deepeil Pur- ple, and delicately clouded with Azure : fome, clad with a whitidi tranfparcnt Skin, which fliews the tempting Kernels, lodged in lufcious Nectar. — The Vine requires a ftrong Reflec- tion of the Sun-beams, and a very large Pro- portion of Warmth. How commodioufly do the Hills and Mountains minifcer to this Pur- pofe ! May We not call thofe vaft Declivities, the Garden-%valls of Nature ? Which, far more effectually than the moft coflly Glaffes, or moil artful Green-houfes, concenter the folar Heat, and complete the Maturity of the Grape. Diftending it with a Liquor of the finefl Scent, the moft agreeable Relilh, and the moft ex- alted Qiialities : fuch as diffipate Sadnefs, and infpire ^''ivacity : fuch as make glad the Heart of Man, and moft fweetly prompt, both his Gratitude, and his Duty, to the munificent
GIVER. 1 grieve, and 1 blufla for my Fel-
low-
If the Reader Is inclined to fee the Origin and Forma- tion of Rivers defcribed, in all the Sublimity of Diction, and with all the Graces of Poetry, He may find this Enter- tainment in Mr, 77>c77//c'w's Autumn, /,/«. 781. Laft Edit.
Jmazing Scene ! behold, the Glooms difclofe.
J fee the Rivers in their infant Beds !
Deep, deep J hear tha/iy laboring to ^et free ! &C«
Let. 6. Theron ^ AsPASio. 13
low-creatures, that Any fhould abufe this In- dulgence of Heaven. That Any fliould turn fo valuable a Gift of GOD into an Inilru- ment of Sin. Turn the moil exhilarating of Cordials into Poifon, Madnefs, and Death.
The Kitchen-garden prefcnts Us with a new Train of Benefits. In its blooming Orna- ments, what unaffe6led Beauty ! In its cu- linary Produ6lions, what diverfified Riches 1 It ripens a Multitude of nutrimental Efculents, and almoft an equal Abundance of medicinal Herbs ; diftributing Refrefliments to the Healthy, and adminiilering Remedies to the Sick.—The Orchard, all fair, and ruddy, and bowing down beneath its own delicious Bur- den, gives Us a frefh Demonflration of our CREATOR'S Kindnefs. Regales Us, firfl, with all the Delicacies of Summer-Fruits ; next, with the more lafling Succeflion of au- tumnal Dainties.
What is Nature, but a Series of Wonders, and a Fund of Delights ! That fuch a Variety of Fruits, fo beautifully coloured, fo elegantly fhaped, and fo charmingly flavoured, fliould arife from the Earth ! Than which nothing is
more infipid, fordid, and defpicable. 1 am
flruck with pleafmg Aftoniihment at the Caufe of thefe fine EfFefts, and no lefs fur- prifed at the Manner of bringing them into Exilknce. I take a Walk in my Garden, or
a
14 Theron /o AsPAsio. Let. 6.
a Turn through my Orchard, in the Month of December. There Hand feveral Logs of Wood, fallened to the Ground. They are ere6l indeed and fliapely, but without either Senfe or Motion. No human Hand will touch them ; no human Aid will fuccour them ^ yet, in a httle Time, they are beautified with Blof- foms, they are covered with Leaves, and at lafl are loaded with mellow Treafures -, with the downy Peach and the polifhed Plum ; with the mufky Apricot and the juicy Pearj with the Cherry, and its coral Pendants, glowing through Lattices of Green,
a?id dark
Beneath her ample Leaf, the lufcioiis Fig,
I have wondered at the Stru6lure of my Watch, wondered more at the Defcription of the Silk- mills, moil of all at the Account of thofe pro- digious Engines invented by Archimedes. But what are all the Inventions of all the Geome- tricians and Mechanics in the World, com- pared with thefe inconceivably nice u^/^/o;;^^/*^ *
of
* Automata^ or felf-operathig Machines ; not meant to fet afidc the Superintendency of Providence, but only to exclude the Co-operation of Man.
The Word aJ]o/;ta]7i is ufed by our MASTER, Mark iv. 38. and a fine expreilive Word it is. Signify- ing, fays a Greek Scholiaft, t«? ix^yjvixc^ on aar avrxg tvi^y^a-cci. — It fecms to give us the true Senfe of that re- maricajble Phrafc, in the MofaicH\i\:ory of the Creation, "IC'}^ muT^ D^'T?^f {^12 Gen. ii. 3. If^/M God cnated and
wadf.
Let. 6. Theron/^Aspasio. 15
of Nature ! Thefe felf-oprating Machines dif- patch their Bufinefs, with a Punduality that never miftakes, with a Dexterity that cannot be equalled. In Spring, they clothe themlelves with fuch unftudied but exquifite Finery, as far exceeds the Embroidery of the Needle, or the Labours of the Loom. In Autumn, they prefent Us with fuch a Collation of Sweet- meats, as not only regale our Palate, but fur- pafs all that Fancy could imagine, or Appe- tite crave. So that thofe coarfe and fenfdefs
Logs, firft decorate the divine Creation, then perform the Honours of the Table.
If, amidft thefe ordinary Productions of the Earth, GOD appears fo great in Counfel and mighty in Work * : what may We expe6l to fee, in the Palaces of Heaven ; in the Hierarchies of Angels \ and in that wonderful R E- DEEMER, who is, beyond all other Objecls, beyond all other Manifeflations, the V/ifdom of GOD, and the Power of GOD -f!
The Foreji rears Myriads of mally Bodies. Which, though neither gay with Bloilbm.s, nor rich with Fruit, fupply Us with Timber
of
?nade, appears tautological, and is by no means an exa(5l Tranflation, It fhould rather be interpreted, JVhich GOD created in order to ttiake :, to make, by theCe proliiic In- ftruments and reproducing Principles, a continual Si^c- ceflion of Animals, Vegetables, and Creatures.
* Jer,XKX\i. 19, t i Cor. 1.24.
1 6 T H E R o x^ /(9 A s p A s I o. Let. 6,
of various Kinds, and of every defirable Qua- lity J. But who fliall cultivate fuch huge Trees, diffufed over fo vafl a Space ? The Toil were endlefs. See therefore the all-wife and ever-gracious Ordination of Providence ! They are fo conftituted, that they have no Need of the Spade and the Pruning-knife. Nay, the little Cares of Man would diminifh, rather than augment their Dignity and their Ufefulnefs. The more they are negle6led, the better they thrive j the more wildly grand and magnificent they grow.
When felled by the Axe, they are fawed into Beams, and fullain the Roofs of our Houfes : they are fafnioned into Carriages, and ferve for the Conveyance of the heaviefl Loads. — Their Subftance fo pliafit, that they yield to the Chizzel of the Turner, and are Imoothed by the Plane of the Joiner j are wrought into the niceft Diminutions of Shape, and compofe fome of the fineft Branches of houlhold Furniture. — Their Texture fo folidy
that
% Tully has given Us an Abridgment of all- the preced- ing Particulars. Which, I think, is one of the tineftLand- fchapes in Miniature, that the defcriptive Pen ever drew.— . Terra un'werfa cernatur, vejitta Floribus^ Herbis^ Arboribus, Frugibiis ; quorum omniuin incrcd'ibilis Multihido infattabili Varietate dijVinguitiir . Adde hue ForJiiim gelidas Pc ennitateSy Liquores perlucidos Aniniumy Riparum Vejlitus viridiJJimoSf Spe- luncarurn concavos Altitudines^ Saxor24m Afperiiatcs^ impenden- tium Montium AltitudiueSy Immenfitatcfque Camporum. De Nat. Deor. Lib. II.
Let. 6. Theron /o AsPAsio. 17
that they form the moft important Parts of thofe mighty Engines j which, adapting themfelves to the Play of mechanic Powers, difpatch more Work in a fmgle Hour, than could otherwife be accomplifhed in many Days.— At the fame Time, their Preffure is fo light, that they float upon the Waters ; and glide along the Surface, almofl with as much Agility, as the finny Fry glance through the Deep.— Thus, while they impart Magnificence to Architedure, and be^ How numberlefs Conveniencies on the Family; they conftitute the very Bafis of Navigation, and give Life, give Being to Commerce;
Amidft the inacceflible Depths of the Forefl, an Habitation ' is afiigned for thofe ravenous Beads, whofe Appearance would be frightful, and their Neighbourhood dangerous to Man- kind. Here, the fternly majeftic Lion roufes Himfelf from his Den, and awes the favage Herds with his Roar. Here, the fiery Tyger fprings upon his Prey, and the gloomy Bear trains up her Whelps. Here, the fwift Leo- pard ranges, and the grim Wolf prowls, and both in queft of Murder and Blood. — Were thefe horrid Animals to dwell in our Fields, what Havock would they make ? What Cofifier- nation would they fpread ? But they voluntarily bury themfelves, in the deeped Recefles of the Defart: while the Ox, the Horfe, and the fer- viceable Quadrupeds, live under our Infpec- Vol, III, C tion,
i8 Theron/oAspasio. Let. 6.
tion, and keep within our Call : profiting Us as much by their Prefence, as the others oblige Vs by their Abfence.
If, at any Time, thofe fhaggy Monflers make an Excurfion into the habitable World, it is when Man retires to his Chamber, and fleeps in Security. The Sun, which invites other Creatures abroad, gives them the Signal to retreat, ^be Sun arifethy and they get tbem cway^ and lay them down in their Dens *, Strange 1 That the orient Light, which is fo pleafmg to Us, fliould ftrike fuch Terror on them ! Should, more efFe6lually than a Le- gion of Guards, put them all to Flight, and clear the Country of thofe formidable Ene- mies I
If We turn our Thoughts to the Atmofpherc, We find a moft curious and exquifite Appara- tus of Air. Which, becaufe no Object of our Sight, is feldom confidered, and little regard- ed ; yet is a Source of innumerable Advan- tages. And all thefe Advantages, (which is al- moil incredible) are fetched from the very Jaws of Ruin. My Meaning may be obfcure, therefore I explain myfelf.
We live plunged, if I may fo fpeak, in an Ocean of Air. Whofe Frejjure^ upon a Per- fon of moderate Size, is equal to the Weight
oi ♦ PfaL civ. 22,
Let. 6. Theron/{?Aspasio. 19
of twenty thoufand Pounds. Tremendous Con- fideration ! Should the Ceiling of a Room, or the Roof a Houfe, fall upon Us with half that Force, what deftru6live Effects muft enfue. Such a Force would infallibly drive the Breath from our Lungs, or break every Bone in our Bodies. Yet, fo admirably has the divine WISDOM contrived this aerial Fluid, and fo nicely counterpoifed its dreadful Power, that We receive not the flighteft Hurt ; We fuffer no manner of Inconvenience ; We even enjoy the Load. Inftead of being as a Mountain on our Loins, it is like Wings to our Feet, or like Sinews to our Limbs. — Is not this common Ordination of Providence, thus confidered, fomewhat like the Miracle of the burning Bufh; whofe tender and combuilible Sub- ftance, though in the midft of Flames, was neither confumed nor injured * ? Is it not almoft as marvelous, as the Prodigy of the three Hebrew Youths ? Who walked in the fiery Furnace, without having a Hair of their Head fmged, or fo much as the Smell of Fire
paffing on their Garments -f- ? Surely, We
have Reafon to fay unto GOD; 01 how ter-* rible, yet how beneficent, art Thou in tijy Works!
The Air, tliough too weak to fupport our Flight, is a Thoroughfare for innumerable
Wings,
* £W, iii. 2. f Dan.'nu 27,
C 2
20 Th E RON /o Asp Asio. Let. 6*
Wings. Here the whole Commonwealth of Birds take up then' Abode. Here they lodge and expatiate, beyond the Reach of their Ad- verfaries. Were they to run upon the Earth, they would be expofed to ten thoufand Dan- gers, without proper Strength to refill them, or fufficient Speed to efcape them. Whereas, by mounting the Skies, and lifting themfelves up on high, they are fecure from Peril, they fcorn the Horfe and his Rider *. — Some of them perching upon the Boughs, others foaring amidft the Firmament, entertain Us with their Notes : Which are mufical and agreeable, when heard at this convenient Diflance ; but would be noify and importunate, if brought nearer to our Ears. — Here, many of thofe feathered Families refide, which yield Us a delicious 'Treat; yet give Us no Trouble, put Us to no Expence, and, till the Moment We want them, are wholly out of our Way.
e Air, commiffioned by its all-bountiful AUTHOR, charges itielf with the Admini- ftration of feveral Offices, which are perfedly obliging, and no lefs ferviceable to Mankind. — Co-operating with our Lungs, it vefitilates the Blood ; cools and qualifies the vital Warmth, promotes and exalts the animal Se- cretions. Many Days We might live, or even whole Months, without the Light of the -Sudl,
or
Let, 6. Theron/oAspasio. 21
or the Glimmering of a Star. Whereas, if We are deprived, only for a few Minutes, of this aerial Support, We ficken. We faint. We die. ■ — The fame univerfd -Nurfe has a confiderable Hand, in cherilhing the feveral Tribes of Plants. It helps to transfufe vegetable Vigour Into the Trunk of the Oak, and a blooming Gaiety into the Spread of the Rofe.
The Air undertakes to convey to our No- ftrils the extremely fubtil Efflwviay which tran- fpire from odoriferous Bodies. Thofe detached Particles are fo imperceptibly fmall, that they would elude the mofl careful Hand, or efcape the niceit Eye. But this trufty Depofitary re- ceives and efcorts the invifible Vagrants, with- out lofmg fo much as a fmgle Atom. Enter- taining Us, by this means, with the delightful Senfations, that arife from the Fragrance of Flov/ers ; and admonifliing Us, by the Tranf- miffion of offenfive Smells, to withdraw from an unwholefome Situation, or beware of any pernicious Food.
The Air, by its undulating Motion, conduds to our Ear all the Diverfities of Sound y and, thereby, difcharges the Duty of a moft feafon- able and faithful Monitor. As I walk acrofs the Streets of London ^ with my Eye engaged on other Objefts j a Dray, perhaps, with all its Load, is driving down directly upon me. Or, fts I ride alpng the Road, mufmg and unap^
C 3 pie-
52 The R ON /(? As PAS 10. Let. 6,
prehenfive, a Chariot and fix is whirling on, with a rapid Career, at the Heels of my Horfe, The Air, like a vigilant Friend, in pain for my Welfare, immediately takes the Alarm: and, while the Danger is at a confiderable Di- ftance, dil])atches a Courier to advertife me of the approaching Mifchief. It even thunders in my Ear^ and, with a clamorous but kind Importunity, urges me to be upon my Guard^ and provide for my Safety.
The Air wafts to our Senfe all the Modukr tions of Miific, and the more agreeable Enter- tainments of refined Converfation. When Myrtilla ftrikes the filver Strings, and teaches the willing Harpfichord to warble with her CREATOR'S Praife : when her facred Sonata warms the Heart with Devotion, and wings
our Defires to Heaven. When Clear a tunes
her Song, or the Nightingale imitates her m- chanting Voice : when She heightens every mcr lodious Note, with her adored REDEEMER'S Name ; and fo fmooths her charming Tones, fo breathes her rapturous Soul, " that GOD's " own Ear liflens delighted." — When Wifdom takes its Seat on Mitids Tongue j and flows, in perfpicuous Periods, and inflru6live Truths, amid ft the chofen Circle of his Acquaintance. — ^When Benevolence, afibciated with Perfua- fion, dwell on Nicanders Lips ; and plead the Caufe of injured Innocence, or opprelTed Vir- tue.
Let, 6. Theron/(?Aspasio, 23
tue. — When Goodnefs, leagued with Happi- nefs, accompany Eufebius into the Pulpit ; and reclaim the Libertine from the Slavery of his Vices ; difengage the Infidel from the Fafcina- tion of his Prejudices ; and fo afteftionately, fo pathetically invite the whole Audience, to partake the unequalled Joys of pure Religion. ' — In all thefe Cafes, the Air diflributes every mufical Variation with the utmoft ExaBnefs ; and delivers the Speaker's MefTage, with the moil punctual Fidelity, Whereas, without this Internuntio, all would be fuUen and unmeaning Silence. We fhould lofe both the Pleafure and the Profit J neither be charmed with the harm.o- nious, nor improved by the articulate Accents. The Breezes of the Air, when vague and unconfined, are fo very gentle ; that they iport, with the moll inofFenfive Wantonnefs, amidfl Ophelias Locks, and fcarce difadjufl: a fingle Curl. But, when colle(5led and applied by the Contrivance of Man, they a(5l with fuch pro^ digious Force 'y as is fufficient to whirl round the hugeft Wheels, though clogged with the mofl incumbering Loads. They make the pon- derous Millftones move as fwiftly, as the Dan- cer's Heel ; and the mafTy Beams play as nim- bly, as the Mufician's Finger.
If We climb, in Speculation, the higher Re- gions, here is an endlefs Succedion of ClouJsy
C4 fed
24 THERON/d?AsPASIO. Let. 6,
fed by Evaporations from the Ocean. The Clouds are themfeh^es a kind of Ocean, fuf- pended in the Air with amazing Skill. They travel, in detached Parties, and in the Quality of itinerant Ciflerns^ round all the terreftrial Globe. They fru6lify, by proper Communir cations of Moifture, the fpacipus Paftures of the Wealthy; and gladden, with no lefs libe- ral Showers, the Cottager's little Spot. Nay, fo condefcending is the Benignity of their great Proprietor, that they fatisfy the defolate and ijoafte Ground j and caufe^ even in the moil: un- cultivated Wilds, the Bud of the tender Herb to fpring forth *. That the Natives of the lonely Defart, thofe favage Herds which know no Mailer's Stall, may neverthelefs experience the Care, and rejoice in the Bounty, of an all-fup- porting PARENT.
How wonderful ! That the Water, which is much de?2fcr and far heavier than the Air, fliould rife into it ; make its Way through it ; and take a Station in the very uppermoif Re- gions of it ! This, One fliould imagine, were aimoft as impoffible, as for the Rivers to run back to their Source. Yet PROVIDENCE has contrived a Way, to make it not only pra6ti- cable, but Matter of continual Occurrence.
How wonderful ! That pendent Lakes fhould |)e difiufed, ovfuid Mountains heaped over our
Heads, j
* Job xxxviii. 27.
Let. 6. The RON /o Asp AST o. 25
Heads -, and both fuftained in the thinneft Parts of the Atmofphere ! We Httle think of that furprifing Expedient, which, without Conduits of Stone, or Veflels of Brafs, keeps fuch Loads of Water in a buoyant State j and with-holds them from rufhing down, with furious and diforderly Violence. Job confidered this, not without holy Admiration, and grateful Praife. Dojl thou know the Balancings of the Clouds^ How fucli ponderous Bodies are made to hang with an even Poife, and hover like the lightefl Down? Thefe are the wonderoiis Works of HIM who is perfe^ in Knowledge *. He bindeth up the Waters in his thick Clouds ; a?2d the Cloud, though nothing is more loofe and fluid, becomes, by the ALMIGHTY'S Order, firm and tenacious as Caiks of Iron j it is not rent f under all the Weight.
When the Sluices are opened, and the Wa- ters defcend, One is apt to fufpecl, that they fhould guili forth in Catara61s, or pour them- felves out in Torrents. Whereas, inftead of fuch a precipitate EfFufion, which would be infinitely pernicious, they coalefce into Globules, and are difpenfed in gentle Showers. They are often attenuated into the Smallnefs of a Hair J j
they
* Jobuxxvn. 16. t Jobxxvl. 8.
X The Hebrew Words, which convey the Idea of gentle Rain, fignify a Portion of Water, made fmall as a Hair, or divided into Milliom of Parts, CUOlT tDnV^ Deut. xxxii. 2.
26 Theron/oAspasio. Let. 6.
they fprcad themfelves, as if they were ftrained througli the Orifices of the finefl Watering- pot j and form thofe fmall Dj-ops of Rairiy which the Clouds dijlil upon Man abundantly *. Thus, inflead of drowning the Earth, and fweeping away its Fruits, they cherifh univer- fal Nature j and, in Conformity to the Prac- tice of their great MASTER, dillribute their humid Stores to Men, to Animals, and Vege- tables, as they are able to bear them -f-.
Befides the Receptacles of Water, here are cantoned various Parties of Winds, mild or fierce, gentle or boiflerous ; furnifhed with breezy Wings, to fan the glowing Firmament, and diffufe Refrefliment on a fainting World : or elfe, fitted to a6l as an univerfal Befom -, and, by fweeping the Chambers of the Atmo- fphere, to preferve the fine aerial Fluid free from Feculencies. Without this wholefome Agency of the Winds, the Air would ilagnate 5 become putrid ^ and furround Us, in the lite- ral Senfe of the Words, with Darknefs that might be felt %. Lojidon, Paris, and all the great Cities in the World, inftead of being the Seats of Elegance, would degenerate into Sinks pf Corruption.
At Sea, the Winds fwell the Mariner's Sails, and fpeed his Courfe along the watery Way: fpeed it far more efFe6lually, than a
thoufand
•* Job xxxvi, 28. t ^(^rk iv. 33. % Exod,x. ?i,
Let. 6. Theron/oAspasio. 27
thoufand Rowers, bending to their Strokes, and tugging at the Oar. — By Lajidy they per- form the Office of an immenfe Seed-man, and fcatter abroad the reprodu6live Principles of a Multitude of Plants j which, though the Staff of Life to many Animals, are too fmall for the Management, or too mean for the Attention
of Man. HE brhigeth the Winds out of his
Treafuries *, is a very juft Obfervation , whe- ther it relate to G O D*s abfolute and uncon- troulable Dominion over this mofl potent Me- teor, or to its welcome and falutary Influence * on all the Face of Nature.
Here are Lightnings ftationed. Though dor- mant at prefent, they are in a(5l to fpring, and launch the livid Flame: whenever their piercing Flafh is neceffary, to deflroy the fid- phureous Vapours ; or diflodge any other noxi- ous Matter, which might be prejudicial to the delicate Temperature of the ^Ether, and ob- fcure its more than cryilaUine Tranfparency.
Above all is fituate a radiant and majeftic Orb, which inlightens the Trails, chears the Inhabitants, and colours all the Productions of this habitable Globe. While the Air, by a fm- gular Addrefs in managing the Rays, ampli^
fies
** Pfal. cxxxv. 7. ^am falutares autemdedit^ quam tem pejiivos non modo Hominian^ fed ctiam Pecudwn Generic lis de- nique omnibus qua oriuntur a Terra^ Ventos ? Riorum Flatu nimii temperantur Calores^ ab ufde?n et'iam maritimi Curjus ce-. lersi csf nrii diriguntur^ De Nat. Deor. Lib. II,
28 Th ERON /c Asp Asio. Let. 6.
fies their Ufefulnefs : its rejieSiing Power * aug- ments that Heat, which is the Life of Nature; its rejraciing Power prolongs that Splendor, which is the Beauty of the Creation. — Thefe Emanations of Light, though formed of inac- tive Matter, yet (aflonifliing Apparatus of al- mighty Wifdom!) are refined almofl to the Siibtilty of Spirit, and are fcarce inferior even to Thought in Speed. By which means, they fpread themfelves, with a kind of inftantane- ous Swiftnefs, through the Circumference of a whole Hemifphere; and though they fill, where-ever they pervade, yet they flraiten no Place, imbarrafs no One, incumber Nothino:.
Thefe give the Diamond its Brilliancy, and the Velvet its Glofs : to thefe the chearful Eye
is
* The Air is a curious Cover^ which, without oppreffing the Inhabitants of the Earth with any perceivable Weight, confines, refledls, and thereby increajcs the vivifying Heat of the Sun. The Air increafes this kindly Heat, much in the fame manner as our Garments by Day, or Bed-clothes by Night, give additional Warmth to our Bodies. — Whereas, when the aerial Veftment grows thin, or, to fpealc more phi- lofophically, when the Air becomes lefs in Qiiantity, and more attenuated in Quality, the folar Warmth is very fen^ fibly diminifhed. Travelers on the lofty Mountains of Ame- rica^ fometimes experience, to their terrible Coft, the Truth of this Obfervation. Though the Clime, at the Foot of thofe prodigious Hills, is even hot and fultry ; yet on their Sum- mits, the Cold rages with fuch exceffive Sevcrit}'^, that it is no unufual Calamity, for the Horfe and his Rider to be frozen to death. — We have therefore great Reafon to blefs the fu- preme DISPOSER of Things, for placing Us in the commo- dious Concavity, or rather under the chcrijking Wings of ai^ Atmofphere,
Let. 6. The RON /(? Asp AS 10. 29
is obliged for its lively Sparkle, and the mo- deft Cheek for its rofy Blulh. Thefe, attend- ing the judicious Touches of the Pencil, bid the Drapery flow, and the embodied Figure rife ; bid the Countenance wear the calm Se- renity of Thought, or be agitated with the
wild Tranfports of Paflion. Without this
Circumftance of Colour, we fhould want all the Entertainments of Vifion, and be at a Lofs to diftinguifh one Thing from another. We Ihould hefitate to pronounce, and muft take a little Journey to determine, whether yonder Inclofure contains a Piece of Pafturage, or a Plot of arable Land. We fhould queftion, and could not very expeditioufly refolve, whe- ther the next Perfon We meet, be a Soldier in his Regimentals, or a Swain in his Holy-day Suit ? A Bride in her Ornaments, or a Widow in her Weeds. But Colour, like a particular Livery, chara6lerizes the Clafs, to which each Individual belongs. It is the Label, which in- dicates, upon the firft Infpeftion, its refpec- tive Quality. It is the T'icket, which guides our Choice, and dire6ls our Hand *.
We
* This, I believe, fuggefts the true Senfe of thofe noble Metaphors, ufed by the divine Speaker. It is turned as Clay to the Seal, and they Jiand as a Garment : It, the Earth and all its Productions receive, from the rifing Sun, both Colour and Beauty. Juft as the foft Clay, and the melting Wax,
receive an elegant Impreflion from the Seal. They (the
Morning and the Day-fpring, mentioned m a preceding
Verfe)
30 Theron/(?Aspasio. Let. 6.
We have cuiforily furveyed the upper Rooms of our great Habitation, and taken a Turn along the Ground-floor j if We defcend into the fubterraneous Lodgments, the Cellars of the ftately Structure, We fhall there alfo find the moft exquifite Contrivance, a6ling in Concert
with the moft profufe Goodnefs. Here are
various Minerals^ of fovereign Efficacy in Me- dicine: that redify the vitiated Blood, and quicken the languid Spirits; that often re- kindle the fading Bloom in the Virgin's Com- plexion, and reinvigorate the infeebled Arm
of Manhood. Here are Beds fraught with
Metals of the richeft Value. From hence come the golden Treafures, from hence the filver Stores, which are the very Life of Traffic ; and circulate through the Body politic, as the vital Fluid through the animal Frame. Which, in the refining Hand of Charity, are Feet to the Lame, and Eyes to the Blind, and make the Widow's Heart fing for Joy. — Here are Mines, which yield a Metal of meaner Afpedt, but of a firmer Cohefion, and of fuperior Ufefulnefs.
A
Verfe) fand as a Garment ; they a6l the Part of a magnifi- cent and univerfal Clothing ; give all vifible Objedls, their comely Afped, and graceful Diftindions. Jobxxii.\m. 14. What bold and fine Images are here ! — The Sea had been defcribed as an Infant^ changeable, froward, and impetuous, with thick Darknefs for its Swadling-band. The Light is re- prefented as an Handmaid, attending to drefs the Creation ; and executing the CREATOR'S Orders^ with a Puniluaiity that never faa^, with a Speed that cannot be equalled.
Let. 6. Theron/(?Aspasio. 31
A Metal, that furnifhes almoft all the Im- plements, with which Art executes her various Deflgns. Without the Afliitance of Iron, Trade would be reduced to the loweft Ebb; Com- merce would feel her Wings clipped ; and every Species of mechanic Skill, either ut- terly fail, or be miferably baffled. Without the Affillance of Iron, it would be almoft im- poffible to rear the fteady Maft, to difplay the daring Canvas, or drop the faithful Anchor. Deftitute of this ever-needful Commodity, we Ihould have no Plow to furrow the Soil, no Shuttle to traverfe the Loom, fcarce any Or- nament for polite, or any Utenfil for ordinary Life.
Here is an inexhaufted Fund of comhuftible Materials *, which fupply the whole Nation with Fewel. Thefe prefent their Miniftrations in the Kitchen ; and yielding themfelves as Ali- ment to the Flame, render our Food both pa- latable and healthy. — Thefe offer their Service at the Forge -, and, with their piercing Heat, mollify the moft ftubborn Bars, till they become
pliant to the Stroke of the Hammer. The
Coah pour themfelves likewife into the Glafs-
houfes^
* As for the Earth, fays yob, out of it cometh Bread : Corn, Vegetables, and whatever is good for Food, fpring from its Surface. While under it, is turned up as it were Fire : its lower.Parts n*nnn its deeper Strata, yield combuftibie Ma- terials ; which are eafily inkindled into Fire, and adminifter the moft fubftanti.il Fewel for the Flame. Job xxviii, 5,
32 Theron/oAspasio. Let. 6.
houfes. They rage, amidft thofe aftonifliing Furnaces, with irrefiftible but ufeful Fierce^ nefs. They liquify even the obdurate Flint, and make the moll: rigid Subftances far more ductile, than the fofteft Clay, or the melting Wax : make them obfequious, not only to the lighteft Touch, but to the Impreflions of our very Breath.
By this means, we are furnifhed, and from the coarfeft Ingredients, with the moft curious, beautiful, and ferviceable Manufa6lure in the World. A Manufa61:ure, which tranfmits the chearing Light of the Sun into our Houfes, yet excludes the Annoyance of the Rains, and the Violence of the Winds. Which gives 7iew Eyes to decrepit Age, and vafHy ?no?'e inlarged Views to Philofophy and Science : which leads up the Aftronomer's Difcernment, even to the Satellites of Saturn ; and carries down the Na- turalift's Obfervation, as far as the Animal- cule Race : bringing near what is immenfely remote, and making vifible what, to our un- aflifted Sight, would be abfolutely impercept- ible.
We have alfo, when the Sun withdraws his Shining, an Expedient to fupply his Place. We can create an artificial Day in our Rooms, and prolong our Studies, or purfue our Bufi- nefs, under its chearing Influence. With beam- ing Tapers and ruddy Fires, We chafe the
Darknefs,
Let. 6. Theron/oAspasio. 33
Darknefs, and mitigate * the Cold ; We cherifh Converfation, and cultivate the focial Spirit. We render thofe very Intervals of Time, forne of the moft delightful Portions of our Life, which otherv^ife would be a joylefs and un- improving Void.
Thefe obfcure Caverns are the Birth-place of the moft fparkhng Gems. Which, when nicely polifhed, and prodigal of their Luftre,
ftand
* I can hardly forbear tranfcribing the grateful and pious Remark, which Socrates makes on this Occafion. Demon- ftrating, from the advantageous and benign Conftitution of Things, G O D's indulgent Care for Mankind, He afks ; To Si xcci ro TTV^ -tso^Kron v[J.iv^ nnxa^ov f/.iv i|/up(^K?, sTrmaoov ^i <rKO%g, (TVVEofov Ss tt^^ TTOicrccv rs^vriV) axi ira.vloi oto. u(pe~ Aftaj evsKX av6pw7rof >iOiicc(TK£vx^ovloc.i ; fig yocp <rvvs?.ovli (iTTuv, xJ'fv oi^ioXo'yov xvev 7rup(^ ocv^puttoi twv zt^(^ fioi/ yp^- eiiy^cov nala(r>iBvxC,ov\oci. — To which his Pupil very intelli- gently replies, TTTfoSaAAft x«j t«]o (PiXav^ccTntx. Fid. So- crat, Memor. Lib. iv. A Work, that may be ranked among the y7w^ Remains of Antiquity. Equals 'tis acknowledged, to any of the antient Compolitions in Purity of Style, and Dignity of Sentiment. Superior, I think, to them all, for the artful, delicate, and happy Manner of conveying In- ftru6lion.
I wifh, the Author of the preceding Dialogues had been better acquainted v/ith the Socraiic Method j and I could wifh, that young Students for the Miniftry would adopt the Skill of this heathen Philolbpher. Perhaps, no Qualification of human Growth, would more effectually contribute to render them, what St. PWftyles, ^Kj'aKlocs?. It feems to be the moft infinuating zw^ Juccefsful Way both to convince and inftrutSt. Nay, it convirices the Opponent out of his own Mouth, and makes the Pupil inftru6f himfelf. It is what the Teacher fcnt from GOD prailifed, in thofe in- comparable Sketches of obliging ind mafterly Addreis, The Parable of the two Debtors^ and of the good Samaritan^ Luk. vii. 41. Luk.x, 30,
Vol. IIL- D
34 The RON to Aspasio. Let. 6^
ftand Candidates for a Place on the royal Crown, or a Seat on the virtuous Fair One's Breaft. And, I will not with our Men of Gallantry fay, emulate the living Brilliancy of her Eyes ; but ferve as a Foil, to fet off the Lovelinefs and Excellency of her accomplifhed Mind, and amiable Converfation : whofe Frice^ according to the unerring EHimate of Infpi- ration, is fuperior to Sapphires, is far above Rubies *.
Here are parries, ilocked with Stones, in- ferior in Beauty to the Jeweler's Ware, but much more eminently beneficial. Which, when properly ranged, and cemented with a tenacious Mortar, form the convenient Abodes of Peace, and build the flrongtft Fortifications of War : defending Us from the Inclemencies of the Weather, and the more formidable Af- faults of our Enemies. Thefe conftitute the Arches of the Bridge, the Arms of the Mole, and tlie rocky Girdle of our Quays : which convey the Traveler, with pcrfecl Security, over the moil rapid Rivers j or fcreen the Bark from the deftruclive Inroad of tempelluous Seas. Thefe ftony Treafures are compara- tively y^, while they continue in the Bowels of the Earth -, but acquire an increafing Hard- nefs, when expofed to the open Air. Was this remarkable Peculiarity reverfed, what Diffi- culties
Let. 6. TheroN /o AsPAsio. _ * 3.^ cnlties would attend the Labours of the Ma- {on ? His Materials could not be extracted from their Bed, nor fafhioned for his Purpofe, with- out infinite Toil. Were his Work completed, it could not long withftand the Fury of the Elements j but infenfibly mouldering, or in- ceflantly decaying, would elude the Expefta- tions of the Owner ; perhaps, might prove an immature Grave, inflead of a durable Dwel- ling.
Here are various Affortments or vaft Layers of Clay. Which however contemptible in its Appearance, is abundantly more advantageous, than the Rocks of Diamond, or the Veins of Gold. This is moulded, with great Expedi- tion and Eafe, into Veflels of any Shape, and of almoft every Size. Some, fo delicately fine, that they compofe the moft elegant and orna- mental Furniture, for the Tea-table of a Prin- cefs. Others, fo remarkably cheap, that they are ranged on the Shelves, and minifter at the Meals, of the pooreft Peafant. All fo per- fe6lly neat, that no Liquid takes the lead Taint, nor the nicefi: Palate any Difguii, from their cleanly Services*
A Multiplicity of other valuable Stores, are
locked up by Providence, in thofe ample Vaults.
The Key of all is committed to the Manage-
iiient of Indujiry ; with free Permiffion to pro-
D z duce
'^6 Theroi>^/oAspasio. Let. 6.
duce each particular Species, as Neceflity fliall demand, or Prudence dire6l.
Which fiiall we moft admire, the bountiful Heart, the Uberal Hand, or the all-difcerning Eye of our great CREATOR ? How obferv- able and admirable is his Precaution^ in re- moving thefe ufeful but cumbrous Wares, . from the Superficies ; and flowing them, in
proper Repofitories, beneath the Ground !
Were they fcattered over the Surface of the Soil, the Earth would be embarrajj'ed with the enormous Load. Our Roads would be block- ed up, and fcarce any Portion left free for the Operations of Hufbandry. W^ere they bu- ried extremely deep, or funk to the Center of the Globe, it would cofl Us immenfe Pains to procure them ; or rather, they would be quite inaccejfible. — Were they uniformly fpread into a Pavement for Nature ; the Trees could not ftrike -their Roots, nor the Herbs flioot their
Blades, but univerfal Sterility mufl enfue.
Whereas, by their prefent Difpofition, they furnifh Us with a Magazine of metalHc, with- out caufing any Diminution of our vegetable Treafures. Foflils of every noble and fervice- able Kind enrich the Bowels, while Bloom and Verdure embellifh the Face of the Earth.
So judicious is the Arrangement of this grand Edifice ! So beneficent the Deltination
of
Let. 6. Theron/(5Aspasio. 37
of its whole * Furniture ! In which, all is re- gulated with confummate Skill, and touched into the higheft Perfedion. All mod exaftly adapted to the various Intentions of Provi- dence, and the manifold Exigencies of Man- kind : to fupply e'Dcry Want, We can feel ; and gratify every Wijh, We can form.
Infomuch that the vv^hole Syftem affords a favourite and exalted Topic of Praife, even to thofe diftinguiflied Beings, who Jiand on the Sea of Glafs, and have the Harps of GOD in their Hands. They lift their Voice and fuig, Great and marvelous are thy^ Works, O LORD GOD Almighty -f! — And is there not Reafon, my Afpafw would fay, infinite Reafon, for Us to join this triumphant Choir -, and add Gratitude to our Wonder, Love to our Hal- lelujahs ? Since all thefe Things are to Us, not merely Obje6ls of Contemplation, but Sources of Accommodation : not only a ma-
jeific
* No Notice is taken of the Ocea7i, in this little Rent-roll of Nature's Wealth ; becaufe, a diftina Sketch is given of that <^rand Refervoir and its principal Services, in LctlcrYK.
f'iifw/. XV. 3. Great and marvelous are thy JForks^ O LORD GOD Almighty I Jujl and true are thy Ways, Thou KING of Saints I The firft Part feems to mean, what the infpired Writer calls. The Song cfMofes. The Second con- tains, what He ftyles. The Song of the LAMB. The firft, I Ihould imaeine, relates to the ftupendous Works of Crea- tion. The £cond alludes to the far more wonderful Scheme of Redemption. The former, defcribing the Sytlem of Na- ture, is recorded by Mofes ; the latter, comprehendmg the Salvation of the Saints, is accompliihed by CHRIST.
D 1
38 The RON to Asp as 10. Let. 6,
jeftic Spe61:acle, bright with the Difplay of our CREATOR'S Wifdoin, but an ineftimable Gift, rich with the Emanations of his Good- nefs. The Earth hath He Jet before the Inha- bitants of Glory, but the Earth hath He given
to the Children of Men'^. Having given Us
Ourfelves ; given Us a World -, has He not a Right, a moft unqueftionable and unrivaled Right, to make that tender Demand ? My Son J give me thy Heart -f-.
Shall I add another PafTage ? Which, view- ed with any but the laft Paragraph, will be like the Head of Goldy eminent and confpicu- ous on Feet of Iron and Clay. It is taken from the fineft philofophical Oration, that ever was made. I never read it, but with a Glow of Delight, and with ImprelTions of Awe. It is,
in fhort, inimitably fpirited and fublime.
You think, perhaps, I aft an impolitic Part, in being fo lavifh of my Praife ; and that the Quotation muft fuffer, by fuch an aggrandiz- ing Introduction. But I am under no Appre- henfions of this Kind. Forbear to be delightr ed, if You can j ceafe to admire, ifYou can ; When You hear OMNISCIENCE itfelf declar- ing. That, on the Sight of this univerfal Fa- bric, emerging out of Notliing, The Morn- ing Stars sang together, and all thj^
Sons of GOD shouted for Joy J. The
Syflem * Pfal cxv. 16. t Frov. xxiii. 26, % Job xxxviii. 5,
Let. 7' Aspasio/<jT HERON. 39
Syflem was fo graceful, fo magnificent, and, in all Refpecls, fo exquifitely finiflied ; that the moft exalted Intelligences were charmed, were traniported. They knew not how to exprefs themfelves on the great Occafion, but in Shouts of Exultation, and Songs of Praife. Is it pof- fible for Imagination to conceive an Enco- mium, fo juft, fo high, fo beautifully noble ! — I am fure, after fo much Delicacy, and Ma- jefty of Sentiment, any thing of mine mud be intolerably flat ; unlefs You will except this one Profefiion, that I am, with the moll cor- dial Sincerity,
My dear Afpafio,
inviolably yours,
Theron.
LETTER Vn.
AsPAsio to Theron.
My dear T h e RO N,
IF You write with fuch a View, and from fuch a Motive, as are mentioned in your laft, expe6l no more free-will Offerings from my Pen. In this one Inftance, I fliall think it my Puty to be covetous. I fliall aft the D 4 Mifer
40 AsPASio fo Thekon. Let. 7.
Mifer out of Principle y and hardly perfuade myfelf to part with a fmgle Line, till it is be- come an undeniable Debt. I mufl turn your cv/n Artifice on Yourfelf ; and lay You under a Neceffity of obliging, entertaining, and edifying me by your Correfpondence.
For, give me Leave to afTiire You, that I am alvv'ays delighted, and aWays improved by your Epiftles. They fhew mc a Multitude of Beauties in the Creation, which I fliould not otherwife have difcerned. They point out the infmite Power, the unfearchable Wifdom, and the charmingly rich Goodnefs of the glorious MAKER. Such a Phiiofophy turns all Na- ture into a School of Inftruclion, and is an excellent Himd?naid to true Religion. It makes every Obje6l a Step, better than a golden Step, to raife both our Knowledge and our Affec- tions to the adorable and immortal CAUSE of all.
While I am roving heedlefly along, your Remarks often interpofe, like fome intelligent faithful Monitor, who claps his Hand upon my Breaff, and fays ; Stand Jiill, and co?iJider the 'wondrous Works of GOD^\ — Willingly I obey the Admonition ; the Chriftian may, with pe- culiar Complacency, behold this grand Maga- zine of Wonders, this copious Storehoufe of Bleffings; and, confcious of an Intereft in
JESUS^ * yob xxxvii, 14.'
Let. 7* AsPASio /c Theron. ^i
JESUSy has a Right to call them all y6/j cwn *. He may look round upon prefent Things 'y look forward unto future Things ; and, trufting in his SAVIOUR's Merit, may confidently fay—-" Not one only, but both *' thefe Worlds are mine. By virtue of my « REDEEMER'S Righteoufnefs, I pofTefs " the necefTary Accommodations of this Life ; *' and, on the fame unfhaken Footing, I fland " intitled to the inconceivable Felicity of a « better."
Surely then it w^ill be as pleafing an Employ, and as important a Search, to examine thtFa- Udity of oxxY Title to all Things, as to eft im ate the Value of our prefent Poilelfions. Tou have executed the one. Let me attem.pt the other.-— You have furveyed material Nature : it ap- pears to be void of all Defeft -, and, for the Purpofes w^hich it is intended to anfwer, com- pletely finiihed. Is not our SAVIOUR's Obe- dience, the Provifion miade for indigent and
guilty Souls, equally perfefc ? Since this is
everlafting and immutable ; fmce the other is tranfient and periihabie -, doubtiefs We may argue with the judicious Apoftle : If that which is to be done away, which will foon be confign- ed over to DilTolution, is glorious ; ?nuch more that which remaineth, whofe blcffed EffeCls con- tinue to eternal Ages, is glorious f .
We
* iC(7r. iii. 21. t 2 Ccr. iii, II.
4? AsPAsio /^ Theron. Let. 7.
We are every One, as an uncle aji Tubing *, Our very Nature is contaminated. Even Sane- tification, though it deflroys the reigning, does not wholly fuperfede the polluting Power of Iniquity. So that whatever Graces We exer- cife, whatever Duties We perform, (like the Rays of Light tranfmitted through coloured Crlafs, or like generous Wine ftreaming from a defiled Caik) they receive fome improper 1 'inge, or contra6l fome debafmg Taint. But CZ/i-J/^'/was intirely free from this in?mt€ Contagion. He had no erroneous Apprehen- fions in his Mind, no corrupt Bias upon his Will, nor any irregular Concupifcence in his Affections-
Being thus perfeclly undefiled. He did n& Sin J neither ivas Guile found in his Mouth -f. All his Thoughts were innocent, all his Words were irreproachable, and every Action blame- lefs. The mofl accomplifhed among the Chil- dren of Men, when furprifed in fome un- guarded Moment, or alTaulted on fome weak Side, have been betrayed into Error, or hur- ried into Sin. Even Mofes fpake unadvifedly with his Lips ; and Aaron, the Saint of the LORD, warped to idolatrous Praftices. They were like fome ftagnating Lake j in 'which, the Dregs being fubfided, the Waters appear clean ; but, when flirred by Temptation, ox
agitate4
♦ Ifaiah Ixiv. 6, t I Pit. ii, 22:
Let. 7' AsPAsio to Th^ron. 43
agitated by Affli6lion, the Sediment rifes, and the Pool is difcoloured. Whereas, CHRISl' may be compared to a Fountain, that is all Tranfparency, and pure to the very Bottom : which, however fliaken, however difturbed, is nothing but fluid Cryllal 5 permanently and invariably clear.
It was a fmall Thing for the biefled JESUS, to have no depraved Propenfity 5 He v^as born in a State of co?2fiimmate ReBitude^ and adorn- ed with all the Beauties of Holinefs. HOLI- NESS TO THE LORD was infcribed, not on the Mitre J but on the Heart of our great HIGH-PRIEST. Therefore He is flyled by the Angelic Harbinger pf his Birth, THAT
HOLY THING*. Jn the Prophecy of
Zechariah, the Dignity of our REDEEMER'S Nature, and the Perfection of his Obedience, are difplayed by the Similitude of a Stone -f-, adorned wdth cxquifite Engraving. Wrought,
not
* Luhe i. 35. — Which is fpoken, in ContradtJi'mSiion to the State of all other Births ; and implies the univerfal'^rtvz.- lence of original Corruption, this one Inftance only excepted. For, if other Infants were holy at their firft Formation, and made after the Image of GOD, this Remark had been tri- vial and impertinent, if not droll and burlefque ; like fay- ing with great Solemnity, " The Child fhall have a Mouth *' and a Head j aye, and Eyes in the one, and Lips to the *« other."
t Zechar. iii. 9, 10, Behold the Stone that I have laid be- fore Jofhua : upon one Stone Jliall be fevcn Eyes ; beheld! I wilt engrave the Graving thereof, faith the LORD of Hofls, mA i will remove the Iniquity of tlmt Land in one Day.
44 Aspasio/(?Theron. Let. 7.
not by Bezakel or AhoUaby though divinely infpired Artifts, but by the Finger of JEHO- VAH Himfelf ; and more highly finifhed, than it is pofTible for human Skill to equal, or hu- man Thought to conceive.
The whole Tenour of our LORD's Con- duct, was a living Exemplification of Piety and Morality, in their mofl extenjive Branches, and moft amiable Forms. Saints of the high- eft Attainments, have fallen fhort of the Glory of G O D J have been far from reaching the exalted Standard of his Precepts. But CHRIST failed in no Point, came fhort iii no Degree. — We formerly obferved the great Sublimity, and vaft Extent of the divine Law. From whence appears the extreme Difficulty, nay the utter Impoffibility of our Juftification, on Account of any Duties performed by Our- felves. How fhould We rejoice then to con- template the vicarious Righteoufnefs of our condefcending and adorable SURETY? As the Mercy-feat was exa6lly commenfurate to the Dimenfions of the Ark ; fo did our LORD's Obedience mo^ fully quadrate with all and every Demand of the divine Law. It flowed from thofe noble Principles, fupreme Love to GOD, and unfeigned AfFe6lion to Mankind.
From thofe two capital Sources, let Us trace our LORD'S Obedience, through fome little
Part
Let. 7- AsPASio /o Theron. 45
Part of its illuflrious Progrefs. His Delight
in GOD was confpicuous, even from his early Years. The facred Solemnities of the San6luary, were more engaging to his youth- ful Mind, than all the Entertainments of a
Feflival. When He entered upon his Mi-
niftry, whole Nights were not too long for his copious Devotions. The lonely Retirements of the Defart, as affording Opportunity for un- difturbed Communion with GOD, were more defirable to CHRIST, than the Applaufes of an admiring World.
So ceafelefs and tranfcendent was his Love to GOD, that He never fought any feparate Pleafure of his own , but always did thofe Things, which were pleafing in his FATHER'S Sight. His own Will was intirely abforpt in the Will of the MOST HIGH; and // was his Meat and Drink, refrefhing and delightful as the richeft Food, or as royal Dainties, to finijh the Work that was given Him to do *.
So intirely devoted to the Honour of GOD, that a Zeal for his Houfe, and for the Purity of his Ordinances, is reprefented by the evan- gelical Hiftorian, as eatijig Him up -f-. Like a heavenly Flame, glowing in his Breaft, it fometimes fired Him with a graceful in- dignation; fometimes melted Him into godly Sorrow 3 and, by exerting itfelf in a Va- riety
* John IS, 34. t John'ii. 17.
46 AsPAsio /(/ TheroiNT. Let. 7<f
riety of vigorous Efforts, confumed his vital Spirits.
So a6live and unremitted was the Obedience of the blefled JESUS, that the Sun did not enter upon his Race with a more conftant Affiduity, nor difpatch his Bufinefs with greater Expedition : and fure I am, that radiant Lu- minary never difpenfed Beams, half fo bright,
or a thoufandth Part fo beneficial. Short
v^as his Span, but how grand and extenfive^ were his Services. So grajid, that they bring more Glory to GOD, than all the Admini- firations of Providence, and all the Phas- nomena of Nature. So extenfive^ that they Ipread, in their gracious Efficacy, to the Ends of the Earth, and to the clofmg Period of Time. Nay, they will diffufe their blefled In- fluence even to the celeftial World, and have no other Limits of their Duration than the Ages of Eternity.
Moft affe6lionately concerned for the Wel- fare of Mankind, He fpent his Strength, not barely in relieving them, when his Aid was implored j but mfeeking the Affli6led, and of" fering his AfTiftance. With great Fatigue *,
He
* JESUS be'mg weary with his yourney, sicx^'t^slo j<1w?. John iv. 6. — slug is thus explained by a Gree^ Commenta- tor, aTTAwf, xoci ug £Tup^£. Our LORD fat down, with- out Ceremony and without Complaint, even on the rough Place : contented to ufe it, juft as He found it ; neither defiring a fofter Seat, nor wiflling for ajiy better Accommodation. — I
rather
Let. 7. AspAsio /i5 Theron. 47
He travelled to remote Cities ; and with no lefs Condefcenfion,, He vifited the meaneil Vil- lages; that All might have the Benefit and Comfort of his Prefence. Though Multitudes of miferable Objects were brought to Him from every Quarter, yet he was pleafed even to prevent the Wifhes of the DiitrelTed, and went about doing Good,
He gave Sight*, and all the agreeable Scenes of Nature, to the Blind ; Health, and all the choice Comforts of Life, to the Difeafed. He expelled malevolent raging Daemons 5 and re- {fored, what is more precious than the Light of the Body, or the Vigour of Conftitution, the calm Pofleflion of the intellecluai Facul- ties.— What greatly furpajfed all the preceding Bleffings, He releafed the wretched Soul from the Dominion of Darknefs, and from the Tyranny of Sin. He made his Followers
Partakers
rather think, the Adverb refers to the preceding Adje(nive >tfxo'7r*axc<;?, which fignifies a State of very great Fatigue; weakening a Perfon to fuch a Degree, that He can hardly walk vj'v^Jieady Steps, or even fit in an zipright Attitude. The facred Hiftorian feems to mean, that our LORD fat in fuch a Pofture, as fpoke the Laflitude of his Body ; de- clared the Failure of his Spirits ; ^n^ Jl)ewedW\n\ to be fpent with the Heat of the Day, and the Toil of Traveling. Which Circumftance gives a moft beautiful Heightening to his Charity and Zeal, fo generouHy and fo fucceisfully ex- erted in the following Conference.
* Exapic-oiTo TO pAETTiiv, is the delicate and noble Ex- preffion of the Evangelift, Luh vii. 21. He made' thm a Prefent of Sight. Silver and Gold had He none ; but thefe were his Gifts i fuch were his Alms,
4^ A-s p A s I o /<? T H E R o N. Let. 7.
Partakers of a divine Nature, and prepared them for a State of never-ending Blii's.
Such pricelefs Treafures of Wifdom and Beneficence flowed from his Tongue, and were poured from his Hands 1 — How different thefe Triumphs of Mercy, from the Trophies ere6led, by wild Ambition, ia the bloody Field ! If Heathens celebrated thofe mighty Butchers, who made Cities their Slaughter-houfe ; made half the Globe their Shambles ; and meafured their Merit, by the Devaftations they fpread ; how fhould Chrijiians admire this heavenly BENEFACTOR, who rofe upon a wretched "World, with HeaUng under his Wings ! Who diftributed, far and near, the unfpeakably rich Gifts of Knowledge and Hohnefs, of temporal Happinefs and eternal Joy !
Nor were thefe righteous A6ls his flrange Work,, bat his repeated, his hourly^ his almoll incejjant Employ. Sometimes, We hear Him preaching in the Temple, or publifhmg his glad Tidings in the Synagogues. Sometimes, We fee Him teaching in private Houfes, or bringing forth the good Things of his Gof- pel on the Deck of a Ship. At other Times, He takes a Mountain for his Pulpit j the Hea- vens are his Sounding-board j and all that have Ears to hear, are invited to be his Audi- ence. Does He lay afide this folemn Of- fice ? It is only to carry on the fame Defign,
in
Let. 7* As PAS 10 /o The RON. 49
in a more condefcending and familiar Manner. If he meets with the Pharifces^ He difcovers their Errors, and reproves their Vices ; He confutes their Obje6lions, and (in cafe they are not abfohitely inaccefiible to wife Counfd) recli- fies their Miftakes. If He vouchfafcs to he prefent at a Feaft, He fiirniflies the richefl:, incomparably the richefl: Part of the Treat. Money and Milk are under his T'oi^giie ^. He in- culcates Lowlinefs of Mind on the Vain -f- ; He recommends diilnterefted Charity to the SelfifhJ ; and promifes Pardon to the weeping Penitent j|. — Is He retired from other Compa- ny, and furrounded only by his chofen Atten- dants ? His Converfation is a Sermon. Whe- ther He fit in the inner Chamber, or travel on the public Road, or walk through the Corn- fields, He is ftill profecuting his great Work ; training up his Difciples for their facred Func- tion ; and imparting to them, what they may
communicate to Others. Is He retired from
all Company ? Even then He does not difcon- tinue his Labours of Love, but adds the fer- vent Interceflions of the Night, to the~ chari- table Toils of the Day. Yes, w^hen All but Himfelf, lay funk in foft Repofe, this ADVO- CATE for a guilty World, was engaged in an Exercife of Benevolence; which, though fccret
and
* Cnnt. iv. ir. f Lukexw. 8. % Luke x\x. I2.
II Luke vil. 48.
Vol. IIL ' E
£o Aspasio/(jTheron. Let. 7.
and unobferved as the falling Dews, was far more beneficial to our befl Interefts, than thofe pearly Drops to the languilhing Herbs.
Mod charming and unparalleled Benignity ! Hq forgot his daily Food, i2eg!e5ied\\\s neceffary Kt^c, to fpend and be fpent for the Salvation of Mankind. Neither the Hardfliips of conti- nual Self-denial, nor the Calumnies of inve- nomed Tongues, could divert Him from pur- fuing this favourite Bufinefs. — He fought none of your Honours, coveted none of your Re- wards, O ye Children of Men! What He fought, what He coveted, was, to wear out his Life in your Service, and lay it down for your Ranfom. This was all his Defire, and this indeed He defired earneflly. He long- ed (beneficent, bleifed Being 1) Lie long- ed for the fatal Llour. He feverely rebuked one of his Difciples, who would have dif- fuaded Llim from going as a Voluntier to the Crofs. Lie was eveny^r^/Vnzf^i*, under a Kind
of
* Lu^e xir. 50. The original Word (ruv£p^o/xaj fccms to exprefs the Condition of a Perfon, wedged in, on every Side, by a tumultuo|i3 Throng of People. His Hands are ham- pered, and his Body is confined in a moving Prifon. He is crufhcd by the Crowd, and pants for Breath. — How mull iuch a One long to be dlfengagcd from thefe very uncofy Cir- cumftances ! With equal Ardour did cur mofi: beneficent LORD defire thofe Sufferings, which were to overwhelm Him v/ith Difcrcfs, but exalt Us to Happinefs ; were to bathe his Limbs in Blood, but cleanfe our Souls from Sin. — Ot oX^c«, f^iys the fame Hiftorian, ^-ovs^HC-i crj k«» aTroGAi^Bcri, Lti^^e viii. 45.
Let. 7. AspasIo/^Theron. 51
of holy Uneafinefs, till the dreadful Work was accomplillied ; till He was baptized with the Baptifm of his Sufferings^ bathed in Blood, and plunged in Death.
By this moil meritorious Obedience and Death, what did He not deferve ? What did He not procure? He procured thofe ineilima- ble Bleffings, the Pardon of Sin, and Recon- ciliation with GOD. Procured them (O ! Love unmerited and unmeafurable !) for Prodigals, for Traitors, for Rebels. — To this it is owing, that We, who were Enemies againft GOD, may call the K I N G of Heaven our Father j may have free Accefs to Him in all our Diffi- culties ; and may hope to reign with Him in everlafting Glory.
Was ever Goodnefs like this Goodnefs *" ? Were ever Bleffings comparable to thefe Bleff- ings ?
* Codrus, it is true, devoted Himfelf to Death for the Atheniam ; and Curtius threw Himfelf into the yawning Gulph, for the Pre'fervation of the Romans. — But thefe died, being mere Creatures, and guilty Creatures : whereas, the dying JESUS was perfectly innocent, and fupremely glo- rious.— T'hefe died, only ^^. little before their Time : but CHRIST died, though He had Life in Himfelf, and None could have taken it from Him, had He not ^voluntarily re- iigned it. — Thefe died for their valuable Friends, for their affectionate Relations, for their native Country : but CHRIST died for Slaves, for Enemies, for the Ungodly. — They died an honourable Death : but CHRIST fubmitted to the moH: ignominiotis Execution ; CHRIST died under the Imputation of horrid Crimes, and in the Form of an execrable Male- faiflor. — In all thefe Inftances, as the Heavens are higher than the Earth, fo is CHRIST'S Love greater than their Love i his Philanthropy than their Patriotijm,
E 2
^2 Asp A sio /o Th ERON. Let. 7
ings ? or purchafed with fadi a Price ? — Hide, hide, your diminilhed Pleads, ye httlc tranfi- tory Donations of Silver and Gold. The Riches of a thonfand Mines, bedowed to feed the Hungry and clothe the Naked, are the moll: contemptible Trifles, if mentioned with the Charity of the teachings the healings the bleeding JESUS. Kingdoms given away in Alms, if viewed with this infinitely noble Be- neficence, w^ould make juft the fame Figure, as a Spark from the Summer-hearth, under
the potent and boundlefs Blaze of Noon.
This is indeed Love that pajjeth Knowledge *.
Amidft all thefe Miracles of Power and of Love (any one of which would have intitled Him to univerfal Admiration, and everlading Honour) how humble was our SAVIOUPv ! O Humility — Virtue dear to the mofl High GOD,
and peculiarly amiable in Man never didfl
Thou
* Eph.\\\. ig. This Expreffion, as -JiUothe pr'mcipalQ'w- cuip.ftance of Superiority hinted in the preceding Note, arc founded on the Divinity of our LORD. And indeed the Kxpreffion is fearce juftifiable, the Ailcrtion is hardly true, upon any other Suppofition. A Creature dying for a Crea- ture, is, though great, yet not tncomprehenfible Goodnefs. But, when We view the Sufferings of CHRIST^ and the Bleflings of Redemption, furroundcd v/ith all the Splejidor of th.e DEITY ; they dazzle our Underflanding, and fill Us with holy Aflonifhment. They appear to be the EftcvSts of a Love, never to be fpoke of but in the Language of JVonder^ never to be thought of but with an Extafy of Delight.
Let. 7« As PAS I o ^5 The RON. 53
Thou appear in fo charming a Drefs, or lb flriking a Light.
At his Birth, not accommodated with a magnificent Palace, but lodged in a Stable,
and laid in a Manger. As He advanced in
Years, not attended and ferved with a royal Revenue, but earning his Bread by the Sweat
of his Brow. When tie entered upon his
miniflerial Office, not the leafl: oftentatious Parade appeared, in the Performance of all his wonderful Works. So far, fo very far from affe6ling the Acclamations of the Po- pulace, that He often impofed Silence on thofe unfpeakably indebted Lips, which were ready to overflow with Praife, and would fain have been the Trumpets of his Fame.
Though a Voice from Heaven proclaimed Him, The BELOVED of his Almighty FA- THER ; He difdained not to own the ignoble Character of the Carpenters Son *. Though PRINCE of the Kings of the Earth, He con- defcended to wafh the Feet of mean Fifliermen, and vile Sinners f . Though PROPRIETOR and LORD of the whole Vf orld, He was con- tent to be more deflitute than the Fowls of the Air, or the Foxes of the Defai 1 1 : more deilitute (aftonifhing Abafement !) than the moft infignijlcant and mofc tei'i/ Animals,
Gran-
* Matt. xiii. 53. t Johny^xiu 14. % Matt.\\\\. 20. E 3
54 As PA SI o ^0 The RON. Let. 7.
Grandeur, We find, is apt to beget Expec- tations of fuperior Regard : confequently, gives a keener Edge to every Affront, and renders the Mind more tenderly fenfible of every Dirrefpe6l. But our hOKD's Meeknefi was as great as his Dignity j and that, through- out a Series of fuch unfufj'crabk Provocations, as were equaled by nothing, but the Sweet- nefs of his forgiving Grace.
When rudely affronted. He calmly bore, and kindly overlooked the Infult. — When con- tradided by petulant and prefiimptuous Sinners, He endured, with the utmoft Serenity of Temper, their unreafonable Cavils, and their obffinatePerverfenefs. — When his Invitations, his endearing Invitations, to be wife and happy, were ungratefully and frubbornly rejecled 3 in- flead of remitting, He renewed them ; and, with ftill warmer Affection, importuned his
Hearers not to forfeit their oivn Mercies. ■
When all the winning Arts of Perfuafion were ineffedual, He added his Tears to his flighted Intreaties j and lamented as a Brother, when fcornfully repulfed as a Teacher.
Though his Difcipks flept, flupidly flept, when his bitter Cries pierced the Clouds, and were enough to awaken the very Stones into Compailion 3 did their divine but ilighted MASTER refent the Unkindnefs ? Did He refufe to admit an Excufe for their NeglecSl ?
Yea,
Let. 7. A S P A S I O /(? T H E R O N. ^5
Yea, He made their Excule ; and that the moft tender and gracious imaginable j 'J'he Spi- rit is wilHfig^ but the FlcJJj is ^weak *. — When his Enemies had nailed Him to the Crofs, as the bafeft Slave, and moll flagitious Malefaclor ; when they were glutting their Mahce, with his Torments and Blood ; and fpared not to revile Him, even in his lafl expiring Agonies ; far, very far from being exafperated, this HERO of Heaven repaid all their Contempt and Bar- barity, v/ith the moft fervent and effeftual Supplications in their Behalf. FARTHER, forgive them^ was his Prayer : for^ they know not what they do -f-, was his Plea.
Nor v/as his Re/Jgnation lefs exemplary than his Meeknefs. He went out to meet Afflic- tions, when they cam.e in his F A T H E R's Name, and commiflioned from his FATHER'S Hand. He gave, without the leaft Reluc- tance, his Back to the Smiters, and hid not his Face from Shame and Spitting. Though his Soul, his very Soul was penetrated with the keenefl Senfations of Anguillii yet, no impatient Thought difcompofed his Mind, no murmuring Word forced its V/ay from his Lips. FA THE Ry Jiot my Willy but thine be done^y was his Language ; when the Sorrows of Death compalfed Him, and the Pains of
Hell
* Matt. XXVI. ^i. I Lii/(v xxiii, 34. J Ltd-e
xxii. 42.
E4
56 AspasioZ-jTheron. Let. 7.'
Hell gat hold upon him *. JVhcii they gaped upon him '•julth their Mouthy and J mote Him upon the Cheek reproachfully. When his Face iv as fold 'with Spittings aiid on his Eyelids was the Sha- dow of Death. When GOD delivered Him to the Ungodly, and turned Him over into the Hands of the wicked. Tea, when the A L MIGHT T ft him for the Mark of his Arrows^ and brake Him with Breach upon Breach. When the Wea- pons of his Wrath cleft his very Reins afunder, arid poured his Gall upon the Earth '\'. Amidft all this exquifite Diflrefs, He finned not oy the leafl irregular Perturbation j but l)0\ved his Head, and dutifully kiflcd the divine V-.odi, and ordially blcfTed his very Murderers. Thus did the whole Choir of aBive and pq/jiveWrtuts abound and fhine in our LORD : abound with the richeft Variety, and fhine with the highefl Lufac. Infinitely fui-paffing that curious AlTemblage of coitly Gems, which lludded the Aaronic Breail-plate % 3 and, as far as earthly Things can reprefent heavenly,
type-
* Pfal. cxvi. 3.
t Thcie tragical Images are borrowed from the Book of 'Job. who was an eminent 'Fvpc of a fufFering SAVIOUR ; and, though they are the very Eloquence of Woe, do not exaggerate, nay, cannot cxprefs, that inconceivable Anguifh ; which wrung a bloody Sweat from our bleiTed MAS FER's Kody, and forced from his Lips that melanclioly Exclama- tion — My Soul is forrozvful — exceeding J'crrotvful — Jorrotvful t'jcn zmto Death. See "Job xvi.
X Exod, xxviii, 17, 18, 19, 20.
Let. 7' AsPAsio /o TiiERON. 57
typefied the Splendor of our REDEEMER'S Righteoufnefs.
In all this, he a(5led as GOD's righteous Ser- vant, and as his People's righteous Surety. — By all this, He fulfilled every Jot and Tittle of the divine Law j nay, He more than fulfilled. He magnified it. He gave it (if I may apply the moft beautiful Allufion that ever was ufed, to the moft noble Subject that ever was difculT- ed) good Meafure, prejfed down^ and fimken toge- ther, and running over *.
He defied the moft vigilant of his Enemies
to convince him of Sin. A more malignant,
a far more fagacious Adverfary than the Scribes and Pharifees, could dete6l no Blemifli in our LORD JESUS, the Prijice of this World, that infernal Tyrant, who had deceived and in- flaved the Nations of the Earth, came and found nothing in Him -f ; not the leafl: Corruption in his Nature, nor tlie leaft Defeat in his Obedi- ence.
He hath done all T'hings well i, was the gene- ral Acclamation of Mankind : or, as the Words may be rendered, He hath done ail Things finely and gracefully^. With every Circum- ftance, that can conllitute the Propriety and Dignity, the Utility and Beauty of A6tion.
/
* Lukev'u 38. t John XIV. 30. J Mar^ vii. ^y.
58 Asp Asio /i> Theron. Let. 7,
/ have glorified T'hee on Earth *, was his own Profeffion before the moil High GOD. I have glorified Thee, in all that I a6led, in all that I rpoke, in all that I fuffered. 1 have dif- played the ?4agnificence of thy Majefty, the Riches of thy Grace, and the Honour of all thy Attributes. Infomuch that whofofeetb ME, feeth the FATHER -f j whoever is properly ac- quainted with my Perfon and my Work of Re- demption, fees the invifible and knows the in- comprehenfible D E I T Y 5 fees his venerable, his amiable, his adorable Perfe6lions, in the clearefc Mirror, and in the brighteft Light J.
GOD alfo, who is the fupreme Standard and unerring Judge of Excellency, bore his Teftimony to our bleffed MEDIATOR. He fpoke it once, yea twice, and with a Voice
from Heaven. In the Conflitution of the
material World, when it came forth from the CREATOR'S Hand, Omnifcience itfelf could difcern no Flaw. Neither could Juftice itfelf, upon the flri6lefl Inquiry, difcover any Fai- lure in the Obedience of our SURETY. As therefore it was faid, concerning the V/orks of Creation, I'hey are all "jery good\^ , So it
was
* yohn xvii. 4. t yohn xii. 45.
X Therefore CHRIST is faid to be ixTrx-j'yxariJi.x td? ^o^ngy Heb. i. 3. Not barely the Glory, but the very Br'ightnefs of his FATHER'S Glory : Or, the Glory of the GODHEAD, beaming forth with adcciuatet that is, with ineffable and infi- nite Splendor.
II Gm, i. 31.
Let. 7' Aspasio/^jTheron. 59
was faid, concerning our SAVIOUR, and by the fame Almighty MAJESTY, In Him I am nvell pleafed*.
You took Notice, and very juftly, how much the Produ6lions of Nature exceed and eclipfe the Attempts of human Skill. We are pleafed with the Performances of the Painter : but do they equal the native Blufli of the Rofe, or the artlefs Glow of a Pea-BloiTom? We are charmed with a fine Piece of Enameling j but is it fit to be compared with the natural Polifh, of a thoufand Shells which are formed in the Ocean, or a thoufand Seeds v/hich fpring from the Earth ? We admire the Virtues of the an- tient Saints j Men " that were honoured in " their Generation, and the Glory of their " Times -f-." We admire the Meeknefs of Mofesj and the Magnanimity of Elijah-, the exalted Piety of Ifaiah, and the inlarged Wil^ dora of Daniel \ the active Spirit of yo/Jnia^ and the paliive Graces of Jeremiah. But what Proportion, put them all together — what Pro- portion do they all bear to HIS Obedience, 'idho is gone into Hea^uen, Angels and Authorities and "Powers bei?ig made fubjeB unto Him % -^ Who is called the HOLY ONE and the JVS>T:\\ ; not only by way of Emphafis, but by way of Ex~ clufwn. Becaufe, no Perfon is worthy of the
Cha-
* Matt. iii. 17. f Ecclef. xliv. 7.
X 1 Pet. iii. 22; II A(^s iii. 14.
6o AsPASio /5 Theron. Let. 7.
Charca<5ler, no Duties deferve to be mentioned, when CHRIST and his Merits are under Con- fideration.
If then We talk of Merit, what Merit muft there be in fuch immaculate San6lity of Soul, and fuch exemplary Holinefs of Conduct j fuch ardent Zeal for GOD, and fuch compaffionate Good-will to Man; fuch confummate Wor- thinefs, and extenfive Ufefulnefs ? Such as were utterly unknown before; have been abfoiuLely tinequaled fnice ; and never w ill, nor can be paralleled, throughout all Ages ! — O m,y "TAe- ron ! What is the D?'Gp of a Bucket to the un- fathomable Waves of the Ocean ? What is a Grain of Sand to the unmeafurable Dimen- fions of the Univerfe ? What is an Hour or a Moment to the endlefs Revolutions of Eternity ? Such are all human Endowments, and all hu- man Attainments, compared with this m.atch- lefs Righteoufnefs o^CHRIST JES US.
Think not, that what I have written is the Language of Rant. It is a Paraphrafe, though, I muit confcfs, but a fcanty Paraphrafe, on David's Pradice and David's Faith. My Month fiall fiew forth thy Righteoufnefs and thy Salva- tion all the Day *, for I know not the Numbers
thereof
* Pfal. Ixxl. 15. I cannot but obfcrvc, that Rightccvfncfi and Salvation are frequently connc6ted, by the Author of the Pfahm^ and by the Prophet Ifa'iah. In order to intimate, that the one is founded on the other \ the latter derives its
Origin
Let. 7- Aspasio/oTheron. 6i
thereof. The glorious Righteoufnefs o(CHRIS% and the great Salvation obtained thereby, He declares, fliall be the chofen, the principal Sub- je6l of his Difcourfe. x4.nd not on a Sabbath only, but on every Day of the Week, of the
Year,
Origin from the former; there can be no Salvation without a Righteoufnefs, a real, proper. Law-fulfilling Righteouf- nefs. At the fame Time, lam fenfible, that the Word
Righteoufnefs may fignify GOD's Goodnefs in making, and Faithfulnefs in performing, his Promifes unto David. Sal- vation may likewife denote the Delivery of that afHifted Hero from all hisPerfecutors, and his Efbablifhment on the Throne of Ifrael.
But if We fliould confine the Senfe to thefe narrow Limits, how comfortlefs the Favour even to David Himfelf, confi- dered as an immortal Being. How much more infignificant to Us and Others, on whom the Ends of the World are come. And how very unworthy of that infinite GOD, who is the Father of the Spirits of all Flefli ; who fees, at one View, whatever is, or has been, or ftiall exift ; who there- fore, when He fpeaks, fpeaks to all his Children, in every Period of Time, and in every Nation under 'Heaven. As much as a Tutor, v/hen delivering his Lectures, adJrefl'es Himfelf to all his Pupils, v.-hether they fit at his Right-hand or his left, before Him or on every Side.
Whereas, if Righteoufnefs fignifies the meritorious Obe- dience of CHRIST., and Salvation Implies the Benefits of his Redemption, the Senfe is no longer fhriveled, impove- rifhed, and mean j but rich^ ^^ig^ilU and magnificent. It pours Confolation among all People, Kindreds, and Tongues. It is worthy of that GOD, who feeth the Things, and re- gardeth the Perfons, which are not as though they were. It comports exafily with that Revelation, in which CHRIST is the Jlpha and Omega^ the Beginning and the Ending, the Sum total.
'^I'his Note is already too long ; otherwlfe I ftiould take leave to gratify my Inclination, and give a Sandlion to my Sentiment, by tranfcribins Vitringa^ Expofition of Ifiai, xlv. 8.
6z AsPASio to Theron. Let. 7.
Year, of his Life. And not barely at the ftated Returns of folemn Devotion, but in every for cial Interview, and all the Day long. — Why will He thus dwell, perpetually and invari- ably dwell, on this one Theme ? Becaufe, He knew no End thereof . It is impofiible to meafure the Value, or exhauft the Fulnefs of thefe Blef- fings. The Righteoufnefs is unfpeakable, the Salvation is everlafting. To compute the Dura- tion of the One, Numbers fail ; to defcribe the Excellency of the Other, Words are at a Lofs. Here therefore Millions of Sinners rxi2iy fuck^ and be fatisjicd with thefe Breafs of Conflations : yea, Thoufands of Millions may ?nilk oiit^ and be delighted with the Abundance of their Glory *. — Here we fhall find the Do6lrine of Supere- rogation^ no longer a Chimera, but a delight- ful Reality. Here indeed is an immenfe Sur- plufage, an inexhauliible Fund of Merit -f-, Sufficient to enrich a whole World of indigent and milerable Creatures : fufficient to make their Cup run over with a fuperabundant Ful- nefs
* Ifai. Ixvi. II.
f Yet here is no rich Fund (as a learned Writer afTerts) no Fund at 7^ y for the Pope's Treafury of meritorious Jupererogat^ ing Actions : unleis CHRIST dvA the Pope are to be placed upon the fame Footing ; unlefs the ineffably excellent (Obe- dience of a divine REDEEMER, and the miferably defec- tive Duties of finful Men, are to be deemed equally valuable. — Since this v^'ill hardly be admitted by Proteflants \ I be- lieve, AJpafio may fafely call the Obedience of CHRIST^ The true Supererogation ; as Mr. Ainhrofe has called the Blood of CHRIST, The true Purgatory.
Let. 7. As PAS 10 /o The RON. 63
nefs of Peace and Joy, fo long as Time fhall lafl, and when Time fliall be no more. For, to ufe the Apoftle's weighty Argument, If by one Mmis Offence^ Death reigned by 07ie j much more they which receive Abundance of Grace ^ and of the Gift of Righteoufiefs, JJjall reign in Life by one, JE SUS CHR IS T *. If ofie Offence, committed by one mere Man, made all his Pofterity chargeable with Guilt, and liable to Death: how much more fliall the jnajzi- fold Inflances of our divine R E D E E M- E R's Obedience ; his long, uninterrupted, con-
fummate Righteoufnefs j how much more
fhall they abfolve all his People from Condem- nation and Punifhment, and intitle them to the Honours and Joys of Immortality !
Which will appear in a clearer Light, if, to the Perfeftion of his Obedience, We add the Majejiy of his Perfon. A proper Subject this, for fome future Letter. — In the mean Time,let me defire my Friend, the Friend of my Bofom, to contemplate our LORD JESUS under that lovely and augufr Charad:er, Glorious in Ho- liness "f. And for my Part, I will not ceafe to pray, that a Senfe of this fupereminently grand and precious Righteoufnefs may be writ- ten on my I'herons Heart. On thofe living
Tables, may it be like Figures cut on a Rock of foUd Marble, or infcribed on the Bark of a
growing
* Rom. V, ij, f Exod, XV. II.
64 . A S P A S I O /i? T H E R o N. Let. 7.
growing Tree : be lofting in its Duration as the former, 3.nd fpreaJwg in its Influence as the latter. — It will then be a fure Proof, that his Name is written in the Book of Life ; and it fhall then be a pleafmg Pattern for
the AffeBion^ the Gratitude^
and the FriendJJjipy of
his A s p A s 1 o.
P.S. You give a moft aflonifhing Account of the Prejjiire of the Atmofphere. Aflonifh- ins: indeed ! That we fliould be continu- ally furrounded, continually overwhelmed, with fuch a tremendous Load 3 and not be cruflied to death, no, nor be fenfible of
the leaft Weight. This, I think, may
ferve to rcprefcnt the State of a Sinner, zinawakened from carnal Security. Loads, more than mountainous Loads of Guilt, are upon his Soul, and He perceives not the Burden. For this Reafon, He is under no Apprehenfions of the Vengeance and fiery Indignation, which Hedeferves; He has no fuperlative Efteem for the Atonement and Merits of the REDEEIM- ER, which alone can deliver Him from the Wrath to come. But, if once his Con- fcienccyi-r/f, what his Lips, perhaps, have often repeated j We do carnefily repent Us
of
Let. 8. Aspasio/(?Theron. 6^
of thefe our Mifdoings ; the Remembrance of . them is grievous tmto Us, the Burden of them is intolerable ; then how will He prize fuch a Text; The LORD laid on CHRIST the Iniquity of Us all ! How will He long for an Intereft in the LAMB of GOD, ivhich taketh away the Sin of the IVorld ! Then, that JESUS who hdiS finified the Tranfgref- Jioriy and brought in everlajling Righteoufnefs^ will be all his Salvation, and all his Defire.
LETTER VIIL
AsPASio to Theron.
Dear Theron,
I HAVE juft been reading that exquifitely fine Piece of facred Hiftory, The Life of Jofeph. AHiftory — filled with furprifing Incidents, and
iinexpefted Revolutions adorned with the
mod heroic Inftanccs of triumphant Virtue, both amidft the Allurements of Temptation, and under the Preifures of Affli6lion ani- mated with fuch tender and pathetic, fuch melting and alarming Touches of natural Elo- quence, as every Reader muft feely and every true Critic will admire.
Vol. III. F When
66 AsPAsio /<j Theron. Let. 8. When I came to that remarkable Injunc- tion, with which the generous Viceroy dif-" miffed his Brethren ; Te fiali tell my Father of all t?iy Glory in Egypt * 1 paufed 1 pon- dered— I was flruck. Certainly, this was in- joined, not by way of OHentation ^ but on ac- count of the Pleafure, which, He knew, it
Would yield the good old Patriarch. Was it
fome kind prompting Angel, or the Voice of Gratitude and Devotion, that whifpered in my Ear ? " Should not the Children of Men " likewife tell one another of all the Glory -f*, « which their REDEEMER poffeffes in Hea- " ven and on Earth ? Will not this afford " them the fublimeft Pleafure Here, and be a
" Source
* Gen. xlv. 13.
t To fee the Glory of CHRIS T, is the grand Bleiling, which cur LORD iblicits and demands for his Difciples, in his laftfolemnlntcrceflion. JoJmxvW. 24. It is that, which will complete the Bleflednefs of Heaven ; and fill its Inhabi- tants with Joy unfpeakable and glorious. — Surely, then. We lliould endeavour to anticipate., in fome Degree, that celef- tial Bli(s ; and habituate our Souls to this facred Exercife, which will be our Bufmefs and our Reward to endlefs Ages.
Should the Reader defire Affiftance in this important Work, I would refer Him to a little Treatife of Dr. Owen's,, intitlcd, Meditations on the Glory of CHRIST:~'Tis little in Size, not fo in Value. Was I to fpcak of it, in theclaf- i^lcal Style, I fhould call it, aureus., gemmeus^ mel/itus. But I would rather fay, it is richly repleniihed with that UnSlio)i frorn the HOLT ONE, which tends to inlightcn the Eyes, and chear the Heart ; v/hich fweetens the Enjoyments of Life, foftens the Horrors of Deaths and prepares for the Fruitions of Eternity.
Let. 8. AspAsio/i?THERON. dj
" Source of divine Satisfaction for ever and *^ ever ?"
Though I had almofl determined to v^rite no more, till You could make a Demand, upon the Foot of Value received \ willingly I recede from my intended Refolution, and obey
this pleafmg Hint. But who can declare the
noble Aas of the LORD JESUS CHRIST,
or Jheiv forth all his Praife? However, if I
may but lifp out his adorable Name, and pre- fent my Friend with a Glimpfe^ or a broken View of his divine Perfe6lions, even this will be defirable and delightful. Far more defirable and delightful, than to behold Rome in its Magniiicence, St. Paul in the Pulpit, or King Solomon on his Throne ^.
Let me take the Lark for my Pattern; which, as I was lately returning from an Even- ing Ramble, attracted my Obfervation.
Warbling her CREATOR'S Praife, fhe mounted in the ferene Sky. Still (he v/arbled, and frill fhe mounted, as though flie meant to carry her Tribute of Harmony unto the very Gates of Heaven. Having reached, at laft, her liighefl: Elevation, and perceiving herfelf at an immenfe Diftance from the ftarry Man- fions, file dropped on a fudden to the Earth ;
and
* Thefe, if I remember right, are the three Things, which St. Augujime dech\red, would, of all others, nioft eminently gratily his Cariofity.
F 2
63 As PA SI o /o The RON. Let. 8.
and difcontinued, at once, both to fing, and to
foar. Now the Morning appears, and is
av/akening the World, our little Songfter re- tunes her Throat, and re -exerts her Wings. — As I have endeavoured, very imperfectly en- deavoured, to ftrike out 2ifiadowy Draught of our LOR D's complete Obedience j I would, though unequal to the Taflc, once more re- fume my Pen, and attempt nothing like a
pifplay, but only a faint Sketch of his ejfenfial Dignity.
Firfb let me obferve, that for fame Time paft. We have been vifited with the moil un- comfortable Weather J dewlefs Nights^ and^//- t7'y Days. The Firmament was more like a glowing Furnace, than the Region of refrefli-
ing Rain. The Earth lay parched with
'Third, and chapped with Heat. The Mea- dows were drained of their Humidity, and all
the Flowers hung their fading Heads. The
Streams, which ufed to flow parallel with the verdant Margin, abandoned their Banks j and funk, diminilhed and difcoloured, to the Bottom
of their oozy Channels. Nature in general
feemed to be refigning the *' Robe of Beauty, " for the Garment of Heavinelb-." Drought was in all our Borders ; and Famitie, We feared, was not far behind. — Clouds of Duir, obfcured the Airj tarnilhed the Hedges > and almofl
fmo-
Let. 8. Aspasio/oTheron. 69
fmothered the Traveler: but not one Cloud o{ fleecy TVhife appeared, to variegate the blue Expanfe, or give Us Hopes of" a reviving Shower *.
It reminded me of that awful Threatening, denounced by Mojes on a wicked People i T^hy Heaven, that is over thy Head, Jhall be Bf^a/s ; a?2d the Earth, that is under Thee, fiall be Iron \. — It made me apprehenfive of that terrible State, which the .Prophet fo emphatically defcribes; "The Field is wajied, and the Land mourneth. 'The Seed is rotten under the Clods, and the Harveft perifieth. The Garners are laid defolate, and the Barns are broken down. — The 7iew Wine is dried up ; the Oil langiiijheth ; and all the Trees of the
Field are withered. How do the Beafts groan I
The Herds of Cattle are perplexed. Tea, the Flocks of Sheep are made defolate. Becaufe, the Rivers of Waters are dried up, and the Fire hath devoured the Pafiures of the Wildernefs %. — But, blefTed be the .Divine PROVIDENCE, our Fears are vanillied, and a mod joyful Change has taken Place. The LORD Xx^'&ifent a gra- cious
* At fuch a Junfture, how pertinent is the Quefllon, propofed by the Ahnighty MAJESTY? yoh xxxviii. 37, 38. Who cannu7nber, niuiter or arrange, the Clouds in Wif- dom ? So as to have them ready at hand, on any Emergen- cy. And who can efnpty thofe Bottles of Heaven, in copious but feafonable EfFufions upon the Earth ? When, as in the Cafe defcribed above, the Dujl of the Roads is attenuated into Powder, pVl*jS r\p'^2. ^fi'i i^^^ ^^°<^^ of the Valley arc glued fa/f together, ^p2y
f Dei^t. xxviii. 23. X Jod\. 10, Uq.
' F3
70 Aspasio/oThf. RON. Let. 8.
cious Rain on his Inheritance^ and refrejljed it^ nvhen it was weary *.
Ycilciday in the Afternoon, the Wind fliift- ing to the South, rouied the dormant Clouds, and brought Ibme of thofe agreeable Strangers on its Wings. — At firft, they came failing in fmall, and thin, and fcattered Parties. Anon, " the flying Squadrons advanced in larger De- tachments, more clofeiy wedged, and more deeply laden. Till at laft, the great Rendez- vous completed, they formed into a Body of fuch prodigious Depth, and extended their Wings with fuch an unmeafui able Sweep, as darkened the Sun, and overfpread the whole Hemifphere.
Juft at the Clofe of Day, the Gales that efcorted the fpongy Treafures, retired j and configned their Charge to the Difpofai of a profound Cahn. Not a Breeze fhook the mod tremulous Leaf. Not a Curl rufiied the fmooth expanfiveLake. All Things were ftill, as in at- tentive ExpeBation. The Earth fecmed to gafp .after the hovering Moifture. Nature, with her fijppliant Tribes, in expreflive pleading Siknce, folicited the falling Fruitfulnefs. Nor pleaded long, nor folicited in vain.
The ShowerSy gentle, foft, and balmy, de- fcend. The Vellels of Heaven unload their precious Freight, and enrich the penurious
Glebe, * P/al. Jxviii. 9.
Let. 8. Aspasio/^Theron. 71
GJebe. Through all the Niglit, the liquid Sweetnefs, incomparably more beneficial than trickling Silver, diftils ; fnedding Herbs, and Fruits, and Flowers. — Now the Sun, mild and refulgent, iflues through the Portals of the Eafl. Pleafed, as it were, to have emerged from the late aggravated Darknefs, He looks abroad with peculiar Gaiety, and the moil engaging Splendors. He looks through the difburdened Air, and finds a gladdened World, that wants nothing but his all-chearing Beams, to render her Satisfa6lion complete.
l!he Glory comes ! — Hail to thy rijing Ray, Great Lamp of Light, and fecond Source of
Day! Who robe the World, each nipping Gale remove, ^reat every Senfe, and beam creati?ig Love *. At his aufpicious Approach, the frefhened Mountains lift their Heads, and linile. The Garden opens its aromatic Stores j and breathes, as from a fuming Altar, Balm to the Smell, and Incenfe to the Skies. The little Hills, crowned with fpringing Plenty, clap their Hands on every Side. The moiftened Plains, and irriguous Valleys, hmgh and fing. While their Waters, lately exhaulled, again are made deep, and their Rivers run like Oil -f*.
The
* Thefe beautiful Lines are borrowed from the Sea-piece, Canto IV. A narratory, philofophical, and defcripthe Poemj, written by my ingenious Friend, Dr. Kirkpatrkkt
I Ezek, xxxii._i4.
72 Aspasio/oTheron. Let. 8,
The Earth, jaturated with the Bounty of Heaven, and ^/^ZW with humid Life, wears a thoufand Marks of Gratitude and Complacen- cy. Wafned by the copious Rain, how bright and vivid is the univerfal Verdure ! The green Carpet below, may almofl: vie with the blue Canopy. Sihove. — The Forell, and every Tree, burnifli their Colours, and array themfelves in their finell: Apparel. Which, as on a Day of general Feflivity, i^ delicately decked with Gems : Gems of unfullied Luflre, and of ge- nial Moifture. — From every Failure, and from all the Grove, the Voice of Pkafure and of Melody refounds. While the ofiicicus Zephyrs waft the floating Harmony, blended with native Perfumes ; gently waft them to the Senfes, and touch the very Soul with Tranf- port.
Could there be a more brilliant Appearance, or more exuberant Demonftrations of Joy, even to celebrate the Anniverfary of Natures Birth ? With what admirable Propriety has the Pfalniiji compared yonder orient Sun, in all his fparkling Grandeur, to a young exulting Bridegroora -f -, who comes forth, with every heightened Ornament from his Chamber, to fliew Flimfelf in the moft diflinguiflied Period of his Life, and to receive the BlelTing that confummates his Happinefs !
This
* PJal. xix. 5.
Let. 8. As PAS lo /o The RON. 73
This moft charming and equally majeftic Scene, recals to my Memory that fine Defcrip- tion of the MESSIAH, extant in the lall lovely- Strains of the Ifraelitijh Swa?z * — HE jhall be welcome and falutary as the Light of the Morn- ing 5 when the Sun arifeth, to chafe the malig- nant Shades, and pour Day through the re- viving World, - He fhall be as the Light of a Mornings thai is mofl ferenely fair; without either Storms to difturb, or Clouds to obfcure the glorious, the delightful Dawn. Yea, his Appearance fliall be more beautiful and his In- fluences m^re beneficial -f-, than the clear Shining
of
* 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. Ifraelitijh Swan — In Allufion to ihofc well-known Lines of the Poet,
Mult a Dirceeum levat Jura Cygnum.
And not without a Reference to the popular Notion, that the Swan fings the moft melodious Notes in its laft Moments. Fuit kac facundi Senis quafi cygnea Vox. TuUy.
f More beaut if uli, more beneficial ^ than the dear Shining.—' Thus We have ventured to trandate, or rather to paraphrafe, the Words HjIJO That the Prefix Q often occurs in the Acceptation of comparative Pre-eminence^ is plain from a very remarkable Paffage in Pfal. xix. 11. Where our in- fpired Author, quite ravifhed with the Love of the facred Oracles, declares -, They are defirable beyond Gold^ even be- yond fine Gold ; and fweet beyond Honey ^ even beyond the Droppings of the Honeycomb.
If this Senfe is admitted. We fhall have a fine Compa- rjfon, and a grand Advance upon it ; acknowledging the Infuffciency even of the boldeft and brighteft Images, to re- prelent the Glory of CHRIST'S Kingdom, and the Benig- nity of his Adminiilration— Perhaps, the Tranflation may
74 Aspasio/^jTheron. Let. 8.
of that grand Luminary, after a Night of fettled Gloom, and Shov/ers of inceffant Rain. When his Beams Ihed animating Warmth, and vital Luftre, on the tender Grafs im.pearled with Dews, and on all the green Treafures of the teeming Earth.
As We have already contemplated the blefled JESUS, under the amiable Chara^ler of the JUST ONE J the foregoing Paflage of Scrip- ture reprefents Him to our Faith, in the more majeitic Quality of THE LORD OF GLORY. — Or rather, unites the two grand Peculiari- ties, which render Him unparalleled in his per- fonal, and allfuficiejit in his mediatorial Ca- pacity.
Great, unfpeakably great and glorious would our 5A VIOUR appear j if We had no other Manifeflations of his Excellency, than thofe which preceded his myllerious Licarnation.
In the antient Scriptures, He ftands cha-
rafterized, as the fupreme Obje6l of G O D's ineffable Complacency ; veiled with a Glory, prior to the Birth of Time, or the Exiftence of Things j even the Glory , which He had with the FATHER, before the World was "^^ — He is
evejy
be too free and daring, and not approve itfelf to the exaft Critic. The Senfe, however, is unqueftionably juft ; agree^ able to the whole Tenour of Scripture ; and can wajit no Recommendation to the intelligent Chrijlian^ * "John xvii. 5.
Let. 8. Aspasio/oTheron. 75
every where exhibited, as the ultimate Defire of all Nations ; the Ible Hope of all the Ends of the Earth ; the Seed, of ineilimable and univerfal Importance, in whom all People,
Nations, and Languages fliould be blelTed. ■
Li thofe royal, or rather divine A^s and Mo- numents, He is publicly recognized, as The RULER of GOD'S People : Whofe Dominion is an everlafting Dominion, and his Kingdom from Generation to Generation. And how auguft, how venerable, is this SOVEREIGN ! Since it was the higheil Honour of the mofl eminent Saints, and renowned Monarchs *, t® acl as his Harbingers. Every infpired Pro- phet was his Herald, deputed to blazon his Perfe6lions, or foretel his Coming. The Splendor of the Temple, the Richnefs of its Ornaments, and the Solemnity of its Services, were the Enfigns of his Grandeur ; were his facred Regalia, intended to ufher Plim into the World with becomine State.
Does not all Mankind agree to eflimate the Merit of the Pra61ice, according to the Dig- nity oi the Perfon ? If a Neighbour of in^- rior Rank, vifit fome poor afflifted Wretch, in a coarfe Garret, and on a tattered Bed ; it is no very extraordinary Favour. Bat if a
Lady
* Mofes, for Inftance, and Jo/Jnia, David and Solomon, TZ7J^^'\ ^?"Sly marked Types, of our great LAW- PREACHER ^^^^^' '^ cur Divine RULER and
76 Asp AS 10 /o The RON. Let. 8.
Lady of- the firft Diflin61ion, or a Nobleman of the highefl Order, perform the fame Of- fice J it is a much more remarkable, a much more admired Inftance of felf-denying Cha- rity. On the Foot of this Calculation, to what 2i JiLpereminent Height will the Worthi- nefs of our LOR D's Obedience rife ! It will rife, like fome magnificent Edifice, whofe Ba- fis refts upon the Center ; whofe Dimenfions fill the Hemifphere ; and whofe Turrets glit- ter in the Sky. Or rather, it will extend it- felf to Immenfity J where Length, and Breadth, and Height, and all Dimenfions are loil. Ef-
pecially, if We confider The NameSy He
bears j and the Honours, He receives the
Works y He has done ; and thofe mightier Works, He is appointed to do.
' The Names, He bears. The Title, by
which JESUS of Ncizareth is diftinguifhed in the heavenly World ^ the Name v/ritten on his Veflure, and on his Thigh, is, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS*— The Defcription, v/hich the incomprehenfible JE- HOVAH gives of the Surety for fmful Men, runs in this exalted Strain ; THE MAN THAT IS MY FELLOW f- Which the Apoftle ex^
plains,
* Rev. xix. 16. t Zech. xiii. 7. ir\'>*'^V ContribuUs Vfl Cccquolh. My Fellow, or my Equal, — The original Expreflion occurs no
where.
Let. 8. Aspasio/oTheron. 77
plains, ill that memorable and majeftic Claufe; He thought it no Robbery to be equal with GOD *,
The
where, but in this Verfe of Zechariah, and in the Book of Leviticus. In one Text, it is explained by Brother^ or Par- taker of the fame Nature. In every other Place, I believe, it will be found to fignify, not barely a Neighbour, but an Equal; one that ftands upon the fame Level, with regard to the Claims of Equity, and the common Rights of Life. — In either Senfe, it militates ftrongly for the Divinity of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.
* Phil. ii. 6. Some Writers, I am aware, have endea- voured to interpret away this Evidence of our LOR D's Divine Nature. But I think with great Injury to the Con- text, and no lefs Violence to the Phrafe.
Ap7r;*;J]a@j, as far as I can obferve, denotes, not the Prize or Spoil, but the J^ of plundering or taking the Spoil ; Ipfa rapiendi ASiio. Vid. Steph. Thefaur. Grac. Ling. — If fo, . the Text moft naturally implies, that CHRIST counted it no A61 of Robbery; no Invafion of Another's Prero- gative ; but looked upon it as his unqueftionable Right, to ht equal with GOD, and to receive Divine Honours. — Ne- verthslefs [aXXcc, Rom. v. 14.) He was fo far from tena- cioufly inlifting upon, that He willingly relinquiflicd the Claim. He v/as content to forego the magnificent Diftinc- tions of the CREATOR, and to appear in the Form of a Creature. Nay, to- be made in the Likenefs of the fallen Creatures ; and not only to fliare the Dif grace, but to fuf- fer the Punifnment, due to the meaneji and vileji among them all. — An Example of Humility, worthy to be difplay- ed by the Eloquence of an Apoftle ! Worthy to be an ever- lafting Pattern for all Believers !
But however A^Tral^ui^ be tranflated, the Strefs of the Argument, 1 apprehend, lies upon the Word icrx. It this fignifies a real and proper Equality, the Proof feems, to me at lead, irrefragable. — Hov/ fhall We determine the exact Significancy of this important Word ? By having recour/e to Homer's Works, or to Heathen Authors ? This, in caic Xh&facred Writers will decide the Qi_ieflion, is like going from Jerufalem to Athens for the Solution of a religious Doubt, even while the College of Apofties is fittir.;^? at the
former
7^ As PAS I o /(? The RON. Let. 8*
—The HOLY GHOST, fpeaking by the Pro- phet Ijaiab of the Virgin's Son, enumerates leveral grand Dillinclions, both of his Perfon, and his Oiiice. He ftyles the Child, that fhould be born, "The WONDERFUL COUN- SELLOR, the EVERLASTING FATHER, the MIGHTY GOD, the PRINCE OF PEACE *. — The fame infpired Writer, though eloquent above all Orators, and more fublime than the loftieft Poet, cries out in rapturous Afconifliment j Who can declare his Genera- tion •f f' What Pencil can pourtray, what Lan- guage can exprefs, his matchlefs Excellencies ? And may We not with equal Propriety de- mand J Who can declare the meritorious Per- fection of his Righteoufnefs ? It is precious beyond Comparifon : beyond Imagination pre- cious.
The Honours^ which our LORD receives, are proportioned to the illuftrious Chara6lers,
which He fuftains. "John the Baptift, than
whom a greater Prophet, or a better Judge, was not born of Woman, profeiies Himfelf
un-
former Place — The Word occurs five or fix Times in their Writings. They ufe it, it is true, in the adje6live Form. But the Adjeclivc is very fufficicnt to fettle the Signification of the Adverb. If I knovi^ the Meaning of »(r0^, I fliall be at no lofs to undcrftand the Import of iff-a. — See Matt. XX. 12. Luke vi. 34. "John v. i8. ASh xi. 17. Rev, xxi. 16. In all M'hich Places it expreflls, not a bare Rejauhlance or Likenefs only, but a real and proper Equality,
* Jfai. ix. 6. t IJui. liii. 8.
Let. 8. Aspasio/^Theron. 79
unworthy, tojioop down and unloofe the Latchet of his Shoes "* : unworthy, though a burning and ihining Light in his Generation, to per- form the meaneft Service to this PRINCE of
Heaven. Stephen^ who leads the Van in the
noble Army of Chrijiian Martyrs, beheld fuch a Reprefentation of his crucified MASTER'S Glory ; as enabled Him to exult with divine Delight, even amidfl the furious Aflaults of his Perfecutors, and under the violent Blovv^s of his Murderers f. AfTured, that JESUS has all Power in Heaven and Earth, by an A6t of the mofl: folemn Worfhip, He commits his departing Soiily that moll important of all Trufls, to his REDEEMER'S Hand t— Nor by the firft Martyr alone, but in all Churches of the Saints, and in every Age cf Chrijiiaii- ity, has the LORD JESUS been addreifed, as the conftant Objeft of his People's Adoratioji ; and acknowledged, as the ever faithful De- pojitary of their eternal Interefis.
When Ifaidh beheld a vifionary Manifefla- tion of CHRIS r\l the firfl-born Sons of Light were waiting around Him, in Poflures of dutiful Submiflion. Thofe celeftial Beings, whofe very Feet are too bright for Mortals to view, veiled their Faces before his infinitely fuperior EIFulgence. The Seraphs, who are
all
* Mark i. 7. t Jjfs vii. 56. t Jjis v-ii. 59.
jj I/ai.\i. I, 2, &C, Johnxii./^i,
8o A S P A S I O /C T H E R O N'. Let. S.
all Zeal and all Love, celebrate his Perfec- tions, and cry one to anotherj The whole Earth
is full of his Glory. And is not Hca^-cen filled
with his Honour ? Does not Heaven refound with his Praife ? The beloved Difciple, in a Vifion no lefs clear and far more magnificent, beholds the LAMB that was flain, flanding in the midfl of a refplendent T'hro?ie, mofl beau- tifully adorned with a circling Rainbow, and terribly dignified by the Blaze of Lightnings, and the Sound of Thunders. Before this au- guft Throne, and at the Difpofal of the once flaughtered SAVIOUR, are feven Lamps of biirniiig Fire ; expreflive of the DIVINE SPI- RIT, in all the Variety of his miraculous Gifts, and fan(5lifying Graces *. — Four and twenty Elders, clothed in white Raiment, with Crowns on their Heads, and the Harps of GOD in their Hands, fall proftrate in deepeft Homage before the LAMB. They ftrike the golden Strings, and fing that fublime eucha- riilic Hymn j 'T^hou art worthy to take the Book, mid to open the Seals thereof : for Thou wafifaitiy and hajl redeemed Us to GO D by thy Bloody out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation 'y and hajl made Us, unto our GOD, Kings and Priefts •\.
Behold the Hierarchies of Angels : they are in Number ten tlioufand Times ten thoufand,
and
* Rev. iv. 5. t '^f'y- V. 9> 10.
Let. 8. Aspasio/(?Theron. 8i
and Thoufands of Thoufands. — Hark ! They raife their Voice, and awaken all the Powers of Harmony. — Who is the Subject, and what is the Burden of their Song ? Worthy is the LAMB that wasjlaiuy to receive Power ^ a?id Riches^ and Wifiom, and Strejigth^ and Honour ^ and BleJ/ing, — Nor thefe alone, but every Crea- ture which is in Heaven, and on the Earth, and under the Earth, and fuch as are in the Sea, join the immenfe Chorus. They cry, in loud refponfive Strains of Melody and Devo- tion J Blejjingj and Honour ^ and Glorj^ and Power ^ be unto Him that fitteth upon the T^hrone^ and unto the LAMB for ever and ever *.
This, You obferve, is the dev^out Acknow- ledgment, not only of the Cherubim, the Se- raphim, and the Spirits of juft Men made perfect, but of every Creature. — The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars, which garnifh the Hea- vens— Beads and creeping Things, Mountains and Hills, fruitful Trees and all Cedars, wiiich
repleniih the Earth Metals and Minerals,
Gems and Foffils, the fubterraneous Riches of Nature, or Things which are under the Earth
' Even all thofe Objefts, which my Theron
lately contemplated, do, in their way, mag- nify the LORD JESUS. They bear witnefs to his Power, as their Creator ; they are fubfervient to his Interefls, as our Mediator ;
and,
* Rev.v, II, 1^3 13.
Vol. III. - G
82 Aspasio/(?Theron. Let. 8.
and, in this manner, they glorify his facred Name.
Under fuch Views of the blefTed RE- DEEMER, inlargcd and elevated even to Afto- nifhment, is it poffible to over-rate the Worth of his mediatorial Obedience ? Is it pofTible to lay too much Strefs on his expiatory Sacrifice, or afcribe too much Efficacy to his vicarious Righteoufnefs.
To the Honours, which He receives, let Us add the Works, which He has done. By thefe, in the Days of his Flefli, were difplayed the Greatnefs of his Glory, and the Might of his Majefly.
Behold! fays the Almighty FATHER; my Servant, He who condefcends to become my Servant in the matchlefs Work of Redemp- tion J JJoall deal prudently, fhall conduct Him- felf with all the Dignity and all the Sanftity of Wifdom. In confequence of which. He Jloall be exalted, be extolled, and be very high^'. — The Paraphrafe of the Jewijlj Commentators on this beautiful Climax is, though inadequate, not contemptible. " The MESSIAH, they *' fay, fliall be higher than Abraham, more ► " illuflrious than Mcfes, and exalted abo^e " the Angela of Light, even above the prime " Mlnijlers -f of Heaven." — What follows, is
aix
* Ifai. Hi. 13.
t Prime MiniJlers, this is almofl a literal Tranflation af their Words, r\yar\ ON'^PD
Let» 8. A s p A s I o ^(? T H E R o M. 83
an Attempt to render this Expolition fome- what lefs defedive.
Here, could You open my Chamber-door, and peep upon your Friend, You would find Him in the fame Attitude, and under the fame Perplexity, which were formerly obferved in Fhocton, Sitting one Day, amidfl an Alfem- bly of the People, and preparing to make a public Oration, He appeared uncommonly thoughtful. Being afked "-he Reafon, " I am " confidering, faid He, how I may yZ^cr/^//, " what I fliall have Occafion to fpeak." — The Compafs of my Subjeft, would demand many Volumes ; whereas, the Limits of my Letter, will allow but a few Paragraphs.
Oar LORD gave Sight to the Blind. He poured Day upon thofe hopelefs and benight- ed Eyes, which had never been vifited with
the leaft dawning Ray. The Dumb, at his
Command, found a ready Tongue, and burft into Songs of Praife. The Deafwei'e all Ear, and liiiened to the joyful Sound of Salvation.
The Lame, lame from their very Birth,
threw afide their Crutches, and full of Tranf- port and Exultation, leaped like the bounding
Roe *. He reftored Floridlty and Beauty to
the
* We have the fincft Reprefentatlon of this Event, given Us by the Infpired Hillorian, Ji^s iii. 8, And He u\ip- ing up, Jkod, and walked, and entered with them into the Teinfle; walkings and hoping, and praifrng GOD. — The
G 2. very
84 A s p A s I o /o T H E R o N. Let. 8.
the Flefli, emaciated by confumlng Sicknefs, or encruftcd with a loathfome Leprofy. — All Manner of Difcafes^ though blended with the earheft Seeds of Life, and riveted in the Con- flitution by a long inveterate Predominancy — Difeafes, that baffled the Skill of the Phyfician,
and mocked the Force of Medicine thefe
He cured, not by tedious Applications, but in the Twinkhng of an Eye ; not by coflly Pre- fcriptions, or painful Operations, but by a P/ord from his Mouth, or a Touch from his Hand j nay, by the Fringe of his Garment, or the bare A6t of his Will.
Any one of thefe Miracles, had been enough to endear the Charadler, and eter- nize
very Language fecms to exult, in a redundant Flow of ex- prcfTive Phiafes ; juft as a poor Cripple, that never knew cither the Comfort of bodily Vigour, or the i'leafure of local Motion, may be fuppofcd to do, when fuddenly and unex- pectedly blefled with both. He would exert his new ac- quired Powers again and again ; firft in one Attitude, then in another. Sometimes to try, whether He was really healed, and not under the pleajing ]])elurion of a Dream; fometimes from a Tranfport of confcious Delight, and to cxprefs the Sallies of Joy that fprung up in his Heart.
Though I acknowledge Mr. Pope's Dcfcription to be ex- tremely beautiful,
The Lame their Crutch foreg9y
And leap exulting like the hounding Roe.
Yet I cannot perfuadc myfelf, that it Is to be compared witli St, Luke's Draught, either in the Variety of Figures ; in the Richncfs of Colouring ; or in that Exuberance of St)'lc, which, on this Occafioa, is fo happily fignificant, aiid i^pci- fe£lly piliurej\ue.
Let. 8. Aspasio/oTheron. S^
nize the Memory of another Perfon. But they were common Things, Matters of daily Occurrence, with our Divine MASTER. The Years of his pubHc Miniftry, were an unin- termittcd Series of fuch healing Wonders ; or, if any Inter miifion took place, it was only to make way for more invaluable Miracles of Ipiritual Beneficence.
Behold Him exercifing his Dominion, over the vegetable Creation. A Fig-Tree^ adorned w4th the moft promifing Spread of Leaves, but unprodudive of the expefted Fruit, withers away at his Rebuke. It is not only flripped of its verdant Honours, but dried up from the very Roots *, and periflies for ever. A fearful, yet fignificant Intimation, of that final Ruin, which will overtake the fpecious Hypo- crite. Who, while lavifli in outward Profef- lion, is deftitute of inward Piety.
His Eye pierced through the whole World oi Waters ; difcerned the Filh, that had juft fwallowed a Piece of Money ; and guided its Courfe to Peters Hook -f. He makes, if it be his fovereign Pleafure, the great Deep his
Re^ce^
* Mark xi. 20. t Mat. xvii. 27. How wonderful Is this feemingly lit- tle Miracle ! Or rather, what a Clujler of Wonders is com- prized in xKisfingle A£t ! — That any Fifli, with Money in its Mouth, fhould be catched— with Money jud of fuch a Value — and in the very firft Fifii that offered itfelf — What a pregnant Difplay of Omn'ifc'ience to know, of Oninlpotsnce tQ over-rule, all x\\Qk fortuitous Incidents !
G L
S6 A s p A s I o /'o T H E R o N'. Let. 8,
Revenue ; and bids the fcaly Nations bring him their Tribute.
The Waters themfelves, it may be faid, are far more unmanageable, than their Inhabitants. Who can controul that outrageous Element^ Which has dellroyed fo many gallant Fleets, with the Armies they bore ; and which would laugh at the Oppofition of the united World. The LORB JESUS walks upon its roll- ing Surges *, and fpeaks its moil tempeftuous Agitations into a Calm. The Waves of the Sea are mighty, and rage horribly, but yet the LORDj who loved Us, and waflied Us from our Sins in his own Blood, is mightier.
The Winds are yet more ungovernable, than the madding Ocean. When theie arc hurled -f* abroad, to Ihatter the Forefts, and lliake
the
* He treadeth upon the TVaves of the Sea, is one of the Prerogatives, afcribed to the moft high GOD, yob xix. 8. The original Word ^^,1^^)^ fignifies a Sea, that rolls Moun- tain-high \ and fuch, Wc have Reafon to fuppole, were the Waves on which our LORD walked ; fince the VefTcl, to which He bent his Courfc, was j3a(ravt^oo.£j/cy, lafied, battered, tormented, by their vehement Concullions. Matt. xiv. 24.
t This is the literal Tranflation of that beautiful Hebrew Phrafe, which occurs Jmab i. 4. — The facred Writer, de- fcribing the ftormy Mcilenger, which was difpatched to ar-
reft a fugitive Servaiit, fays ^'OH The LORD hurled
forth a great Wind. The fame Expreffion is applied to Sauly {1 Sam.xv\\\. 11.) when He darted his Javelin zt David, with a Defign to transfix and nail Him to the Wall. — What an elegant, and how awiul an Image ! Storms and Tcm-
pefts.
Let. 8. AsPAsio /£) Theron, 87
the Shores, Who can curb their Rage ? What can withftand their Impetuofity ? Even the boifterous Winds hear the SAVIOUR'S Voice ; and, as foon as they hear, obey. His Voice, more powerful to reflrain, than brazen Dungeons to confine, chides the furious Whirl- wind. The furious Whirlwind is awed into immediate * Silence. That v/hich a Moment ago, heaved the Billows to the Clouds, and filled with Outrage the howling Firmament ; now, gently whifpers among the Shrouds, and fcarcely curls the fmooth Expanfe.
Something there is, even within the narrow Compafs of our own Brea/is, which affords Room for more fignal Exertions of D E I TY, than the turbulent Billows, or the refiftlefs Storm. Agreeably to the Suggeftion of a Prophet } For lo I He that formeth the Moufi- tai?iSy and createth the Wind, andy as a more pregnant Proof of divine Perfe6lion, declareth
unto
pefts, with all their irrefiftible Fury and dreadful Ravages, are like rnijfrue Weapons in the Hand of JEHOVAH. Which He launches with greater Eafe and furer Aim, than the moft expert Warrior emits the pointed Steel.
* Irmnediate — This Circumftance, as very much aggran- dizing the Miracle, is, with great hiftorical Propriety, re- marked by the Evangelift. The Sea is known to have a prodigious Swell, and very tremendous Agitations, for a con- iiderable Time after the tempeftuous Wind ceafes. On this Occafion, and in Obedience to its MAKER'S Will, it departs from the cjiabliped Laws of Motion. — No fponer is the Word fpoken, but there is a Calm ; not an advanc- ing, but an injiantaneoiu Calm ; not a partial, but diperfecl Calm, Matt, viii. 26. Mark Iv. 39.
G4
88 AsPAsio /o Theron. Let. 8.
unto Ma?t ivbcit is his T'hought^ the GOD of Hofts is his Name * j the Pofleflbr of fuch fur- pafling Power and Wifclom, muft unqueilion- ably be the fupreme LORD. And Who is this, but JESUS CHRIST? He knew, what was in Man -f-. He difcerned the Secrets of the Heart j difcerned the latent Purpofe, be- fore it difclofed itfelf in Action j even be- fore it was uttered in Speech -, nay, while it lay yet an uninformed Embrio in the Mind.
His Glance pierced into Futurity : efpied Events, in all their Circuniflances t, and with the greatefl Perfpicuity, before they came into Being. The hidden Things of Darknefs were open, and the Contingencies of to-morrow were
pre-
* A7noi iv. 13. t 'John ii. 25. This all-difcerning Intelligence of the DEITY, is verv emphatically exprefTed by the Pfalmift, Pfahcxxxxx. 1,2, fa'r. Though the Sentiment, in ^w^Claufe, fecnis to be fomewhat weakened by our Verfion. There is not a Word in my Tongue, would have a nobler Turn, and more extenfive Meaning, if rendered ; Before the JVord is on my Tongue, Thou, O LORD, knoxveji it altogether.
X In oil their Circumjiances. — See a very remarkable Ex- emplification of this Particular, Mark xiv. 13. There Jball meet You — not barely a Perfon, but the Sex and Age are both fpecified — not two, or fevcral, but one Man — not within any given Space of Time, but at the iieiy Injlant of your Arrival • — not empty-handed, but bearing a ^'^^r^t'/— not of Wood or Metal, but an earthen P/Vf/;rr — filled, not with Wine or Milk, but with JVatcr — carrying it into that very Houfe, where the Pnparation was made, and the Paflbver was to be cele- l^iuted. — What a Multitude of Contingencies! All minutely foretold by our LORD!
Let.8. AsPASio to Theron. 89
prefent, to his all-pervading Eye. Nay, the unthought-of Revolutions even of diflant Ages, the aftonifhing Cataftrophe of dilTolving Na- ture, and the awful Procefs of everlafting Judgment, He clearly forefav^, and particu- larly foretold.
Nor does He only penetrate the Receffes, but
over-rule the Operations of the Soul. He fo
intifnidateddi Multitude of facrilegeous Wretches, that they fled, not before his drawn Sword, or bent Bow, but at the Shaking of his fingle Scourge *. — He fo a%vedj by one fhort Remon- ilrance 'f-, an Aflembly of conceited and often- tatious Pharifees, that they could neither gain- fay, nor endure the Energy of his Difcourfe. Though not to endure, was a tacit Acknow- ledgment
* John ii. 14, 15, &c. St. yerom looks upon this Miracle, as one of the greateft, that our SAVIOUR wrought. And indeed the Circumftances are very extraordinary. — That one Man fhould undertake fo bold, and execute fo hazardous a Tafk — One Man, without a Conmiijfion from Cccfar ; with- put any Countenance from the 'Jetv'ijh Rulers ; without any Arms, either to terrify the Multitude, or defend Himfelf. — That He fhould caft out the whole Tribe of mercenary Traf- fickers ; wreft, from thofe Worfhippers of Wealth, their darling Idol ; and trample under Foot their great Diana — • And all, without Tumult or Oppofition ; not one of the facrilegeous Rabble, daring to " move the Hand, or open
** the Mouth, or peep." Whoever refle6ls on the fierce
and ungovernable Nature of an incenfed Populace ; or con- fiders the bitter and outrageous Zeal of Demetrius and the Craftfmen, on a lefs irritating Occafion ; may poflibly find Himfelf almoft, if not altogether, of the Latin Father'^ Opinion.
t John viii. 7,
90 AsPAsio /(? Theron. Let. 8.
ledgment of Guilt, and muft cover them with
public Confufion. With a Word, the moft
mild and gentle * imaginable, He flung fuch Terror into a Band of armed Men; as blafted all their Courage, and laid them Jlunned and pro ft rate on the Ground.
All Hearts are in his Hand. He iurneth them,
as the Rivers of Water, whitherJoe'Der He 'will \ ;
with as much Eafe, and v/ith the fame effica-
^cious Sway, as the Current of the Rivers is
turned by every Inflexion of the Channel.
Follow me, was his Call to 'fames and fohn : Follow me t, v/as all He faid to Levi the Pu- blican. Though the firft were engaged in all the Ardour of Bufinefs ; though the laft was fitting at the very Receipt of Cuftom -, yet both He and they, without any Demur, or the leafl Delay, left their Employ, left their neareil Relations, and refigned their earthly all, to attend a poor and defpifcd MASTER. — Their Acquaintance, no doubt, would remonflrate
a
* John xviii. 6. f Prov. xxi. I.
% Mark ji. 14. He faid in the Beginning, Let there be Light ; tliere was Light : Let there be a Firmament ; 'twas fprcad abroad : Let there be a World', it arofe of Nothing. —In the Days of his Flefli Hkewife, He fpeaks, and it is dene. His Word is a Work. He fays to the Difciples,
Folloiv 7ne ; they come to the Leper, Be ckcji ; He is
cleanfed— to the Paralytic, Arife, take up thy Bed. end walk ; 'tis all performed, as foon as commanded. — Surely then We muft confcfs, This is the Voice of a GO D, not of a Mant r£uv,6-)lw is our LOR D's iifual Word, v.'hen He grants a miraculous Cure : which exadly corrcfponds with that ad- mired and magnificent Expreffion ^n* ^^^' ^' 3*
Let. S. AsPASio /^ Theron. 91
a thoufand Inconveniencies ; their Enemies would not fail to cenlure them, as raih Enthu- fiafts ; but all thefe Confiderations were lighter than Dufl, were lefs than nothing, when fet in competition with two Words only from J E" SU S of Nazareth. ImprefTed, deeply imprefC- ed by his powerful Summons, fuch Lofs they counted Gain, and fuch Obloquy Glory.
He planted Bowels of Compafiion in the unfeeling avaricious Wretch ; and elevatedy beyond the Height of the Stars, Defires that lay groveling even below the Mire of the Swine. The Slaves of Sin He reflored to the Liberty of Righteoufnefs 5 and unhappy Creatures, who were degenerated into the Likenefs of the Devil, He renewed after the Image of the blefled G O D. — Thefe were the Eifeds of his perfonal Preaching; thefe are flill the Con- quefls of his glorious Gofpel ; and do not thefe declare his Dominion over the In- teliedual Oeconomy ? That the JVorld of Mindsy as well as of material Nature, is open to his Infpe6lion, and fubjecl to his Controul ?
The Dead feem to be more remote from hu- man Cognizance, than the Secrets of the Breaft ; lefs Hable to any human Jurifdi6lion, than the warring Elements. What Potentate can ifTue a Writ of Releafe to the Grave ? Or
cite
92 AsPAsio ^i> Theron. Let. 8.'
cite the diflodged Soul, to re-enter the breath- lefs Corpfe ? — Ytt this, even this, our mighty MEDIATOR executed. Pie opened the Eyes, that WQve fu?ik in their Sockets, 2iX\d.Jeakd in the Tomb. He bid the Heart, that had forgot its vital Motion, fpring into renewed and vigo- rous Life. The crimfon Flood, long congealed by the icy Hand of Death 3 that had not only loft its Pulfe by Stagnation^ but likeviife chang- ed its very Texture by FutrefaBioji * j circu- lates, at his Order, all florid and mantHng with Health, through the wondering Veins. — The Spirit^ that had taken its Flight into the uroifible State, had taken its Place in eternal Habitations, returns, at our REDEEMER'S Signal, to the Tenement of mouldering Clay ; and, by the amazing Vifit, proclaims his Sove- reignty over thofe iinkncwn Realms^ and their myfterious Inhabitants,
As He recals from, fo He admits into, the Abodes of future Happinefs. In the very loweft Depths of his Humihation, He difpofed of the Seat^ of jB/Z/f, and the T'hrones of Glory. His Hands, when fwollen with Wounds, and nailed to the Tree, evidently fullained the Keys of Hell and of Death -f. Then, even then. He opened and He fliut either the Gates of the Grave, or the Portals of Paradife. What He
fpeaks * Johnxl 39. t ^^' *• 1 8'
Let. 8. Aspasio/oTheron. 9;^
fpeaks to the penitent Thief, is the Language of fupreme Authority j To Day Jhalt thou be with me in Paradife *. 'Tis a royal MafidamuSy not an humble Petition.
Does our lord's Superiority extend to thole malignant Beings, the Devil and his Angels ? — Even thefe, in fpight of all their formidable Strength -f*, and inextinguifiable Rage, He makes his Footftool. He brake the Teeth of thofe infernal Lions j and refcued the helplefs Prey, on which their bloody Jaws were clofmg. At his Command, they abandon their Conquefls ; and relinquifli, however indignant, however reliiSiant, their long-accuftomed Habitations. His fingle Command, more forcible than ten thoufand Thunderbolts, difpoflefTes a whole Le- gion % of thofe fierce and haughty Spirits : drives them, all terrified and deprecating fe- verer Vengeance, to feek Refl in foJitary Defarts, or to herd with the moft fordid Brutes.
As the blefTed JESUS treads upon the Necks of thofe Powers of Darknefs, He receives the willing Services of the Angels of Light, They
that
* Ltih xxiii. 43.
t Milton, defcribing the Power of the apoftate Angels, fays;
The leajl of Whom could wield
Thefe Elements ; and ann Him %vith the Force.
Of all their Regions, B. VI, 221,
X Mark v. 9.
94 AsPAsio /o Theron. Let.8,
that excel * in Strength, and are a5live as Flames of Fire, even they fulfil his Com- mandment, and hearken unto the Voice of his Words. They graced the Solemnity of his Birth i they attended Him, after his Tempta- tioii in the Wildernefs 3 they were the firfl joy- ful Preachers of his triumphant Refurreclion ; and now He is feated on the Right-hand of the MAJESTY in the Higheft,
They ft and with JVi?igs oiitfpready
Lifening to catch their Majiers leaft CommaTidy Andfiy through Nature^ eer the Moment end»
Behold
* Would any One fee a Sketch of the Glory and Excel- lence of the angelic Nature ? Let Him fee it, in that inimi- tably fine Stroke of the facred Pencil. I faw another Angel come doxvn from Heaven^ having great Power ^ and the Earth was lightened with his Glory. Rev. xviii i. The lafl: Claufe is, I think, one of the moil mafterly Touches of defcriptive Painting, extant in Hiftory, Poetry, or Orator}^ Milton gives Us a Stri<2ure of the fame Kind, and on the fame Sub- je61:. But the poetic Flighty though very fublime, is greatly inferior to the apocalyptic Vifion.
On He led
His radiant Files, dazling the Moon.
In this Cafe, We have a whole Brigade of celeftlal Warri- ors; in the former, only a y7«^/^ angelic Being. Thofe are reprefcntcd, as irradiating the Night, and outfhining the Moon: this, as exceeding the Brightnefs of the Sun; dif- fufing additional Splendors on the Day; and illuminating, not a vaft Plain, not a vafter Kingdom, but the zuhole Face of the Globe. — \i fiich be the Luftre of the Servant, what Images can difplay the Majcfty of the LORD ? Who has thonjnnd Thoufands of thofe glorious Attendants 7nmijhring unto Him, and ten thoujand limes ten thoujand Jlanding before Him? Dan. vii, lo.
Let. 8. AsPASio /f? Theron." 95
Behold Him, now, doing according to his Will, in the Armies of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth — Swaying the Sceptre, over the Legions of Hell, and the
Powers of Nature exercinng Dominion, in
the Hearts of Men, in the Territories of the Grave, and Manfions of difembodied Spirits.
Then let my T^heron determine under fucli
Views of our S A V I O U R's unequaled Ma- jefty, and unbounded Sovereignty, let Him de- termine— whether it be fafer, to refc our infi- nite and eternal Interefts, on our own Righte- oufnefs, rather than on His.
We have felecled forae few Manifeflations of our redeemer's excellent Greatnefs, Even the Evangelical Hifcorians, give us no larger a Proportion of his aftonifhing Deeds, than the Firfl-fruits bear to a copious Harveft. Yet, were they all particularly enumerated, and circumftantially. difplayed, they would appear incQ7ifiderable ; compared with thofe far more dijiinguijhed Trophies of Almighty Power, which He has decreed, in fome future Period, to erecl *.
He
* The Dignity of our LORD, conTidered as the CRE- ATOR and PRESERVER of all Things, is not men- tioned Here ; becaufe, it is profefl'edly attempted, in The De- fiant upon Creation^ fubjoined to the fiift Volume of Medtta- tions among the Tombs^ Sic. To which I beg Leave to refer my Readers. And fhall more than make iimeiids for the prefent Omiffion, by tranfcribing a Pa/Hise fiom the Night-
Thon?hti .
96 Aspasio/oTheron. Let. B*
He will gather to his facred Fold, the People of his antient Church j though they are ^tf- perfed into all Lands, and mofl inveterately prejudiced againft the Truth of his Gofpel. — • How mighty was his Hand, how illuflrioufly outftretched his Arm, when He made a Path through the Surges of the Ocean -, drove the Torrent of Jordan backwards s and fetched Rivers of Waters from the flinty Rock ! Far more mighty will be its Operations, when He fliall remove the feemingly unfurmountable Obftru(5lions, to the general Rejloration of the yews ; fhall throw all their religious Appre- henfions into a new Channel ; and caufe Tears of penitential Sorrow to ftart from their ftony Eyes, Confeflions of unfeigned Faith to ifTue from their blafpheming Lips. — Yet thus it will Qfluredly be. In the Volume of the divine Book it is written, 'They JJmU look on Him^ whom they have pierced, and mourn*. They fhall
adore
noughts ; which prcfents Us with a magnificent Difplay of this great Truth
. THOU, by whom all mrlds
Were made, and one redeem'd ; whofe regal Powers
On more than adamantine Bajis fix'dy
O'er more, far more than Diadems and Thrones
Inviolably reigns ; beneath whofe Foot,
And by the Mandate of whofe aivful Nody
All Regions, Revolutions, Fortunes, Fates ^
Of High, ofLoiv, of Mind and Matter^ roll
Through the fliort Channels of expiring TimCy
Or fmelefs Ocean of Eternity.
Nisht-Thoughts, N« IX.
* Zech,:di. 10.
Let. 8. AsPAsio /(? Theron. 97
adore as the MESSIAH, the defpifed Galilean j and fix all their Hopes of final Felicity on that very Perfon, whom their Fathers flew and hanged on a Tree.
Amazing Revolution in the religious World ! Yet this, together with tiie DejlruSiion of An- tichrift, and the Illumination of the benighted Gentiles^ may pafs for fmall Incidents ; com- pared with xhoiQ Jlupe?idous Events, which will dignify, and fignalize the clofmg Scene of Af- fairs.
Then, fliall the LORD JESUS be mani- fefled in unfpeakable Glory j and exert fuch A6ls of Omnipotence, as will be the 7'error of Hell, the Joy of Heaven, the Wonder of Eter- nity. Then, will He put an End to Time,
and bid the Springs of Nature ceafe to operate. Then, fliall his tremendous Trumpet rend the univerfal Vault, and pierce the Dormitories of the Dead. — Then, will He Jloake the Earth out of its Place *, and before his majeftic Prefence the Heavens fialljiee away-f. — Then fhall, not a
Nation
* Job ix. 6.
t How grand is the Idea, when David prays ! Bow thy Heavens.^ O LORD, and ame down ; touch the Mountains, and they Jhall J7noke. Much grander is the Image, when fit fays ; The Springs of TVatcrs lucre feen, and the Foundations of the World were difcovered, at thy Chiding, O LORD, at the Blaji of the Breath of thy Difpleafiire. Tranfcendently and inimi- tably grand is this Defcription, thoup;h given Us by themcft plain and artlefs Writer in the World. I faw a great white Throne, and hUM THAT SAT ON IT, frm who/e Face the
Vol. III. H Heavens
98 AspAsio /(J Theron. Let. 8,
Nation only, but Multitudes, Multitudes of
Nations,
Heavens and the Earth fled away, and there was no Place found for them. Rev. xx. 11.
In Virgil's admired Reprefentation, Jupiter hurU his Thunder, and a Mountain falls at the Stroke ;
— — — . . • Ille flagranti
Aut Atho, aut Rhodopen, aut alta Ceraiinia Tela Dcjicit. Georw. I. 331.
In Homer's more terror-ftriking Piece, Neptune fhakes the wide-extended Earth. The A-Iountains tremble to their Cen- ter i the Ocean heaves its Billows j and Cities reel on their Foundations.
-Aulap £V£p6£ TlccTii^awv slivx^e
Tcciav a7r£jp£<r»5iu, opfwu t aiTTfjva xuf/ivx,
Iliad. T. 57.
Here, the SON of the eternal GOD appears only, and all Nature is alarmed : nor Heaven nor Earth can keep their Standing : they flee avvay, like the frighted Roe. — How groveling are the loftieft Flights of the Grecian and Roman Mufe, compared with this Magnificence and Elevation of the prophetic Spirit !
Let Us confider the Paflage a little more attentively. Volet ha:c fi(b Luce videri. Mafterly Performances, the more clofely they are examined, the more highly they charm. — It is not faid, A few Herds of the Foreft, a few Kings, or Armies, or Nations ; but the tvholc S)flcm of created Things. — It is not faid. They were thrown into great Commotions, but they fed intirely azvay ; not, they ftartcd from their Foun- dations, hutthcy fell into Difjlution; not, they removed to a didant Place, hxit there was found no Place for than; they ceafed to exift ; they were no more. — And all this, not at the ftria Command of the LORD JESUS ; not at his awful Menace, or before his fiery Indignation ; but at the hare Pre- fefice of his Majefty, fitting with fcrene but adorable Dignity on his Throne.
If this is not the true Sublime, in its utmoft Scope, and richcfl- Beauty, I muft confefs, I never faw it, nor ever cx- i^<St to fee ic.
Let. 8. A SPAS 10 to Therom. 9.^
Nations, he born in a Day * 5 yea rather, in an Hour, in a Moment, in the Twinkling of an Eye. — All that are adeep in the Beds of Death ; even thofe who, perifhing in T'empcjis^ are funk to the Bottom of the Ocean ^ or, fwallowed up by Earthquakes, are buried at the Center of the Globe ; all lliall hear his Voice j and hear- ing, fliall awake J and awaking, fliall come forth. — Every human Body, though j^ges have revolved, fmce it gave up the Ghoft } though Worms have devoured the Flefh, and DifToiu- tion mouldered the Bones; though its Parts have been grinded by the Teeth of Beafts, or confumed by the Rage of Fire ; difiipated in 'viewlefs Winds, or fcattered over the boimdlefs Globe } lofl to our Senfes, and loft even to our Imagination ; yet will every human Body then be reftored; its Limbs realTembled, and not an Atom wanting -, its Frame rebuilt, and ne- ver be demolifhed more.
Then, fliall 'the unnumbered Myriads of departed Spirits return from their feparate Abodes; and, commifiioned by HIM who is the Refiirrecfion and the Life, reanimate each his organized Syftem. — Then, will Mifery and Happinefs, both confiimmate, and both everlajl- ing, be awarded by the SAVIOUR's Sentence. — Then, will He condemn the ungodly World, and the rebellious Angels, to Chains of Dark-
H 2 nefs,
* Ifa'u Ix. 8.
100 A s p A s I o /o T II E R o N. Let* B.
ncfs, and Dungeons of Defpair. Then, will He invcil the Rightccus with the Inheritance of Heaven, and inflate them in the Fulnefs of Joy. His Word will be Fate; Immiitahi' lity fcals, and Eternity executes, whatever He decrees.
And has //6w yE^i!/^', fo glorious, fo ma- jeftic, fo adorable — has HE vouchfafed to take our Nature, and become our Righteoufnefs ? Was HE made under the Law ? Did HE fulfil all its Demands ? Give perfect Satisfaction to the penaly and yield perfect Obedience to the preceptive f On purpofe, that the Merit of all
might be made over to Us ? Aflonifliing
Condefcenfion ! Ineffable Grace ! What Thanks
are due, to fuch infinitely rich Goodnefs !
What a Pvcmedy is here, for tiie Impotence and Guilt of fallen Man ! — What a fure Founda- tion of Hope, and what an abundant Source of Joy, to every One that belicveth ?
It is declared by the Oracle of GOD, That
fucb an HIGH-PRIESi: became Us, was abfo-
lutely necefiary for our obnoxious and ruined
Condition, who is holy, barmlcfs, undefiled, fe-
parate from Sifi?iers and made higher than the
Heavens *. It appeal's, I flatter myfelf, from the Letter already in your Hand, That CHRIST fully anfwered the former Charadler; and
from
* UgL viii. 26»
Let. 8. Aspasio/oTheron. ioi
from this Epiille, I hope it will appear, That He is the very Perfon clcfcribed in the latter Claufe.
Eflimate now, my dear Friend, efiimate if You can, the Glory and Excellency of this fu- blime Perfon. Then may You learn, how to ftate the Worth of his Riffhteoufnefs, and the Degree of Affiance fuited to his Merits. Rather you will perceive, that his fpotlefs Birth, his perfectly obedient Life, his exquifitely bitter Death, are a Satisfa6lion of unknown Digni- ty ; precious "*, far beyond all the Graces of Men, and all the Duties of Angels; able to fave to the uttermoil, all that rely on them, and come unto GOD through them.
Confonant to this, are the Sentiments of that penetrating Critic and profound Scholar, Dr. Lighffoot. Who, treating of our S A V I- OUR's Obedience, fays — " Add to all this the " Dignity of his Perfon, who performed this " Obedience : that He was G O D as well as ** Man : and his Obedience is infinite. Such " as, in its Validity, fubdued Satan, and in " its All-fufficiency fatisfied the Jufdce of "GO D." — After which, our celebrated Au- thor makes this important and delightful Im- provement j " Think, Chrifiian, what a Stock
"of
* This is exprefled by the facred Hiflorian, with an Ener- gy which no Tranflation can equal ; rriv Ti|a7iu t» T£|i,ur^jW,£v»$ ((V (liiArKTOivJo oiwo u«vv IcrpanA. Matt, xxvii. g,
H3
102 Asp A SI o to Theron. Let. 8.
" of Obedience and Righteonfnefs, here is for " thee, to anfwer and fatisfy for thy Difobedi- " ence and Unrighteouinefs, if Thou become " a Child of the Covenant. Here is enough " for every Soul that comes to Him, be they " never fo many. Like the Widow's Oil in the " Book of Kings ^ there is enough and enough " -again, as long as any Vellel is brought to " receive it *.
We need not v^onder, that Gentiles^ who are ignorant of the R E D E E M E R 3 that Jews, who treat Him with contemptuous Scorn j that Frcfejjors of Religion, who deny his eter- nal GODHEAD; place little, if any Confi- dence in his Righteoufnefs. But it is frrange, that Chrijlians, who know the S A V I O U R 5 who acknowledge his Divinity 3 and believe Him to be exalted above all Elcfiing and Praife — it is exceedingly llrange, that they do not rejoice in Him; make their Bcafl of Him ; and fay, with a becoming Difdain, of every other Dependance, Get ye hcjice -f- !
Such an Affcmblage of divine Perfe61ions, muft 110 arrant, muft demaiid, the moft undi- vided, and the mod unbounded Confidence, — There never was, no, not in all Ages, nor in all Worlds, any thing greater or richer, more dignified or exalted, than the Obedience
of our L O Pv D. Nay ; it is impoflible for
Men
* LightfQof% Works, Vol. II. p. 1258, f JJa't, xxx, 22,
Let. 8. AsPAsio /^ Theroin. 103
Men or Angels to imagine, what could be fi fuited to our Wants, fo proper for our Reli- ance, or fo fure to anfwer, more than anfwer all our Expeftations.
Upon the Whole J let me intrcat my 'Theron to contemplate our LORD JESUS CHRISTy under that moft iiluflrious Chara61er, defcrib- ed by the Prophet, yf PRIEST' upon his THRONE^. Dignifying the facerdotal Cenfer by the regal Diadem ; adding all the Honours of his eternal Divinity^ to the Sacri- fice of his bleeding Humanity. — Then, I pro- mife myfelf. You will find it almoft impoflible, not to adopt the emphatical and ardent Pro- tellation of the Apolf le -, GOD forbid, that I fdould glory, that I fiiould confide, free only in the Obedience and the Crofi of CHRIST JESUS my LORD!
When You made the Tour of France and Italy, and, eroding the Alps, gained the Sum- mit of fome commanding Ridge — When You looked round, with Aftoniihraent and Delight, on the ample Plains, which, crouded with Ci- ties, and adorned with Palaces, flretch their beauteous Tra6ls below — "When You furveyed t\\Q famous Rivers, that roll in filent but fhin- ing Dignity ; flating the Boundaries of King- doms, and wafting Plenty through the glad- dened Nations — When You (liot your tranf- H 4 ported
* Zech, vi. 1 3.
104 AsPAsio/oT HERON, Let, 8,
ported View to the Ocean, whofe unmeafur- able Flood meets the Arch of Heaven, and terminates the Landfchape with inconceivable Gi-andeur — Did You, then, choofe to forego the Pleafure refuldng from Ibch a Profpcct, in order to gaze upon the naked Cragg of fume adjacent Rock ? Or, could You turn your Eyes from thofe magnificent Obje6ls, and fallen them wnxh. pleafed Attention upon a fidlow Puddle, that lay ftagnating at your Feet ?
You, Who have beheld the Scene, can ac- commodate the Simile, with peculiar Advan- tage. For which Reafon, I fhall wave the Ap- plication i and only beg leave to tramcribe into my Paper a Wifh, that is now warm on my Heart, and is often breatbed in Supplica- tion from my Lips May the FATHER of
our Spirits, and the Fountain of Wifdom., give Us an inlightened Vftderfiatzdijig, to KNOW Hi jn that is true : grant Us the ineiiimable Blefling, that We may B E IN Hi?/i that is true, even in his SON JESUS CHRIST. For, this SAVIOUR is the true GOD, and that Privilege is Lifi eternal "*.
My Theron needs no Arguments to convhice Him, that fuch a Prayer is an A61: of rational nnd real Friend (liip ; is the moft genuine and fubflantial Proof, that I am
His truly affeSliouate
ASPASIO,
* I John v. 20,
Let. 9. Theron/oAspasio. 105
LETTER IX.
Theron to ASPASIO.
Dear A s ? a s i o,
OUR two Letters have reached my Hand ; and I hope, they have not milied my Heart. I might inform You, what Plea- fure they gave me, and how highly I efleem them. But You defire no fuch CompUments: YoLi defire to fee me impreffed with the Senti- ments, and Hving under their Influence. This would be the moll acceptable Acknowledg- ment to my Afpafio, becaufe it would be the mofl happy Etfe6l to his T^heron. May every Day, therefore, bring a frefli Acceffion of Juch Gratitude to me, and oi fuch Satisfa6lion to You !
To watch for my Soul, and pray for my Salvation, I am thoroughly convinced, is the trueft Inllance of rational and exalted Friend- fliip. Every Claim to that amiable Chara6ler, is defeBive and njaiji, if it does not extend to our fpiritual Interefts, and our everlafting Welfare. For which Reafon, I need not in- treat Tou to continue and perpetuate this beil
Ex-
io6 Tmeron/(9Aspasio. Let. 9,
Expreflion of fecial Kindnefs. Or if I do, it is rather to teftify how much I prize the Fa- vour, than to prompt your affeftionate and ready Mind.
Your laft found me at a Friend's Houfe, that hes pretty near the wejlern Ocean. — Yef- terday, waked by the Lark, and rifing with the Dawn *, I ftroiled into the fragrant Air, and dewy Fields. While, as Shakefpeare with his ufual Sprightlinefs expreiTes himfelf,
-— — yocu?id Day
Stood tip-toe on the mijly Mountains 'Top.
Sweet was the Breath of Morn, and fweet
the Exhalations of the frefhened Flowers
Grateful v/ere the foft Salutes of the cooling Zephyrs, attended with the Charm of earliefl Birds — Delightful the Sun, painting with his orient Beams the Chambers of the Firmament, and unveiling the Face of univcrfal Nature.
My Mind, but little aifefted with thefe in- ferior Entertainments, was engaged in con- templating
* Evandrum ex humili Te6lo Lux fufcitat alna,
Et matut'mi Valuer um fub Culmine Cantus, Virg.
Lrix alma A lovely ExprefHcn ! Dcfcribing the Mild-
nefs, the Beauty, and the chearing Efficacy of the riling Sun. It Is, I think, incapable of an equal Tranflation ; but reminds me of a vciy fine Compariibn in our facred Eclogues, which reprefcnts the charming Appearance, and the benign Influence of the Gofpel-church, at its firfl: Open' ing on the Gentile JVorld—lVho h this that looketh forth as th& Morning f Cant, VI. lo.
Let. 9* The RON to Aspasio. 107
templating an Object of infinitely fuperior Dignity. In contemplating that ADORABLE BEING, who raifed — from nothing raifed this ftupendous Syflem of Things ; and fupports
with his Word fupports the magnificent
Frame. Who (to fpeak in the Language of his own SPIRIT) openeth the Eyelids of the Morn- ings and commandeth the Day-fpring to know its Place *. Commandeth the Light, by its punc- tual and pleafing Miniftrations, to draw afide the Curtain of Darknefs; and difcover the Skies, fhining with Glories 3 and difclofe the Earth, blooming with Beauties.
FATHER of Light and Life, faid my tran- fported Mind,
<Thou GOOD SUPREME !
O teach me what is good! Teach me THT~ SELF.
Save me from Folly , Vanity , and Vice, From every low Piirfint I and feed my Soul With Faith, with confcioiis Peace, and Virtue
pure. Sacred, fiibfiantial, neverfading Blifs ^ !
Wrapt in Wonder, and loft in Thought, I rambled carelefly along, till I was inienlibly brought to the Shore. Which, in thefe Parts, is prodigioufly high and ftrong : perfectly
well
* Job-xxxy'm, 12, t Thm/on's Wmt^r,
I08 THERONifcAsPASIO. Let. 9.
well fitted, to ftand as an everlailing Barrier *, againfl the impetuous Stroke of confli6ling Winds, and the ponderous Sweep of dalliing Surges. Not that the Omnipotent ENGI- NEER has any Need of thefe impregnable Ramparts. HcrCj it is true, they intervene ; and not only reprefs the roiling Invader, but fpeak the amazing Majefty of their MAKER. In other Places, all fiich laboured Pvlethods of Fortification are laid afide. The CREATOR fliews the afloniflied World, that He is con- fined to no Expedients ; but orders all Things according to the Pleafure of his own Will. He bids a low Bank of defpicable Sand, receive and repel the moil furious Si:ocks of aflault- ing Seas : And, though the Waves thereof tofs theinjekes with incredible Fierceneis, yet can they not prevail', though they roar, and fetm to menace univerfal Defl:ru(pLion, yet cnn ihey not fafs over -f this flightefr of Mounds.
A winding Paflage broke the Declivity .... the Defcent j and led me, by a gradu il ^]ov)c, to the Bottom.— The Moon beiijg in Lvr; ml
Quarter,
* Thefe, doubtlefs, arc " the Doors and tl.: (..as," which the ALMIGHTY mentions in the Couric :f his awful Interrogatories to Job. The TnnJJ'y Doors, that can never be forced j the folid Bars, that can never be broke ; and I may add, the confpicnons Columns, on which his Pro- vidence has infcribed that fovereign Mandate, Ncplus ultra. Or, as the Prohibition runs in his own majpilic Words, llithp-to Jhalt thcu go^ hut no farther. Job xxxviii, lO.
f Jer, V. 22.
Let. 9« Theron to iisPAsio. 109
Qiiarter, and the Tide at its greateft Recefs, I walked for a while, where briny Waves were wont to flow. — —The ebbing Waters had left a vacant Space, feveral Furlongs broad -, equal, in Lengthy to a very extended Vifta ; frnooth on its Surface, as the mofl: level Bowling-green ; and almofl: as firm^ as the befl: compacted Cawfay. Infomuch, that the Tread of a Horfe fcarce impreffes it, and the Waters of the Sea never penetrate it. Exclufive of this wife Contrivance, the fearching Waves would infmuate themfelves into the Heart of the Earth. The Earth itfelf w^ould be hollow as an Honey-Comb, or bibulous as a Sponge. And the Sea, foaking by Degrees through all its Cavities, would, in Procefs of Time, for- fake its Bed, and mingle with the Plains and Mountains. But this clofely cemented or glu- tinous Kind of Pavement, is like claying the Bottom of the univerfal Canal. So that the returning Tides" confolidate, rather than per- forate its Subilance : as a Fluids they prevent the Sun from cleaving it vs^ith Chinks ; as a mfcous Fluid, they fhut up the Interfliices of the Sand, and hinder the Water from exfuding through its Pores. — Such, I hope, will be the Cafe, with this Soul of mine, and the Temp- tations that befet me. Befet me they do, they will. But may they never win upon my Af- fedions, nor gain Admittance into my Heart !
Let
no Theron to AspAsio. Let. 9.
Let them make mc humble, and keep me vi- gilant 5 teach me to walk clofely with my GOD, and urge me to an incclTant Depend- ence on CHRIS'T. Then, inftead of being ruinous^ they may become advantageous ; and inftead of Ihattering, will only cleanfe the Rock, on which they dafli.
The mighty Waters, refllefs even in their utmoft Tranquillity, with a folemn * but pla- cid Murmur, flruck my Ear. The Billows, fometimes advancing to kifs the Sand ; fome- times drawing back their curly Heads into the Deep 5 whitened, at their Extremities, into an agreeable Foam. Which, with the refleclive Reprefentation of the azure Canopy, formed the Appearance of a moft fpacious Mantle, tinged with a beautiful Blue, and edged with
Fringes of Silver. Dignity and Elegance^ I
find, are the infeparable Chara6leriftics of the CREATOR'S Workmanfhip. As Comfort and Happinefs, I fometimes perceive, are the very Spirit of his Gofpel, and the genuine Produce of his Commands.
On one Side, the Atlantic Main rolled its Surges from World to World. — What a Spec- tacle
* This is defcribed with inimitable Propriety by Homer j 5»l (J' axswu Trapa 0»y» 7roAu(|>AoKrCoK> 9aX«0"<r7)f.
And only not quite fo beautifully by Adilton ; He fald ; a7id as the Sound nf J Voters deep Hoarfe Murmur ecbo'd to bis Words Jpplaufe,
Let. 9' Theron/oAspasiow in
tacle of Magnificence and Terror ! Wliat an irrefiflible Incitement to Reverence and Awe ! How it fills the Mind, and amazes the Ima- gination ! 'Tis the grandefc and moft anguffc Obje£l under the whole Heavens.— It reminds me of that apocalyptic Vifion, which 'Johuy, the inraptured Seer, beheld ! As it were a great Mountain burning with Fire, was ca/i into the Sea J and the third Part of the Sea became Blood-, and the third Part of the Creatures which were in the Sea^ and had Life, died , and the third Part of the Ships were dejiroyed^. I have not Penetration enough, to difcover the fpiritual Meaning of this PafTage ; but, I difcern a moil dreadful Grandeur ^ in its plain and literal
Senfe. If We confider the wonderful Com-
pafs, and the terrible Force, of fuch an enor- mous Mafs of Fires if We confider its hor- rible and de{lru(5live EfFe6ls, on fuch a vaft Body of Waters, as the third Part of the Ocean ; how tremendous and aftonifliing is the Idea ! Surely, nothing but divine Infpira- tion could fuggeft thefe Images ; as None but an Almighty BEING can execute this Ven- geance. Who would not fear an eternal KING, that has fuch Weapons and fuch Artil- leiy, referved again/i the Day of Battle andlVar-f-.
Spacious as the Sea is, GOD has provided a Garment^ to cover it. Immenfe as the Sea is,
GOD
* Rev. viil, 8, 9. t y<?^xxxvlii, 23.
112 Theron/^jAspasio. Let. g.
GOD has prGTpai'Qdfwadling Bands ^ to inwrap it. Ungovernable as it may feem to Us, He over-rules it with as much Eafe, as the Nurfe manages a new-born Infant *. An Infant it is, before Almighty Power j and to an Infant it is compared, by JEHOVAH Himfelf : though, to our Apprehenfion, it raves hke a
Jiupendoiis Madman, But, if HE command,
it opens a peaceful Bofom, and receives his People. It fmooths the Way for their Paf- fage, and ftands as a Bulwark for their De- fence. They march through the midfi of the Sea upon dry Ground, and the Waters are a Wall unto them on their Right-hand and on their left \, If he reverfes his Mandate, they drive down^ with an irrefiftible Sweep, upon the Hofts of Pharaoh ; and overwhelm the Chariots and Horfes of Egypt. They pour Confufion upon Arrogance %> ^^^ difappoint the Defigns of
Perfe-
* Job xxxviii. 8, 9. t Exod. xlv. 22.
:j: Arrogance — This is defcribed with exquifite Delicac)', in the E7rivi>tiou or triumphant Song of Mofes. Tl^e Enemy faidy I will purfue ; I will overtake ; I ivill divide the Spoil ; my Liift /hall be fatisfied upon them : I will draw my Sword^ mine Hand Jhall dejiroy ^Aw/.— What fwclling Words of Va- nity are here ! The very Spirit of a Thrafo breathes in every Syllable of this beautiful Frofopopccia. Nev^r was the Lan- guage of Blujler, Ferocity^ and Rhodomonta'de., fo finely mi- micked.— How noble is the Turn, and how exalted the Sen- timent, that follows ! THOU didji bloiv with thy JPind\ the Sea covered tl/em ; they fank as Lead in the mighty IVaters. The G O D of Ifrael need not fummon all his Power, or level the rl^ht-aiming lliundcr-buks i He only blows with
his
Let. 9. Theron/oAspasio. lij
Perfecution and Cruelty. If He fays, BS
Jiill: the bellowing Surges are hi^flied \ and the gentleft Lamb is not fo quiet. If He fays, Dejiroy : even the quiefcent Waters kindle into Rage J they rife in their MAKER'S Caufe j and ten thoufand Lions, ftung with Hunger, and ruddling upon the Prey, are not fo fierce. When He bids .them execute any other Com*- miflion ; the Horfe broke to the Bit, the Spa- niel difciplined to the Signal, are not half {o dutiful and obfequious.— ^ — And lliall our Paf- fons be more wild than the Winds, more tur- bulent than the Billows ? Forbid it, Almighty LORD ! Thou that ruleji the Raging of the Sea ; {i?jd the Noife of bis Waves, reftrain, fubdue, £172(1 calm the Madnefs of the People.
The Eye travels hard. It wanders over a Vaft, vaft Length of fluftuating Plains *. It reaches the Limits of the Hemifphere, where Skies and Waves feem to mingle. Yet it has fcarce made an -Entjy upon the World of W^aters. What I here difcern, is no more than the Skirts of the great and wdde Sea. Tra6ls incomparably broader, are flill behind ; and Tracts of unbounded Extent, are behind even thofe. — Great then, O my Soul, incon- ceivably great, is tliat adored and glorious
SOVE-
his Wind, and the great Mountain breaks like a Bubble. AH this inlolent and formidable Parade is quaflied ; finks into Nothing ; expires in Shame and Ruin. Exod. xv. 9, 10. * ' -"^ "■ '"•- -■ Campofque natant{S, Lucret.
VuL.m. - I
114 The RON /(? AsPASTo. Let. 9,
SOVEREIGN, who fitteth upon this Flood, as upon a Throne *. Nay, Who holds it, diffufcd as it is from Pole to Pole, in the Hollow of his Hand -, and before whom, in all its prodigious Dimenfions, it is but as the Drop of a Bucket. — How fhall Reptiles of the Ground fnik low enough in their own Appre- henfions ! What Humiliation can be fuffici- ently deep for finful Mortals, before this ^' High and Ploly ONE !" Yet how may they rife on the Wings of Hope ! How may they Joar on the Pinions of Faith ! When, in the Language of his Prophet, and in his own son's Name, they thus addrefs the everlaft- ing GOD- Aivake I Aivake ! Put on Stre7igthy O Arm of the LORD ! Aivake , for our Suc- cour and Security, as in the antiejit Days^ in the Generations of old. Art Thou not it^ that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the Dragon f Art Tbou not it, which hath dried the Sea, the Waters of the great Deep ? "That hath made the Depths of the Sea, a Way for the Ranfomed to pafs over-f^
Plow grand, furprifmgly grand and majef- tic, are the Works, as well as the Nature, of an OMNIPOTENT Being! What are all the Canals in all the Countries of the Earth, compared with this immenfe Refervatory ! What are all the fuperb Edifices, erected by royal Munificence, compared with yonder
Con-
* Fjd.-x.xix. 10, "t Ifaiah\i,(),iQ>
Leti 9' Theron/{?Aspasio. 115
Concave of the Skies ! And what are the moft pompous Illuminations of Theatres and triumphant Cities, compared with the refplen- dent Source of Day ! They are a Sparky an
Atora^ 3. Drop. Nay, in every Spark, and
Atom, and Drop, that proceeds from the Hand of the ALMIGHTY, there is the Ma- niieftation of a Wifdom and a Power abfo- lutely incomprehenfible.
Let us examine a fingle Drop of Water, the very leaft Quantity, that the Eye can dif- cern ; only fo much, as will jufl adhere to the Point of a Needle. In this almofl impercep- tible Speck, a famous Philofopher compute 5 no lefs than thirteen thoiifand Globules. Amaz- ing to conceive ! Impofiible to explicate ! — If then, in fo fmall a Speck, abundantly more than ten thoufand Globules exifl, what My- riads of Myriads mufh float in the unmea-
fured Extent .of the Ocean ! Let the ableft
Arithmetician try to comprehend in his Mind, not the internal Conilitution, but only the Number of thefe fluid Particles. As well may He grafp the Winds in his Fill:, or mete out the Univerfe with his Span, as execute the
Talk. If then We are utterly unable to
num.ber (which is the j7joJ} fuperficial of all Refearches) even the moft common Works of the great JEHOVAH j how can We pretend to lay open the Secrets, and penetrate the Re- I a ceffes
11 6 T H E R o nWo A s p A s I 0. Let. 9.
cefTes of his infinite Mind ! How can We pre- tend to invciligate the whole Procefs, and folve all the Difficulties, of that highejl and deepcft of the divine Schemes, Redemption !
I have fometimes been offended, I muft con- fefs, when You have inlarged upon the tnyfte- rious Truths of Chrijiianity. But I perceive, the Beam was in my own Eye, when I fan- fied, the Mote was in my Friend's. Is there, in every Ray of Light, and in every Particle of Matter, a Depth of Contrivance unfathom- able by the Line of any human Underftand- ing ? And fliail there be nothing abftrufe or profound, nothing but what is level to our yr<2/7M' Apprehenfions, in the great ^T'hings oi GOD's Law, and the glo-icus -[- things of his Gofpcl r To expect this, is juft as wife in it- felf, and juft as congruous to Nature, as to
€xpe6l a Sea, whole Cavities might have
been digged by our Spade a Sky, whole
Arches are meafurable by our Compafs — -a Sun^ whofe Orb may be included in our Lanthorns>
When therefoje I read of ONE uncreated and eternal BEING, fubfillmg in THREE Divine PERSONS; when 1 hear of an in- finitely pure and perfect GOD, made Flcfh for tJie Redemption of fmful Men ; when I meditate on tlie righteous and untverfal
JUDGE,
* 'nnin ♦nn Hon vHi. 12.
Let. 9. Theron /(? AsPAsio. 117
JUDGE, reconciling the World unto Him-
felf, by the Death of his own SON j when
a thoufand curious and inquifitive Thoughts are ready to arife on the Occalion j I will bid them, firft found the Depths of 2, Jingle Drop, and then apply their Plummet to the boundlefs Ocean. This, I am very fure, is not weak Credulity, nor wild Enthufiafm ; but the ma- turefl: Dictate of Reafon, and the very Preci- fion of Truth. — Let then the great CREATOR make that fublime Declaration ; Ai the He a- 'vens are higher than the Earthy fo are my Ways, than your Ways ; and my I'looiights than your T'hoiights *. Let every human Creature add that humble Acknowledgment 3 O the Depths of the Riches^ both of the Wifdom and Knowledge of GOD I How unfearchable are his "judgments ^ and his Ways paji finding out -f- / And not De- votion only, but Reafon and Truth, will fay Amen to both.
You fee, Afpafio^ how I am trying to adopt your Spirit. You will obferve the Vv'illing Scho- lar, though not the great Proficient. But
ftay ! Is this right .'' To divert from fuch com- manding Subjecls, and take Notice of mere Punctilios ? — My Friend may fpare his Frowns, J am furprifed and angry at myfelf. Away with the litde Arts of Self-recommendation.
Ifai. Iv. 9. t Rqui, xi. 33,
54^
n8 Theron/oAspasio. Let. 9.
Self fhould be forgot, fliould be /wallowed up and lojl in devout Aftonifhment, when We are viewing the Magnificence, and meditating on the Vv^onders of Creation.
Behind me, and far off to the North, Cam-, brias dufkyCoalls juft, andbutjufl, emerged. Loft were all her Woods and Mountains. In- flead of ornamented Towns, and cultivated Plains, a confufcd Mift, or a low-hung Cloud, feemed to hover on the Ocean's remotefr Brim.
Behind me I Remembrance is roufed at the
ExprefTion, and Confcience fliarpens her Sting. Ah ! how often, and how long, have I treated in this very Manner, the nobleft Scenes, and
the fublimefl Joys ! Have turned my Back •
ungrateful and befotted Creature ! — upon the heavenly Country, and wandered from the Re- gions of infinite Delight ! Therefore now they appear ditn. I have fcarcely a Glimpfe of their tranfcendent Excellencies. Or if I fee therr^ by Faith, it is with frequent Intermifiions,
and much Obfctirity. Turn me, O Thou
GOD of my Salvation, turn me from pur- fuing Phantoms, and attach miC to thy blefied Self. Let me henceforth fteer an invariable Courfe to IMMANUEL's Kingdom. May its Treafures, as I advance, open to my View, and its Glories brighten in my Eye. O ! may fome Odours, better, far better, than Babcean
fpicy
Let. 9. Theron/oAspasio. 119
fpicy Odours *, exhale from the delectable
Hills, and the celeflial Shores ! But chiefly
thou eternal SPIRIT breathe upon my Soul, both by thy convhicing and comforti?ig Influ- ences ! Nor ever ceafe to fvvell my Sails, and fpeed my Progrefs ; till I arrive at the Land, that is very far offi and fee the KING, the KING of Grace and of Glory, in all bis in- effable Beauty -f.
On my Left-hand, a Range of ntoiintaiirous Cliffs rofe in a perpendicular Dire6lion. The huge Pile extended, as far as the Sight could difcern, its black Boundaries. Here, bending inwards to the Land ; there, bellying out into the Deep ; every where proje6ling a Shade, feveral Leagues a-crofs the Ocean.
The Height of thefe Cliffs fo prodigious, that every human Creature who comes near the Summit, flarts back terrified and aghajl. Only a few ftraggling Goats venture to graze on the Top : and thefe, to a Perfon walking below, appear but as Specks of moving White. While the Sea-mews, that winnow the Air
about
* Alluding to thofe Lines in M'lltnn.
■ — A% tvhen to them xvho fall
Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are paft Mofambic, off at Sea North-eaji iVinds blow Sabaean Odour, from the fpicy Shore Of Araby the blefl, and many a League Chear'd with the grateful Smell old Ocean fmiles,
B. IV. 159. i'Jfaiah xxxiii. 17.
1 4
120 The RON to Aspasio. Let, 9," about the middle Steep, look like winged Ani- malcules, puiTuing their little Sports in a dif- ferent Region. The AfpeB of thefe Cliffs fo
wild and horrid, it is impoffible to behold them without a fliivering Dread. The Spc6lator is apt to imagine, that Nature had formerly fuf- fered fome violent Convulfions, or been fliat^. tered by the flaming Bolts ; and that thefe are the difmembered Remains of the dreadful Stroke. The Ruins, not of Perfepolis or Pal^ myra, but of the World !
Amazing 1 What adventurous daring Crea^ ture is yonder, gathering Samphire from the Ca- vities of the Rocks ! He has let Himfelf dow^ii feveral Fathom, beneath the bleak and dizzy Summit. — He gleans a poor Livelihood, from the Edges of Danger, fhall I fay ? Rather, from the Jaws of Death. I cannot difcern the Rope, to which He clings. He feems to be fufpended over the tremendous Precipice, by a
Thread, by a Hair, by Nothing. I'll look
no longer. The very Sight chills my Veins. While I view his perilous Elevation, I can think of nothing but a headlong Downfal, and fra6lured Bones ; of Brains left to reek on the pointed Crags, and Blood ftreaming on the difcoloured Beach.
Suppofe (if the Mind can bear fo fliocking a Suppofition) fome poor Wretch, expofcd on tlie Brow of this ftupendous Promontory \
with-j
Let, 9. The RON /(5 As PAS 10. 121
without any Support for his Feet ^ and dca-v^ ing only to a weak llender Shrub, that but jull adheres to the Interftices of the Rock. What tumultuous Throbbings feize his Breaft ? What a dying Palenefs invades his Cheeks? And what Agonies of Fear rend his Heart ? As He hangs, projeBing over the ragged Preci- pice 3 and furveys the Ocean deep, wonderous
deep below ! The Bough gives way. His
only Hope fails. It yields more and more to his Weight. Good Heavens! He fmks ! He finks ! O ! for fome friendly Hand, to fnatch him from perifhing! Millions, Millions of Gold, were the cheap Pur chafe of fuch a Mer- cy.— There was a Time, my Soul, when thou waft in a Situation, equally fhall I fay ? Infi- nitely more dangerous. Tottering, not only on the Verge of Life, but on the very B7^i?ik of Hell. Remember that compaffionate Arm, whicl:^ was ftretched out, in the very Article of Need, to refcue Thee from imminent and everlafting Perdition. Never forget that gracious Voice, which faid — in Accents fweeter than the Mufic
of the Seraphic Choir " Deliver him from
*' going down into the Pit. Let his Health ^' be reftored, and his Day of Grace be pro- ." longed."
In fome Places, the hideous Ruins not only tower to the Skies, but lea?i over the Strand. Prominent and frightfully pendulous, they
nod
122 Theron/oAspasio. Let. 9.
nod Horror, and threaten Deflrucllon on all below. A Perfon congratulates Himfelf, when He has got clear of the bending Precipice 5 and can hardly forbear thinking, that the enormous Load is with-held by fome unfeen Hand, till the execrable Wretch^ doomed to a moft aftonifliing Vengeance, is come within Reach of the Blow. And truly, if he had the Strength of the Elephant, or the Firmnefs of the Behemoth, this would grind him to Pow- der, or even crulh Him into Atoms.
How awful to confider, that there is a Day coming, Vvhen wicked Potentates, and haughty Monarchs, will beg of yonder Seas, to ya^uvt compaflionately deep, and hide them in their darkeft Abyflesj hide them from the pierc- ing Eye, and avenging Sword, of inflexible Juflice. — That there is a Day coming, when the foft Voluptuary, the wanton Beauty, and all the Ungodly of the Earth, will befeech thofe tremendous Ridges, with all their unfupport- abie Burden of craggy Rocks, to rup dow?i upon their guilty Heads '^. If, by this means, they may be fcreened from the infinitely more dreaded Weight of divine Indignation.
Vain are their Cries j and vainer ftill would be their Refuge, Ihould their paffionate Re- quells be granted. Can Floods conceal the im- pious Wretches \ when the Caverns of the
Ocean
*i^rt/. vi. I2j 13, 14,
Let. 9- Theron /<? AsPAsTo. 123
Ocean fball be laid bare, and the Foundations of the World be difcovered ? Can Kocksfecrefe an obnoxious Rebel j when Rocks, with all their marble Quarries, and adamantine Entrails, Ihall dilTolve like melting Wax? When Hill?, that plunge their Roots to the Centre, and lofe their towering Heads in Air, fhall ftart from their affrighted Bafe *, and flee away like a withered Leaf ! — Good GOD ! What racking Anguifli muff they feel ! What inexpreffibly fe-^ verer Torment muff they^d^^r / Who can im-r plore, ardently irr^plore as a moft defirable Fa- vour,
* This brings to our Remembrance a moft fublime Dcr fcription of the DIVINE POWER, which arifes in a beau- tiful Climate, and terminates in this grand Idea. The Vcice of the LORD is mighty ifi Operation, the Voice of the LORD is a glorious Voice. The Voice of the LORD hreaketh the Ce- dars ; yea, the LORD breaketh the Cedars of Lebanon. Hs maketh them alfo to /kip like a Calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young Unicorn. Pfal. xxix. 4, 5, 6.
The Voice of the L O R D is mighty in Operation. This is the general Propofition ; which, in the following Senten- ces, We fee moft magnificently illudrated. The Voice
of the LORD hreaketh the Cedars j when He fpeaks in Thun- der, and bids the Lightning execute his Orders, the Treqs, the Cedar-Trees, thofe fturdieft Productions of the Earth, are fhivered to Pieces. — Yea, the LORD breaketh the Cedars of Lebanon ; which, for Statelinefs and Strength, furpafs the Oaks of the Foreft, almoft as much as the Oak exceeds a Shrub.— It is a fmail Thing with JEHOVAH, to rend the Trunks, to tear up the Roots, and make thofe mafiy Bodies Jkip like a Calf; even Lebanon and Sirion, the Mountains ori which they grow, tremble before their GOD. They arc thrown into ftrange Commotions ; they are ready to fpring jFrom their Foundations j and, with all their Load of Woods jind Rocks, appear like fome affrighted or fome fportivc Animal, ihdit^arts with Horror, or kaps with Exultation.
124 T H E R O N /(? A S P A S f o. Let. ^.
vour, what Imagination itfelf fliudders to con- ceive.
In feme Places, thefe mountainous Declivi- ties lift their Brow aloft; plant their Bafis deep ; and, inflead oi portending a Fall, dtify the Fury of the mofl impetuous Elements. Firmly confolidated, and fledfaflly eflablifhed, they have withftood the united, the repeated Af- faults of Winds and Waves, through a long Series of revolving Ages. The facred Wri- ters, I obferve, felecl almofl all the flriking Images, which the whole Creation affords ; in order to communicate their heavenly Ideas, with the greatelt Advantage. Ifaiah, defcrib- ing the Seacrity of the Righteous, takes his Comparifon from the grand Spe6lacle before my Eyes. He fiall dwell on high : his Place of Defence Jloall be the Munitiom of Rocks ^ 3 inac- celhble as thofe lofty Ridges, immoveable as their everlafting Foundations,
Should it be alked, what thefe Munitions of Rocks may fignify ? — I find two Places of Refuge and Safeguard, pointed out in Scrip- ture ; to either of which, 1 believe, the Meta- phor is applicable. He had Horns, fays one of the divine Pindarics, coming out of his Hand : there was the Hiding of his Power -f*. Uncon-
troulable
* Jfai. xxxiii. 16.
f Habnk. iii. 4. Horr.s were an Emblem of Strength. A Horn of Salvation^ is put for a mighty and eftcftual Salva- tion,
Let. 9. Theron /o AsPAsio. 125
troulable and omnipotent Power was lodged in the great JEHOVAH's Hand j and this was the fure Defence, this the impregnable Garri-
fon, for all his People. The Church of
CHRIST is faid to be i?i the Clefts of the Rock * .• That fpiritual Rock, of which the Ifraelitez drank in the Wildernefs ; whofe facred Clefts were opened, when the bloody Spear tore up
the
tion. Lule ii. 69. Tlioii haft heard me from among the Horns pf the Unicorns ; Thou haft refcued me from the moft potent and formidable Enemies. Pfal. xxii. 21. Here the Word feems to denote that Power of JEHOVAH, to which no- thing is impoflible. And more than feems, if We confult the next Claufe. — "There was the hiding of his Power ; or, as it may be rendered, his povocrf id Hidings a moft fecure Re- fuge, a San6luary abfolutely inviolable. I have accommo- dated this PafTage to a different Senfe, Meditat. Vol, I. p. 183. But the true Signification, moft fuitable to the Context, and moft fubfervient to the Prophet's Defign, is, I apprehend, given by Theron. It is fomewhat Uke a noble Sentiment in the Night-Thoughts ; which, with a fmall Alteration, may fcrve as a Paraphrafe on the Text :
J7id Nature's Shield the Hollow of his Hand. * Cant. ii. 14. Should the Reader have an Inclination to fee this facred, but myfterious Book explained, I would re- fer him to Dr. GilPs Expofition of the Canticles. Which ha* fuch a copious Vein of fandlified Invention running through it, and is interfperfed with fuch a Variety of delicate and bril- liant Images, as cannot but highly entertain a curious Mind, Which prcfeiits Us alfo with fuch rich and charming Dif- plays of the Glory of CHRIST'^ Perfon, the Freenefs of his Grace to Sinners, and the Tendcrnefs of his Love to the Church, as cannot but adminifter the moft exquifite Delight to the believing Soul. — Confidtrcd in hoth thefe Vicwb, I think, the Work refemblcs the Paradifiacal Gari:;n, de- fcribed by Milton; in which
Blofl'oms and Fruits at once of golden Hue Jppeardj wjth gay gnattid d Cihun nux'd^
126 The^on^oAsi^asio. Let 9.
the REDEEMER'S Side, and cut a wide and deadly PalFage to his Heart. Surely, the Inha- bitants of this Reck have Reafon \ofmg *. What fhould difquiet them ? Who can deftroy them ? Why Ihould not the Voice of Joy be in their Dwellings, and that Hymn of holy Triumph in their Mouths ? We have a ftrong City : Sal- i)ation pall GOB appoint. Salvation itfelf, /or Walls and Bulwarks f. — Happy fhould I think myfelf, if I was interefted in this SAVIOUR, and eilablifhed on this Rock.
Yonder, on the Summit of the mod confpi- cuous Cleft, is erefted a grand and ftately Pile. At the Top, my Giafs difcovers a magnificent Lanthorn ; at the Foot, are the Huts of Fifher- men, furrounded with various Sorts of Nets.
It is, I fuppofe, a Light-honfe. Intended to
apprife the Sailor, of devouring Gulfs, and deilrudive Shoals j or elfe to conduct Him, into a fafe Road, and fecure Harbour.
Both the Situation and Defign of the Build- ing read me a Lellbn : the one of awful Ad- monition, the other of comfortable In{lrud:ion. Comfortable InjlriiBion. How malTy and pon- derous is the Edifice! Yet, there is not the lead Reafon to be apprehenfive of a Failure in the Foundation. Was the Structure ten thoufand times larger, the folid Rock would fuppoit it, with the utmoft Eafe, and the ut-
moft * ^«/, Ixii. II. t i'i?'. xxvi. u
Let. 9. Theron/£?Aspasio, 127
mofl Steadinefs. Such is CHRIST, fuch are his Merits, fucli his glorious Righteoufnefs, to thofe wife and blelfed Souls, who reft all the Weisiht of their everlaftin? Interefts on Him alone. Sidcbj did I fay ? Much furer. For the Mowitams may depart, and the Hills be j^emoved^' ; but this divine and eternal Bafis can never fmk, can never be fliaken. — Awful Admonition. For, it recals to my Memory that alarming, yet welcome Text -f*, which You flyled the fpiri- tual Light-houfe. Which has been as fervice- able to my diftreffed Mind and bewildered Thoughts, as fuch an illuminated Watch- tower to the wandering and benighted Mari- ner. May I often view it ! Ever attend to its faithful Dire6lion ! And be led by its Influen- ces, into the Haven, the defired Haven of Peace and Salvation !
How changeable is the Face of this liquid Element ! Not long ago, there was nothing, from this flony Boundary, to the Horizon's utmoft Verge, but the wildeft Tumult and mofl horrible Confufion. Now, the flormy Flood has fmoothed its rugged Brow, and the watery Uproar is lulled into a profound Tran- quillity. Where rolling Mountains rufhed and raged, tlu'eatening to dafli the Clouds, and
deluge
* Ifai. liv. 10, t See Rom. ix. 30. 31, 32. and Vq\., IL Letter V. ' '
128 Theron/^jAspasio. Let. 9,
deluge the Earth j there the gcntleft Undulatiom play, and only juft wrinkle the Surface of the mighty Bafon. Where the dreadful Abyfs opened its wide and unfathomable Jaws, to fwallow up the trembling Sailor, and his fliat- tered Veiled there a calm and clear Expanfe diffufes its ample Bofom, alluring the Fifh to balk in the Sun, and inviting the Sea-fowl to watch for their Prey.
In this fair floating Mirror, I fee the Pi6lure of every Cloud, that paflcs through the Regi- ons of the Sky. But in its uncertain and treacherous Temperature, I fee more plainly the inconftant and ever-variable Condition of human Affairs. — I durfl: not be Surety to the Mariner, for peaceful Seas and foothing Gales. I could not afcertain the Continuance of this Halcyon Weather, fo much as a fmgle Day, or even to the next Hour. And let me not fondly promife myfelf an uninterrupted Tenor of Serenity in my Mind, or of Profperity in my Circumftances. Sometimes, my Heart ex- ults under the Smile of Heaven, and the Fa- vour of GOD. But foon j ah ! too foon I am clouded with Fear, and oppreffed with Corrup- tion. I figh out that pailionate Acknowledg- ment, Wretched Man that I am ! And add that wiihful Inquiry, Who Jhall delhcr inc f For this difordered State of Things, the afiiided Pa- triarch'ti Complaint, is the mod appofite Mot- to,
Let. 9- Theron/oAspasio." 12^
to, and the mofi: wholefome Memento ; Changes
and War are around me^\ But there is a
World, where difaftrous Revolutions will be known no more. Where our Enjoyments will no lon^ti' JiuBuate like the Ocean, but be more fledfaft than the Rocks, and more immoveable than the Shores.
Here, I fee an immenfe CoUeclion of Wa- ters, in a State of deep Repofe. Could I ex- tend my View to fome remoter Trails, I fliould behold every Thing fmoother and calmer ftill. Not a Furrow finks, nor a Ridge fwells, the Surface of the Ocean. 'Tis all like a glafly Plain. The Waves are afleep. Echo is hufhed. Not a Gale ilirs. The Sea Magnates ; the Ma- riner is becalmed; and the Veflel fcarcely creeps. — Whereas, could I furvey the Straits of Ma- gellan or the Gut of Gibraltar, I fhould find a very ftriking Difference. There, the Waters prefs in with Vehemence, and rufli forwards with Impetuofity. All is there in ftrong Agi- tation, and rapid Progrefs. The Ship is whirled through the narrow Pallage ; and rides, as it were, on the Wheels . of the Surge, or on
the Wings of the Wind. This, my dear
Afpafio^ is a true Image of what I have been, aPid of what I am. Some Months ago, when I was infenfible of Guilt, ail my Prayers were liftlefs, and all my Religion was a Ipiritual
Le- * Job X. 17.
Vol. III. ' K
130 Theron'/(9 AsPAsio. Let. 9^
Lethargy. I felt not ia my Heart, what I ut- tered with my Tongue. Hojcmnahs were but an empty Ceremony, and Confellions froze on
my formal Lips. But, fmce the SPIRIT of
GOD has awakened mc from my Dream, and CQnvinced me of my Sinfulnefs, I can no longer be fatisfied with indolent and yawning Devo- tions. Tryals and Temptations put flrong Cries into my Mouth. My Soul mourns before the LORD : my Defires plead with the blefled GOD : and I am ready to fay, as the Patriarch of old, *' I cannot, I mull not, 1 will not let *^ Tihee gOj iinlefs T^hou bkfi me^." . I fee no Flocks of Sheep, with fober Afli- duity, nibbling the grafTy Plains. No fportive Lambs, with innocent Gaiety, friiking along the funny Banks. Here are no Stables for the generous Steed, nor Paftures for the lufly Heifer. Neverthelefs, thefe watery Regions are flocked with Colonies of proper and pecu- liar Inhabitants. Who are clothed and ac-
coutered in exa6l Conformity to the Clime, Not in fweliing Wool, or buoyant Feathers ; not in a flowing Robe, or a full-trimmed Suit ; but with as much Compactnefs, and with as little Superfluity, as poffible. They are clad, or rather ficathed in Scales : which adhere clofely to their Bodies, and are always laid in a Kind of natural Oil. Than which Apparel
nothing
* Gen. xxxil. 26.
Let. 9' TH^RON/fpAsPAsio. 131
nothing can be more lights and at the fame Time nothing vaovQfoIid. It hinders the Fluid from penetrating their Flefli 3 it prevents the Cold from coagulating their Blood ; and en- ables them to make their Way through the Waters, with the utmoft Facility. — They have each a curious Inflrument *, by which they increafe or diminifh their fpecific Gravity : and fink like Lead, or float like a Cork ; rife to what Height, or defcend to what Depths they pleafe.
This is the Abode of Leviathan^ hugeft of living Creatures. Before whom the broad- limbed Elephant, and the tall-necked Came], are mere Shrimps. A ftretched-out Promon- tory, when He lleeps ; a moving Ifland, when He fwimsj " making the Sea to boil like a " Pot," when, unweildily v/allowing, He takes his prodigious Paitime. — Here, the voracious Shark, that Tyrant of the fluid Kingdoms, caid Aflafiin of the finny Nations, roams and commits his Ravages : imbrues his horrid Fangs, and marks his rapid Path, with Blood. — Here dvv^elt that great, and greatly furprif- ing FiJ}.\ whofe Fiercenefs and Avidity the Al- mighty SOVEREIGN employed as his Purfui- vant, to arrefl: a fugitive Prophet. Whofe ample Jaws, or capacious Entrails, were the Dungeon to confine a rebellious Subjecf, and
K 2 the
* The Air-l?ladder,
132 Theron/'oAspasio. Let. 9.
the Cabin to lodge a penitent Offender. Whofe Bulk and Strength and Speed were a kind of Veffel, tranfporting this Convift to the Bottom cf the Mountains^ and the Bars of the Earth *. After the Criminal was iufiiciently chaftifed, and properly humbled, they ferved as a Galley with Oars, to convey Him fafe to Land.
In the fame Element refides, (at leaft takes up Part of his Refidence) that formidable Mon- fter, who is made without Fear, and has not his Like upon Earth. He efteemeth the pointed Iron as Straw, and ponderous Brafs as rotten Wood. His Heart is as hard as a Piece of the nether Millflone, and his Scales are a Coat of impenetrable Mail. Strength not to be refift- ed, much lefs to be fubdued, lies intrenched in his fmewy Neck. His Eyes are like the Eyelids of the opening Day j and when He rolls thofe glaring Orbs, there feems to be another Morn rifen on Mid-noon. His Teeth are terrible, jagged for Rapine, and edged with Death. His Throat is as a burning Furnace ; Clouds of Smoke roll from his Noilrils, and Flakes of Fire iiiiie from his Mouth. None, no not the moft refolutc, dares provoke Him to the Combat, or even ftir Him up from his Slum- bers. He laiigheth at the fliaking of the Spear, and Sorrow marcheth in Triiwiph before Him "f*.
When-
* "fonah ii. 6.
t Jcb xli. 22. nDSn Vl'in V^fjS Maror^ fays Bochart^ pacUh iiwjuam Alctator i^ Comfs, iu/nidiquf Anuambuh Re-
Let. 9- Theronz'^Aspasio. 133
Whenever He raifeth Himfelf, the Mighty are afraid ; wherever He aclvanceth, Ruin is. there. — If a mere Creature is capable of fpread- ing fuch Alarm and Dread j how greatly is the CREATOR himfelf to be feared ! Who can turn the moft harmlefs Inhabitant of the^ Ocean, into a ravenous Alligator, or a horrid Crocodile ! Who can arm every Reptile of the Ground, with all the Force and Rage of a Lion!
'Tis impoffible to enter on the Mufler-roII, thofe fcaly Herds, and that minuter Fry, which graze the Sea-weed, or flray through the coral Groves. They are innumerable, as the Sands that lie under them ; countlefs, as the Waves that cover them. Here are un- couth Animals, of monjiroiis Shapes *, and
amazing
gis. Terror and Anguilh are a kind of advanced Guard to this Monarch among the Reptiles. Or, they go before the Monfter, as the Man bearing a Shield went before the Ph'di- Jiine Giant. — The original Word occurs in no other Part of the {acred Book. I cannot recolleft any ExprelTion, which fo fully reprefents its Meaning, as hIomcr\ j'.uJ'iowv, or Xcuo- phons yx-j^ixaS'o'A ; both which are intended to defcribe the Ardor and A6tion of a high-mettled prancing Steed.
* Monjlrom Shapes — Such as the Sivord-Jijh ; v>'hofe npper Jaw is lengthened into a ftrong and fiiarp Sword. With which He fometimes ventures to attack the Ships, though armed with Thunder ; and is capable of piercing their Sides, though ribbed with Oak. This may be called the CJmmpion of the Waters. Who, though never exceeding fixtccn Feet in Length, yet, confiding in a Weapon at once fo trufty and \o tremendous, fcruples not to give Battle even to the Whale Himfelf.— The Sun-fiJ}:i has no Tailj feems to be all Head ;
K 3 and
1-24 Theron to AsPASio. Let, 9,
amazing Qualities *. Some, that have been difcoveied by the inqiiifitive Eye of Man ; and many more, that remain among the Secrets of the hoary Deep. — Here are Sholes and Sholes,
of
and was it not for two Fins, which a6t the Part of Oars, would be one entire round Mafs of Flefli. — The Polypus, remarkable for its numerous Feet, and as many Claws j by which it has the Appearance of a merelnfedl, and feems fit- ted only to crawl. At the fame Time, an Excrefcence, arif- ing on the Back, enables it to fleer a fteady Courfe in the Waves. So that it may pafs under the twofold Chara6fcr of a Sailor and a Reptile. — Horace intimates, that the Britijh, Ocean is famous for producing Sea-monflers ;
Te hellucfus qui remotis
Ohjlrepit Oceanus Briiannis. * Ama%ing ^wlities — Among thefe may be reckoned the Torpedo, which benumbs on a fudden, and renders impotent, whatever Fifli it affaults. And, which is a more extraordi- nary Property, ftrikes even the Fifherman's Arm, when He offers to lay hold on it, with a temporary Deadnefs. By this means, it poflefTes the double Advantage, of arrefting its Prey, and fccuring itfelf — The Cuttie-fjh., furnifhed with a liquid Magazine, of a Colour and Confiftence like Ink. Which, when purfued by an Enemy, the Creature emits, and blackens the Water. By this Artifice, the Foe is be- wildered in the Chace ; and while the One vainly gropes in the dark, the Other feizes the Opportunity, and makes his Efcape. — The Nautilus^ whofe Shell forms a natural Boat. The dextrous Inhabitant unfurls a Membrane to the Wind, which ferves him inftead of a Sail. He extends alfo a Couple of Arms, with which, as with two flender Oars, He rows Himfelf along. When He is diipolcd to dive, He ftrlkes Sail ; and, without any Apprchenfion of being drowned, finks to the Bottom. When the Weather is calm, and He has an Inclination to take his Pleafure, He mounts to the Surface ; and, fclf-taugiitin the Art of Navigation, performs hisVoyage without cither Chart or Compafs : is Himfelf the Vejfel^ the Riggings and the Pilot. — For a more copious Illullration of this amufing and wonderful Subjed, fee Nat. Dijpl. Vol..
Let. 9. Theron/oAspasio. 135
of various Chara6lers, and of the moil: diver- fified Sizes ; from the cumbrous Whale, whofe Flouncings tempeft the Ocean, to the evancf- cenf Anchovy, whofe Subftance difTolves in the
fmalleft Fricajfee. Some, lodged in their
pearly Shells, and fattening on their rocky Beds, feem attentive to no higher Employ, than that of imbibing moifl Natriment. Theie, but a fmall Remove from vegetable Life, are almofl rooted to the Rocks, on which they lie repofed. While others, aftive as the winged Creation, and fwift as an Arrow from the In- dian Bow, fhoot along the yielding Flood, and range at large the fpacious Regions of the Deep.
Here is the ^ortoife, who never moves but under her own portable Pent-houfe. The Lob- Jier, which, whether He fleeps or wakes, is itill in a State of Defence, and clad in jointed Armour. The Oyjler, a fort of living Jelly, ingarrifoned in a Bulwark of native Stone. With many other Kinds of Sea-reptiles, cr, as the Pfalmift fpeaks, T'hings creeping innumer- able *. 1 am furprifed at the Variety of
their Figure, and charmed with the Splen- dor of their Colours, Unfearchable is the Wifdom, and endlefs the Contrivance, of the all-creating God ! — Some are rugged in their Form, and little better than hideous in their
K 4 Afpe6l»
* ?fal, civ. 24.
136 Theron to Asp AS 10. Let. 9.
Afpe6l. Their Shells feem to be the rude Pro- du6lion of a diforderly Jumble, rather than the regular Effe6ts of Skill and Dedgn. Yet We fliall find, even in thefe Jecmlng Irregula- rities, the nicefi Difpofitions. Thefe Abodes, uncouth as they may appear, are adapted to the Genius of their refpe(5tive Tenants^ and ex- a6liy fuited to their particular Exigencies. Neither the Ionic Delicacy, nor the Corinthian Richnefs, nor any other Order of Archite6lure, would have ferved their Purpofes half fo well, as this coarfe and homely Fabric.
Some, on the other Hand, are extremely neat. Their Stru61ure is all Symmetry and Elegance. No Enamel in the World is com- parable to their Polifh. There's not a Room of State, in all the Palaces of Europe, fo brilli- antly adorned, as the Dining-room and the Bed- chamber of the little Fifli, that dwells in Mo- ther of Pearl. Such a lovely Mixture of Red, and Blue, and Green, fo delightfully flaining the moil clear and gliflering Ground, is no where elfe to be feen. The royal Power may covet it, and human Art may mimic it; but neither the one, nor the other, nor both united, will ever be able to equal it.
But what I admire more, than all their Streaks, their Spots, and their Embroidery, is. The extraordinaiy Provifion made for their Kofcty, — Nothing is more relifhing and palat- able
Let. 9- Theron to Aspasio. 137
able than their Flefh. Nothing more heavy and fluggifli than their Motions. As they have no Speed to efcape, neither have they any Dexterity to elude the Foe. Were they naked or unguarded, they mufl be an eaiy Prey to every Free-booter, that roams the
Ocean. To prevent this fatal Confequence,
what is only Clothing to other Animals, is to them a Clothings a Hoiife, and a Cajile. They have a Fortification, that grows with their Growth, and is a Part of themfelves. By this means, they live fecure amidft Millions and Mil- lions of ravenous Jaws: by this means, they are imparkedy as it were, in their own Shell ; and, fcreened from every other Aflault, are referved for the Ufe and Pleafare of Mankind.
This is the Birth-place of Cod, the landing Repafl of Lent. This is the Nurfery of Jur- hot, for its exquifite Reliih juflly ftyled. The Pheafant of the Waters. Hence comes the Sturgeon, delicious even in Pickle, and a Re- gale for royal Luxury : Hence the Flounders^ dappled with reddifli Spots, and a Supply for
vulgar Wants. Here dwell the Mackarel,
decked, when haled from their native Ele- ment, richly decked with the moil glofly Dies ; the Herring, whofe Back is mottled with Azure, and his Belly fleek with Silver : the Salmon, iu plainer Habit, but of larger Subflance, and l}igher Efleem, than either or both the pre- ceding,
138 Theron /(5 Asp Asio, Let.9.
ceding. — Thefe, when fliotten and lean, wan- der wildly up and down the vaft Abyfs. When flump and delicate^ they throng our Creeks, and fwarm in our Bays : they repair to the Shallows, or haunt the running Streams.— Who bids thele Creatures evacuate the Shores, and difperfe themfelves into all Quarters, when they become worthlefs and unfit for our Ser- vice ? Who rallies and recals the undifciplined Vagrants, as foon as they are improved into defirable Food ? Who appoints the very Scene of our Ambufhes, to be the Place of their Rendezvous ? So that they come like Volun- teers to our Nets ? Surely, the Furlow is
figned, the Summons iffued, and the Point of Reunion fettled, by a Providence ever indul- gent to Mankind 5 ever ftudious to treat Us with Dainties, and load Us with Benefits *.
Wc have wondered at -f- our SA VIO TJRs Penetration and Power — his Penetrafiofijwhich, though the Sea v/as at a Diflance, and Walls intervened, difcerned the Fiih, that had juft
fwallowed a Piece of Money his Power,
which, without any Delay, brought the law- lefs Rambler, charged with the filver Spoil, to Peters Hook. But is it not more wonder- ful, to obferve fuch innumerable Multitudes of finny Vifitants, annually approaching our Shores, and crouding our Banks ? Which fur-
nifl^
♦ P/al. Ixviii. 19. t See Later VIII. p, 85,
Let. 9. Theron/{?Aspasio. 139
nifh our Tables with a wholfome and de- licate Repaft \ at the fame Time, that they yield to our Nation a Re-renue *, more cer- tain, and no lefs confiderable, than the Mines of Peru.
Thefe approach, while thofe of enormous Size and tremendous Appearance abandon the Shores. The latter might endanger the Fifhermans Safety, and would certainly fcare away the ¥a- luable Fifh from our Coafts. They are there- fore reflrained by an invifible Hand, and ab- fcond in the AbyiTes of the Ocean. Jufl as the wild Beafts of the Earth, impelled by the fame over-ruling Power, hide therafelves
in the RecefTes of the Foreft. A Ship, in-
fefted with a peftiiential Diflemper, is obliged to keep off at Sea, and perform ^arantine. In like manner, thefe Monfters of the Deep, are laid under a provide fitial Interdi<5i. As their Prefence would always be pernicious, they are never fuffered to come near s their Quaran- tine is perpetual.
AJk now the Beafis^ and they fiall teach T'hee ; and the Fowls of the Air^ and they jhall tell thee : or Jpeak to the Earthy and it pall teach
Thee y
* We are told by the afore-mentioned Author, That the Banks of Nnvfoimdland alone, bring in to the Proprietors of that Fifhery, a Revenue of feveral Millions every Year. — And they will, in all Probability, be an unimpaired Refource cf Treafure, when the richeft Mines now wrought in the World, are choked up or exhaufted.
140 The RON to A SPAS 10. Let. g?
T^hee * j and the Fifies of the Sea fiall declare unto T'hee — That the LORD is gracious — That his tender Mercies are over all his Works
That to Us He is fuperabiindantly and pro- fui'ely good. Having ordered all Things in the Surges of the Ocean, as v\^ell as on the Surface of the Ground, for our rich Accom- modation, and for our greatefl Advantage.
One Circumftance, relating to the Natives of the Deep, is very peculiar, and no lefs ailo- niflihig. As they neither fovv^, nor reap j have neither the Produce of the Hedges, nor the Gleanings of the Field ; they are obliged to plunder and devour one another, for necefTary Subliftence. They are a kind of authorized Banditti, that make Violence and Murder -fr their profeiTed Trade. — By this means, prodi- gious Devaflations enfue j and, without pro- per, without very extraordinary Recruits^ the whole Race muft continually dwindle, and at length be totally extincl. — Were they to bring forth, like the mofl prolific of our terreflrial
Ani-
* ^oyxii. 7, 8. The Earth is rcprefcnted, as bearing witncfs to the immenfe Benignity of the blefl'cd GOD. Some Minutes^ or a fliort Jh/fraSf, of her Tcftimony on this Occafion, may be feen in Letter VI.
t To this, I believe, the Prophet alludes, in that re- markable Expreflion ; Thou tnoke/i Alcn as the Fijhes of the Sea. Thou fuffercfl: Men to commit, without Rcftraint or Controu], all Manner of Outrages. What fliould be a civil Community, is a Scene of Oppreflion. The Weakeft aj-e a Prey to the Strongeft, and every One feeks the De- ihuclion of his Neighbour. Habak, i. 14.
Let. 9» The RON to Aspasio. 141
Animals, a Dozen only, or a Score at each Birth ; the Increafe would be unfpeakably too fmall for the Confumption. The weaker Spe- cies would be deftroyed by the flronger ; and, in Time, the llronger mufl perifli, even by their fuccefsful Endeavours to maintain them- felves. — Therefore, to fupply Millions of Af- fafiins with their Prey, and Millions of Tables with their Food, yet not to depopulate the watery Realms ; the Iflue produced by every Breeder is almoft incredible. They Ipawn, not by Scores or Hundreds, but by Thoufands and by Millions *. Kfmgle Mother is pregnant with a Nation. By which amazing, but moft needful Expedient, a periodical Reparation is made, proportionable to the immenfe Havoc.
As the Sea is peopled with animated Inha- bitants, it is alfo variegated with 'vegetable Pro- ductions. Some, foft as Wool % others, hard as Stone. Some rife, like a leaflefs Shrub j fome are expanded, in the Form of a Net ;
fome
* Mr. P^W found 34.2,144 Eggs in the hard Roe of a Carp, fixteen Inches long. Mr. Letvenhoeck counted, in a Cod of an ordinary Size, 9,384,000 Egss. — A Fecun- dity perfedly amazing ! But admirably adapted to the prelf- ijig Exigencies of the watery World j admirably contrived for the Benefit and Delightof Mankind ! — If We advert to this Peculiarity, it will give the utmoft Emphafis to the Pa- triarch's metaphorical Expreflion, and an inimitable Beauty to his prophetic Wiih, y^"^ ^^y Let thcfc my Grandfom groxv into a Multitude ; let them multiply abundantly, even like th.Q Fifties of the Ocean, Qm, xlviii, 16,
142 T H E R o N toAsPAsio. Let. 9*
fome grow vvdth their Heads downwards, and feem rather hanging on, than fpringing from, the Juttings of the Rocks. Thefe may with much greater Propriety, than the famous Plantations of Semiramhy be called pcnfile Gar- dens. But, as You and I have never vifited
the Forefts of the Ocean, nor taken fo much as a fmgle Turn among thofe fubmarine Groves ; as MofeSj Jofhua, and Jonah, the only Writers that ever made the wonderful Tour, intent upon more Important Themes, have left Us no Memoirs relating to this curious Point j I fhall not venture to advance any thing particular on the Subje6f. Only one Remark I would offer in general —
The Herbs and Trees, which flourifh on the dry Land, are maintained by the Juices, that permeate the Soil, and fluftuate in the Air. For this Purpofe, they are furnifhed with heaves, to colle6l the one ; and with Roots, to attraft the other. Whereas, the Sea- plants, finding fufficient Nourifhment in the circumambient Waters, have no Occafion to detach a Party of Roots into the Ground, and forage the Earth for Suftenance. Inftead therefore oi penetrating, they are but juft tacked to the Bottom ; and adhere to fome folid Sub- fiance, only Vv'ith fuch a Degree of Tenacity, as may fecure them from being tofled to and fro, by the random Agitation of the Waves.
Wc
Let. 9' Theron^AspasioJ 143
We fee from this, and numberlefs other In- ftances, what a Dherjity there is, in the Ope- rations of the great CREATOR'S Hand. Yet every Alteration is an Improvement, and each new Pattern has a peculiar Fitnefs of its own. - — The fame Oeconomy takes place, fuch a Difference of Adminiflration I mean, in his Government of the rational World. In "choof- " ing an Heritage for his People," and alTign- ing a Condition to each of his Servants, there is a great Variety with refpe6l to Individuals ; yet a perfe6l Uniformity, and complete Har- mony, with refpedl to the Whole. — Some He calls out to a Courfe of diflinguifhed Labours. They make an illuftrious Figure in Life, and appear as a City Jet on an * Hill I Others He configns over to Obfcurity. They are like the Prophets, whom good Obadiah hid in a Cave, and are flyled his fecret Ones -f . 77?^', the Ce-' dars, that Hand confpicuous on the Top of Lebanon : thefe, the Violets, that lie concealed at the Foot of. a Briar.
St. Paul was eminently qualified for bufy Scenes, and the moft extenfive Services. He is introduced, therefore, into Places of Concourfe. His Miniflry lies amidft the mofl renowned and populous Cities. Even his Imprifomnent at Rome, feems to have been a providential Expedient for fixing Him, as it were, on the
^tags * Matt. V, 14, t Pjal Ixxxiii. 3.
144 'The RON to Aspasio. Let.9V-
^tage of public Obfervation, and in the very ^ Center of univerfal Intelligence. Where his Preaching was like plunging a Stone into the Midft of a fmooth Canal \ v/hich afFe6ls not only the neighbouring Parts of the Surface, but fpreads the floating Circles over all the
wide Expanfe. Whereas, the beloved Johii,
vi\iO feems lefs fitted to buille among a Croud, is fent into the unfrequented folitary Ifland ; there to indulge the Flights of heavenly Con- templation; and receive, with uninterrupted Attention, the myflerious Vifions of GOD. — "Job fliall have Thorns in his Path ; have the Dunghil for his Seat -, and be expofed, as a Mark, to all the Arrows of Tribulation. So- lomon fliall dip his Foot in Oil ; fliall be ele- vated on the Throne of Royalty; and furround- ed with the moft lavifli Carefles of Heaven.
In all this feeming, this more than feeming Contrariety, there is a Difplay, not only of Ibvereign Authority, but of confummate Pro- priety. The great HEAD of the Church,
a6ls like a judicious Genej-al-, and appoints fuch a Station to each of his Soldiers, as cor- refponds with the Ability He gives. He a6ls like the mofl fkilful Phyfcicm ; and prefcribes fuch a Remedy for all his Patients, as is moft nicely fuited to their refpecSlive Cafe. He knows the precife Point of Time, the particu- lar Place of Abode, the peculiar Circumftances
of
Let. 9« Theron to Aspasio. 14^
of Condition, which are moft proper for each and every of his Children ; and, Hke a tender as well as unerring Father^ what He knows
to be beft, that He conflantly allots. 1 laid,
like a General, like a Phyficians like a Father* But the Comparifon is low 3 the Language is inexpreflive; CHRIST' is ^// that is implied
in thefe Relations, and unfpeakably more
O ! that We may rejoice in the Superintendency of fuch a SAVIOUR; and not only refgn Ourfelves to his Will, but thmik Him for ma- naging the Reins ; thaiik Him for dire6ling our Paths. Since, whatever our froward and pe- tulant Faffions may fuggeft. The L O R D's Ways are fo far from being unequal, that He orders all Things i?i Number ^ Weight, ■ and Meafure.
All is fo very different from the Profpc6ts, which lately prefented tliemifelves, that I can hardly forbear afking, Whether I am not tranf- lated into a new M^orld? — Where are the wav- ing Hillocs, covered with the CREATOR'S Bounty ? Where are the fruitful Vallies, made vocal with his Praife ? No cultured Field, no opening BlofTom, not fo much as a green Leaf appears. None of my late Entertainments re- main, but only the cooling Zephirs. Which are no longer perfumed v/ith the Breath of Flowers, but impregnated with the Frefinefs
Vol. IIL - L of
146 Theron /5 AspAsio. Let. 9,
of the Ocean. Yet, though all thofe lovely
Landlbhapes are withdi'awn -, though the gurg- ling Fountain is filenced, and the blooming Garden loft : I am not far from the Origin, both of the Odours, which exhale from the one ; and of the Cryftal, which flows from the other. I am now upon the Margin of that grand Refervoir, which fupplies the Country with its Fertility, and the Parterre with its Beauty. — The Sea is the inexhauftible Ciftern of the Univerfe. The Air and Sun conflitute the mighty Engine, which works without Inter- miflion, to raife the liquid Treafure. While the Clouds ferye as fo many Aquedudfs, to con- vey the genial Stores along the Atmofphere > and diftribute them, at feafonable Periods, and in regular Proportions, through all the Re- gions of the Globe.
I queftion, whether the united Application of Mankind could, with their utmoft Skill, and with all pofTible Percolations, fetch a fmgle Drop oi perfcBly fweet Water *, from this un-
mea-
* I have not forgotten, what was lately affirmed in ouy public Papers ; That a certain ingenious Gentleman, I think in the City of Durham, had found out the Art of j'weetcn'ing Sea-water. — What he produced, might probably approve it- felf to the Tafte, and not be without its Ufefulnefs. Yet I cannot but query, whether it will be found to have all thof^ fine, balmy, falutiferous Qualities, which diftinguifli and recommend the Ra'in-TVater. Which has been exhaled by the kindly Warmth of the Sun ; has been filtrated by paffing and repairing through the Regions of the Air j has been cla-
rifiesT
Let. 9« Theron to Aspasio. 147
meafurable Pit of Brine. Yet the A6lion of the folar Heat draws off, every Hour, every Minute, Millions and Millions of Tons, in vaporous Ex- halations. Which, being fkilfully parceled out, and fecurely lodged in the Bottles of Hea-ven *, are fent abroad, fweetened and refined, with- out any brackifli Tin6lure, or the leafl bitumi- nous Sediment. — Sent abroad upon the Wings of the Wind, to difiil in Dews, or pour them- felves in Rain ; to ooze from the Orifices of Fountains -f- ^ to trickle along the Veins of Ri- vulets i to rife in the Cavities of Wells ; to roll, in many a headlong Torrent, from the Sides of Mountains ; to flow, in copious Streams, amidfl the Bofom of burning Defarts, and through the Heart of populous King- doms. In order to refrefli and fertilize, to beautify and enrich, every Soil, in every Clime. How amiable is the Goodnefs, and how amazing is the Power, of the World's ador- able
rified in the higheft and pureft Tra£ls of the Atmofphcre ; has been farther refined and perfe6led by the fearching Agen- cy of the Winds. — I (hould very much wonder, if the fiiny Alembic could equal this grand Apparatus of Nature.
* So the Clouds are elegantly ftyled in facred Writ, y^b xxxviii, 37.
t We are obliged to Clen::ns Romanus^ for the mod juft and elegant Reprefcntation of Fountains and their Ufeful- nefs, that perhaps any where ex ills. Avjvaoi ri-uyr,yon vr^f^
^o'Ptoii Tag ■srp©^ ^uy,v avOpwTroj? y-oc^ag, i Epift ad Corinth. He calls Fountains^ the Breajh or Teats of the Earth. Ths Comparifon, I believe, is his own : and nothing can exceed it, as to Propriety and Beauty.
L 2
148 Theron to Asp A SI o. Let. 9.
able MAKER ! How amiable his Gcodnejs !
in dlftributlng fo largely, what is To abfolutely neccdary, and fo extcnfivcly beneficial. That Water, without which We can fcarce per- form any Bufmefs, or enjoy any Comfort, fliould be every One's Property. Should fi:rcam by our Houfcs j fhould fiart up from the Soil ; fliould drop down from the Clouds; fliould take a Journey, from the Ends of the Earth, and the Extremities of the Ocean, on purpofe to ferve Us. — How amazijig his Power ! That this boundlefs Mafs of fluid Salt, fo intoler- ably naufecus to the human Tafle, fliould be the original Spring, which deals out every pa- latable Draught to Mankind, and quenches the Tliirft of every Animal I Doubtlefs, the • Power by which this is cffe61ed, can extra6i Comfort from our Afiiiclions, Advantage from our Calamities, and ?nake ail Things icork toge- . thcr for our Good ■*.
Vail and various are the Advantages •^, which We receive from the liquid Element : *Lv?/?, as its unbounded Extent ; Taricus, as its
ever-mutable Suiface. The fweet Waters
gllcfe
* Rem. viii. ?8.
■\ The high Vc:!ue which Mankind fet upon this Element, and the many Benefits they receive from its Miniilration, both thcfc Particulars are very flrongly expreiTcd by the Hc~ hrcvji. Who call a Pool or Refei voir of Water n3*1^ ; ^^ hich denotes, in its primary Significatiou, <7 i^/f^/V/^. Cant, \ii- \^
Let 9' The RON to Aspasio, 149
glide along the Earth, in fpacions Currents : which not only exhilarate the adjacent Coun- try, by their humid Train, and exhaling Moi- flure; but, by giving a brilk Impulie 10 the Air, prevent the unwholefome Stagnation of
their own Vapours. They pais by opulent
Cities, and receiving all their Filth, rid them of a thoufand Nuifances. Which, when once committed to thefe fluid Scavengers^ are as ef- fectually fecreted, as if they were buried ever fo deep in the Earth. — Yet, though they con- defcend to fo mean an Employ, they are fitted for more honourable Services. They enter the Gardens of a Prince, and compofe fome of the moft delightful Ornaments of the Place. They glitter upon the Eye, as they float in the ample Carml. They amufe the Imagination, as they afcend in curious Jet d Eaiis. They yield a nobler Entertainm.ent, as, forming themfelves into Sheets of Hoping Silver, they fall in grace- ful or in gx:2iXi^Cajcades. — If, inftead of Beau- tifiers, You think proper to make ufe of them as Drudges^ they ply at our Mills 3 they toil inceffantly at the Wheel j and, by v/orking the hugeft Engines, take upon themfelves an un- known Share of our Fatigue, and fave Us a proportionable Degree of Expence.
So forcibly they acl, when coilev?Led; and mod furprifmgly they infinuate, when detashed. They throw themfelves into the Body of a
L 3 Plant i
150 Theron/^Aepasio. Let. 9.
Plant; they penetrate the mhiiiteft of its or- ganized Tubes ; and find a Paflagc through Meanders, too final I for the Eye to difcern, too numerous and intricate even for Imagination to follov/. — How difficuhly does a Labourer that ferves the Mafon, pufh his Way up the Rounds of a Ladder, bending under the Burden of Mortar on his Head ! While thefe Servants in the Employ of Nature, carry their Load to a much greater Height ; and cUmb with the ut- moil: Eafe, even without the Afiiflance of Steps or of Stairs. They convey the nutrimental Stores of Vegetation, from the lowefi Fibres, that are plunged into the Soil, to the very top- viofi I'wigs that wave amid ft the Clouds. They are the Caterers for the vegetable World : or (if I may be allowed the Expreflion) the Sut^ lersy that attend the whole Hoft of Plants j to furnifh them with feafonable Refrefliment, and neceifary Provifion. By means of which, the Trees of the LORD are full of Sap, even the Cedars of Lebanon which HE hath planted^. And, notwithftanding their vaft Elevation, and prodigious Diffufion; though they are abandoned by Man, and deprived of all Cul- tivation 3 yet, not a fmgle Branch is deftitute of Leaves, nor a fmgle Leaf of Moifture.
Befides the falutary, cleanly, and ferviceable Circulation of the Rivers ; the Sea has a Li-
bration,
* FJal civ. 16.
Let. 9« The RON to Aspasio. 151
bration, no lefs advantageous, and much niore remarkable. — Every Dcty, this immenfe Col- lection of Waters, for the Space of five or fix Hours, jioni)s tov^ards the Land j and, after a fhort Paufe, retires again to its inmofb Ca- verns } taking up nearly the fame Time in its
Retreat, as it required for its Accefs. How
great is the Power, that fets the whole fluid World in Motion 1 That protrudes to the Shores fuch an inconceivable Weight of Wa- ters, without any Concurrence from the Winds, frequently in dirc6t Oppofition to all their Force 1 How gracious alfo is the Providence, which bids the mighty Element perform its tumbling Revolutions, with the moft exact Pundtuality ! Was it fuffered to advance, with a lawlefs and unlimited Swell -, it might fweep over Kingdoms, and deluge whole Continents, Was it irregular and uncertain in its Ap- proaches, Navigation would be at a Stand, and
Trade become precarious. But, being con-
ftant at its fiated Periods^ and never exceeding its appointed Bounds^ it creates no Alarm to tlic Country, and affords very confiderable Aids to Traffic.
The Tide, at its Flow^ rufhing up our large Rivers, clears and deepens the Pallages in many Places fpreads a copious Flood, where a dry and empty Wafte lay before. — Is the Sai- lor returned froi^i his Voyage, and waiting at
L 4 the
152 Theron i^o AsPASio. Let. 9.
the Mouth of the Channel ? The Fhx is ready to convey his Veflel to the very Doors of the Owner J and without any Hazard of ftriking on the Rocks, or of being faflened in the Sands.
■ Has the Merchant freighted his Ship ?
Would He have it transferred to the Ocean ? The B.efux tenders its Service j and bears away the Lead, v/ith the utmoft Expedition,
and vvith equal Safety. Behold, O Man !
How greatly thou art beloved, hov/ highly fa- -ocurcd by thy MAKER ! In vv^hat Part of his Works has He forgotten or overlooked thy V/elfare ? Shew me a Creature, point out a Spot ; in the Formation or Difpofition of which. He has not been mindful of thy Inte- refls ? He has made Thee to ha^oe Do7?iiniofj ever the IVorks of hh Hafids^ and has put all T'hings in SubjeSfion under thy Feet, All Sheep and Oxen ; the Fczcls of the Air J and the Fifes j yea, and the Surges of the Sea *, are fubfervient to thy Benefit, Even thefe, wild and impetuous as they are, yield their willing Backs, to receive thy Load j and like an indefatigable Bcafl of Burden, carry it to the Place, which Thou flialt nominate.
What preferves this vail Flood in a State of perpetual Purity? It is the univerfal Sewers, into which are difcharged the Refufe and Filth of the whole World. That which would dt- iWt the Land, and pollute the Air, is tranfmit- tcd to the Ocean, and neither Mifchicf nor
Jn-.' » Pfal. vili. 6, 7, 8.
Let. 9' Theron to Aspasio. 153
Inconvenience enfue. Thofe Swarms of Lo- ciijis — which, while Uving were a Plague to Pharaoh J by their luthed Intruiion -, and when dead, might have caufed a more dreadful Plague, by their noifome Stench- — fv^^ept into the Sea, were neither peftilential, nor ofFen- five. How then is this Receptacle of every Nuifance kept clean ? Why does it not con- tract a noxious Taint, and difFufe a deftruc- tive Contagion ? Such as would render it a Grave to the aquatic, and Batie to the ter-
reftrial Animals ? 'Tis owing, partly to its
inceffant Motion, partly to its faline Quality* By the One, it is fecured from any internal Prin- ciple of Corruption ; by the other, it works it- felf clear from every adventitious Defilement.
A Dire6lory this, and a Pattern for me ! — ■ Thus may divine Grace ^ like the penetrating Power of Salt, cure the Depravity of my Heart, and re6lify the Diforders of my Temper ! Sea- fon my Words, and make all my Converfation
favoury ! Thus may a continual Courfe of
Aclivity\ in my fecular and my facred Voca- tion, prevent the pernicious Effects of Indo- lence ! Let me daily cxercife, or be attempting to exercife, the Graces of Chriitianity. Left Faith become feeble 3 left Hope contra6t Dim- nefs J and Charity wax cold.
Now the Tide begins to flow. Wave rifes \ipon Wave, and Billow rolls over Billow.
No.
154 THERON/i)AsPAsio. Let. 9.
Nothing can divert, nothing retard its Pro- grefs i no, not for a Moment. Though Ca- mitus be in the Way * j though his royal Au- thority, and flri6l Prohibition, nay, though all the Forces of his Kingdom oppofe ; it will never difcontinue the advancing Swell, till it
has reached the deftined Point. So, may I
always abound in Communion with GOD, or in Beneficence to Men > refigning one religi- ous
* Alluding to a memorable and inftruftive Story, record- ed of King Conutm. Who, probably without having read, had neverthelefs thoroughly learned, that excellent LeiTon of Horace j
Regum thnendorum in proprios Greges^ Reges in ipfos Imperium eji Jovis.
Some of his abje£l and defigning Flatterers, had the impi^ cus JlJJiirance to tell Him, " His Power was more than hu- *« man." — To convince them of their Folly, and rebuke them for their Falfhood, He ordered his royal Chair to be placed on the Extremity of the Shore, juft as the Tide be- gan to flow. Here He took his Seat, in the Prefence of the Parafites, and many other Attendants. Then, with all that Dignity of Air, and Severity of Accent, which fove- reign Authority knows how to affume. He faid — " Thou ** Sea, the Land on which I fit is mine ; nor has any One " dared to invade my Rights, or difobey my Commands, *' without fuffcring the derervcdPuniflimcnt. I charge Thee, *' therefore, on Pain of my higheft Difplcafure, not to enter *' thefe Territories, nor touch the Feet of England's. A-lo- <' narch."
When the rude Waves made bold to enter on the forbid- den Ground ; nay, when thofe uncourtly Things prefumed to rufh upon the royal Scat, and even to dafh his Majcfty's Pcrfon J He flarted from his Throne, and bid every Beholder obferve the Impotence of earthly Kings. Bid them remem- ber. That HE alone is worthy of the Name, whom Winds jmd Waves and univerfal Nature obey.
Let. 9' Theron /o AsPAsio. 155
ous or charitable Employ, only to enter upon another J and be thus prefling forward, Jlill preffing forward, to the Prize of my high
Calling in CHRIST JESUS. Differing
from thofe regular Viciffitudes of the Ocean, only in one Particular ; That my Endeavours never ebb, my Soul never draws back. Since this would be, if temporary, to my grievous Lofs; li finaU to my aggravated Perdition.
Confider the Sea in another Capacity, and it cormedls the remoteft Realms of the Univerfci by facilitating an Intercourfe between their
refpe6live Inhabitants. What flioit-fighted
Beings are Mankind ! How extremely fuper- ficial their Views ! How unavoidable there- fore their frequent Miftakes ! The Antients looked upon this bottomlefs Deep, as an un- f affable * Gulph. If our Fore-fathers were fo egregioufly miflaken in this Initance ; let not Us too peremptorily pronounce upon any diffi- cult or myllerious Point. Left fucceeding Ge- nerations, or a more inlightened State, fhould cover Us with the double Confufion, of childifn Ignorance, 2ind foolifi Conceit.
We have clearly demonftrated, and happily experienced, the verv Reverfe of that grey-head- ed
■Dcus alfcidit
Prudcns Occam d'lJJociab'iU
Terras, Hor.
156 Thkron to Asp A 5 TO. Let. 9.
eel Surmife to be true. The Ocean, infi-ead of being a Bar of Separation, is the great Bond of Union. For this Purpofe, it is never ex- baiificd^ though it fupphes the whole Firma- ment with Clouds, and the whole Earth v/ith Rains. Nor ever over-fows, though all the Rivers in the Univerfe are perpetually aug- menting its Stores, and pouring in their tri- butary Floods. By means of this Element,
We travel farther, than Birds of the ftrongefl Pinion flyj and difcover Trafts, which the Vultures Eye has never feen *. We make a Vi- fit to Nations, that lie drowned in their mid- night Slumbers, when every induftrious Per- fon on this Part cf the Globe, is beflirring Himfelf in all the Hurry of Bufmefs. We cultivate an Acquaintance with the Sun-burnt NegrOy and the (hivering Icelander. We crofs the flaming Line, We penetrate the frozen Pole, and wing our Way even round the World.
This is the great Vehicle of Commerce.
Not to rriention the floating Caflles, which contain v;hole Armies j which bear the Thun- der, the fiery Tempcfts, and all the dreadful Artillery of War ; what a Multitude of Ships, of the largefl: Dimenlions, and mofl: prodigi- ous Burden, are continually palling and repaf- fmg this univerfal Tlioroughfare ! Ships, that
are
* "Job xxviii. 7.
Let. 9. Theron /o AsPAsio. 1^7
are freiglited, not with Sacks, but with Har- vefls of Corn ; that carry not Pipes, but Vin- tages of Wine; that are laden, not with Bars of Iron, Blocks of Marble,, or Wedges of Gold, but with whole Qiiarries of maffy Stone, and whole Mines of ponderous Metal. All which, lodged in thefe volatile Storehoufes^ and a6luated bv the Breath of Heaven, are waft- ed to the very Ends of the Earth : wafted, enormous and unwieldy as they are, more ex- peditioudy than the light Berliji bowls along the Road ; ahnoft as fpeedily, as the nimble- footed lloe bounds over the Hills *.
Aftonifliing Ordination of eternal Wifdom! Yet mofl gracioufly contrived for the Benefit of Mankind ! I can hardly fatisfy my View, in beholding this rolling Chaos ; I can never ceafe my Admiration, in contemplating its amazing Properties. — That an Element, (o iiujlable diVid fugitive y Ihould bear up fuch an immenfe Weight, as w^ould bend the firmefk Floors, or burif the flrongell Beams !- — That the th'ut and yielding Air fliould drive on, with fo much Facility and Speed, Bodies of fuch exceffive Bulk, as the Strength of a Legion
would
* A Ship, under a biifk and fteady Gale, will fail at the Rate of 216 Miles in 24 Hoiirs : perfevering, if the Wind continues favourable, in the fame rapid Career, for feveral Days together. A Courfe, which, confidering , both its Swiftntjs and Duratioti^ cannot be equaled by the ableft Horfe, perhaps nc4 by the niinbkft Creature that tieada tliti Cround,
158 Theron to AspAsio. Let,^,
would be unable to move. — That the Air and
the Water, a6ling in Conjunclion, Ihould
carry to the Diflance of many thoufand Miles,
what the united Force of Men and Machines
could fcarcely drag a fmgle Yard. — Puny and
defpicable are our Attempts : but great and
marvelous are /y^;r Works, O LORD GOD
Almighty ! If thou wilt work^ fays the Prophet,
who or what fiall let it *? Neither the Mean-
Tiefs of the Inflrument, nor the Greatnefs of
the Event. A SUng and a Stone fhall lay the
gigantic Bravo in the Dull -f-. An Ox-Goad
fhall do more Execution than a Battery of
Cannon J. Even a Worm JJmU threjl^ the Moim-
tains^ and beat them f?n ally and make the Hills as
Ckaffl GOD ALL-SUFFICIENT is
his Name, and out of Weaknefs He maketh
his Strength perfe6l. — O ! that We, my dear
Afpafio that I efpecially may be Urong
in the LORD, and in the Power of his Might !
Then, as the light Air is made to a^l with a
more forcible Impulfe, than the mofl vigorous
Engines ; as the fluid Water is made to fuftain
more ponderous Loads, than the moll fub-
flantial Works of Mafonry j fo We, who in
Ourfelves are nothing but Impotence^ fliall be
enabled to triumph over the Legions of Hell,
and tread down all the Temptations of the
World.
liovv
* Jfai. xliii. 13. f i ^aiiu xvii, 15. % ']ndg, iii. 31,
Let. 9* Theron to AsPAsio. 159
How are the Mariners condudled through this fluid Comjnony than which nothing is more wide, and nothing more wild ? Here is no Track to be followed j no Pofts of Direction to be confulted ; nor any Shepherd's Hut,
where a Traveler may afk the Way. Are
they guided by a Pillar of Fire in the Night, or a moveable Cloud in the Day ? As the Sons of Jacob and Jofeph were efcorted through the eaftcrn Defarts. No j but by a mean, con- temptible, and otherwife worthlefs Fo//iL
The Apoftle James mentions it, as a very ob- fervable Fa6l ; that tht Ships, which are fo great, and driven of fierce Winds, yet are turned about with a very fmall Helm, whitherfoever the Go- vernor lifteth *. Is it not equally wonderful, that they fhould be led through fuch a path- lefs and unmeafurable Wafte, by fo fmall an Expedient, as the Intervention oilh^Loadflojie ff — Till this furprifmg Mineral was difcovered, and its Properties were improved, Navigation lay in its Cradle. Was, at beft, a mere In- fant, that crept timoroufly along the Coafts ; was obliged to keep within fight of the Shores j
and,
* yam. iii. 4.
t I am aware, that other Expeclleius are ufed, for fbap- ing a proper Courfe on the Ocean ; fuch as making Obier-- vations from the Sun by mathematical Inftruments. But thefe, I beHevc, are only fubordinate Aids to the Nee;iio. The grcmd Regulator is the Magnet. I have heard an ex- perienced Sailor declare ; He would rather be without hi; ^adrantj than without his Compafs,
i6o The RON fo Aspasio. Let. g*
and, if driven out beyond the narrow Sphere of her Land-marks, could neither afcertain her Situation, nor purfue her Voyage. But
this Guide when every Beacon on the Top
of the Hills, is vanifhed from the acuteft Kenj when nothing but Skies are ken above, and
Seas alone appear below tbis Guide points
out the proper Paflage. This communicates an Intelligence, that fliines clear in the thickefl Darknefs, and remains fleady in the moft tem- peiluous Agitations. This has given, not in- deed Birth, but Maturity to Navigation ^ and turned her fwadling Bands into Wings, This has emboldened her to launch into the Heart of the Ocean, and enabled her to range from Pole to Pole.
Thus does GOD, both in the Operations of Nature, and the Adminillrations of Pj'ovi- dence, accompli fla the moft important Ends by
the mofl: inconjiderable Means. When the
formidable Sifera is to be cut off, the Blow fhall be given, not by fome puifTant Cham- pion, but by the Hand of a Woman *. When 'Jericho is to be demoliflied, thofe impregnable Fortifications fhall fall, not beneath the Stroke of battering Engines, but before the Sound of Ram's Horns -f-. — When a hundred thoufand Midianites are to be routed, the LORD of Hofts will gain this fignal Victory, not by nu- merous
* J^'^i' ^v. 9. t JoJf^' vi. 5.
Let. 9- Theron/oAspasio. i6r
merous Legions completely armed, but by a Handful of Ifraelitesj accoutered only with
Trumpets, Lamps, and Pitchers*. Who
would have thought, that from the Root of j^^6', a Root out of a dry Ground, flicald arife that great Tree, whAohJirefches her Boughs unto the Sea^ and her Height unto the Heai'ens, and her Branches unto the Ends of the Earth ? That the defpifed Galilean and the Carpenter's Son, fhould be the SAVIOUR of the World, and the HEIR of all Things ? Nay; that a Perfon, humbled like the meaneft of Slaves, and executed like the vileft of Malefactors j nailed to a Crofs, and laid proftrate among the Dead i that PIE fliould refbore Life and Immortality to ruined Sinners; fliould open the Gates of Grace and Glory on lofl Man- kind ? That a few illiterate Mortals, taken from the Barge, the Oar, and the Net, fliould confute Philofophers, and convert Kings ; fhould overthrow the Strong-holds of Idola- try, and plant Chi'ijlianity on its Ruins ! — This is a Circumftance, which, though a Stum- bling-block to fome People, has confiderably ftrengthened my Faith. It is perfectly agree- able to the ALMIGHTY'S Manner. It is (if I may fo fpeak) the diftinguifhing T'urn of his Hand, and the peculiar ^tyle of his Works. Whence does He raife the charmingly beauteous
Flower ?
* "Judg. viL 19.
Vol. III. M
i62 Theron io AsPAsio. Let. 9.
Fiower ? Whence the magnificent Myriads of the Foieft-oaks ? Whence the boundlefs and ineftim able Stores of the Harveft? From Prin- ciples which bear not the leafl Proportion to their Effefts. — Befides 3 this molt emphatically fpeaks THE GOD. \t Jl^eim the Light'mg down of his glorious Arm *j and abfolutely pre- cludes all the Pretenfions of human Arro- gance, or finite Power. It appropriates the Honour to that fupreme AGENT, before whom the Eafy and the Arduous are both alike. All Men that fee it mufl confefs, this hath
GOD DONE.
Through this Channel, are imported to our liland the choice Productions, and the pecu- liar Treafures, of every Nation under Hea- ven. So that We can breakfaft upon a Dilfo- lution of the American Kernel -f- 3 and fee the rich nutrimental Liquor froth in our Cups, without ever tempting the foaming Brine, We can fteep the delicately-flavoured Chincfe Leaf, in the Waters of our own Well ; or fpend the Afternoon in our own Parlour, and be regaled with an Lifufion of the finely- fcented Arabian Berry. We can feafon the friendly Bov;l with the Juices of the Orange^ or refrefh our clammy Palate with the Pulp
of
* Ifai. XXX. 30. •}■ Called the Cacoa, which affords the principal In^redi- qit of CkociUitei and grows on a fmall Tree in Jmtrica,
Let. 9* Theron /o AsPAsio. 163
of the Tmnarind -, without feehng that fervent Heat, which imparts fuch a poignant ReUfh to the former ; without fufFering thofe fcorch- ing Beams, which give a Fever-coohng Virtue to the latter. We can pile upon our Salvers a Pyramid of Italian Figs ; fill the Interftices with the Sky-dried Railins of Malaga; and form a Summit for the inviting Strudure,
with the Pijlacia Nut of Aleppo. By this
means, the Eaftern Spices exhale their Odours on our Tables, and the Weflern Canes tranl- fufe their Sweetnefs into our Viands. We clothe our Bodies with the vegetable Fleeces * of the South, and line our Apparel with v/arm furry Spoils from the North. We can wear the Pearl, polilhed in the AbyfTes of the Ptr- fian Gulph; and walk on the Carpets, manu- fadured in the Dominions of the Great Mogul -j yet neither expofe Ourfelves to the Rage of boifterous Seas, nor the more dreaded Treache- ry of barbarous People. In fliort 5 by this
wonderful and invaluable Expedient of Navi- gation, every Tide conveys into our Ports the Wealth of the remotefl Climes, and brings the Abundance of the Univerfe to be unladen
on
* Cotton., which Is a Sort of Wool, encompafling the Seed of a Tree. — Its Fruit is of an oval Form, about the Size of a Nut. As it ripens, it grows black on the Out- fide ; and, by the Heat of the Sun, opens in feveral Places, difcovering the Cotton through the Clefts, which is ^f an admirable Whitenefs. See Chamb. Di£i.
M 2
164 The R ON /o Asp AS 10. Let. 9.
on our Qtiays. London becomes a Mart of Nations j and almoft every private Houfe in the Kingdom, is embellifhed and accommo- dated from the four Quarters of the Globe.
Almoji eirry private Houfe — Is not this more like rhetorical Flourifli, than real Truth ? Are not all the Advantages I have mentioned, the peculiar Portion of the Rich ? Is not the Sea, like the grand and gay World, fomewhat ca- pricious and partial^ Beftov^^ing lavifhly her Favours on the Wealthy, at the fame Time
that She negle6ls the Needy ? Quite the
Reverfe. Like her fublime CREATOR, She is no Refpe6ler of Perfons, but deals out her Liberahtics to All j to the Wealthy, fuch as are fuitable to their Circumftances ; to the In- digent, fuch as are beft adapted to their Con- dition. If She ornaments the Abodes of the firfl-. She employs the Hands of the laft j fur- nifhes thefe with ufeful Labour, thofe v^ith ele- gant Accommodations. What a Multitude of induftrious People acquire a Livelihood, by preparing the Commodities intended for Ex- portation ! And v^hat a Multitude of dextrous Artificers maintain their Families, by manu- fa6luring the Wares imported from abroad !
It is reckoned a valuable Species of Bene- ficence, to provide proper Work for the Poor. This withdraws them from many Tempta- tions, and preferves them from much Wicked-
Let 9' Theron ^i? AspAsio." ' 165 nefs. It hinders them from being a Burden to themfelves, and a Nuifance to the Public. They might otherwife be idle^ and as Vermine on the Body poUtic : or even ?nutinous, and as Vipers in the Bowels of the Nation. Whereas, by exerting themfelves in a due Subordina- tion, and with becoming Diligence, they are the very Sinews of the Community ; or like the grand Wheel in the Machine of State, whofe inceflant A6livity diflributes Plenty, and pours innumerable Conveniencies through the whole. — What a Majier then, or rather what a Miftrefs^ is the Sea ! How extenfive her Cor- refpondence, and how large her Demand for Workmen ! Into what Branch of Trade does fhe not enter ? What kind of ingenious Sci- ence, or ufeful Toil, does fhe not befriend ? How many Millions of honefl but needy Per- fons are engaged in her Service ? And how amply are they repaid for their Pains ! — T'hey that go down to the Sea in Ships ^ and occupy their Bujinefs in great Waters, thefe Men fee the Works of the LORD, and his Wonders in the Deep^ They alfo that dwell among their own Peo- ple, and abide in the Villages, even they en- joy the Bounty, and fhare the Advantages of the Ocean. For, though it is falfe Philofo- phy, to fuppofe the Waters themfelves fbrained thi'ough fubterranean Paffages, into the inland Counties 3 yet, it is an undeniable Truth, that Vol. III. _ M 3 their
i66 Theron ^(9 Asp AS 10, Let. 9.
their beneficial EffeSis are transfufed into every Town, every Hamlet, and every Cottage.
Surely, the Inhabitants of our Ifle, have Reafon to turn the Prediclion of Mofes, con- cerning the Tribe of Jofeph, into a devout and grateful Acknowledgment. — Blejfed of the LORD is * our Land. Blejfed njoith the preci- ous 'Thiiigs of Heaven, 'with the Dew, and with the Deep that coiicheth beneath. With the precious things brought forth by the Sun, and with the precious Things thrujl forth by the Moon. With the chief things of the ancient Mountains, and with the precious Tubings of the everlafling Hills : a7td with the precious Things of the Earth, and
the Fulnefs thereof A^. May we alfo enjoy the
Good-
* h (fo I would traiiflate the Original) not he ; in the pred'iflive, not precatory Form- This implies a Fulnefs of Faith, and diilinguiflies Prophecy from Prayer ; beft fuits the extraordinary Illumination of Mojes j and does moft Honour to the omnifcient SPIRIT.
f /)eKf, xxxiii. 13, 14, 15, 16. Here fe ems to be a beautiful and poetical Nummary of the Riches of Nature. — The precious 'Things of Heaven ; or Rain^ which defcends from the upper j and Dezv, which is formed in the lower^ Regions of the Firmament. — The Deep that couchcth beneath \ Seas, Rivers, Fountains, Wells, which lie in the Bofont of the Soil ; and are Sources of Fertility and Plenty. — The pre^ cious Things brought f 07-th by the Sun, mull certainly denote the Herbs, Plants, Trees, and all Manner of Vegetables y with their refpedlive YvuMs.— The precious Things thrujl forth hy the Moon, may probably refer to the ?nineral Kingdoms ; in the Formation of which, that Ruler of the Night may have a confiderable Influence. The Moon is confellcdly the Paitnt of Tides ; and may put in Molion thofe bituminous
and
Let. 9- Theron/^Aspasio. 167
Good-will of HIM, who dwelt in the Bufi *, and the Grace of HIM, who hung on the Tree ! May the eternal GOD be our Refuge, and his everlafling Arms underneath both Us and
our Interefls ! Happy then wilt Thou be,
thrice happy, O England ! Thy temporal Ad- vantages, and thy fpiritual Privileges confi- dered, it may truly be faid, V/hoj or what Nation, is like unto T'hee f
This for my Country 3 now let me wiOi for myfelf 5
GOD of all Worlds ! Source and Supreme of
'Things ! From whom all Life^ from whom Duration
fprings ! Intenfe O ! let me for thy Glory burn. Nor fruitlefs view my Days and Months return.
Give
and faline Fluids, which, cIrcuJatIng through the Pores of the Earth, and fixing'in Beds of homogeneous Matter, are fuppofed to commence Minerals. — As our facred Philcfo- pher has already fpecified the vegetable Produdions, the principal Things of the Mountains and Hills^ fliould fignify the Sheep, Goats, and other valuable Animals that feed upon thofe vaft Declivities. If fo, the precious Things of the Earth, may exprefs thofe Herds of larger Cattle, which have their Pafturage in the Plains, Vallies, and lower Grounds. A Senfe, which recommends itfelf from this Confideration, That the Wealth of the Antients confifted chiefly in Cat- tle.— Tfje Fulnefs thereof may be a Kind of Recapitulation : a comprehenfive Term, including the whole Produce of the terraqueous Globe ; the magyiifiant Liberality of ] EH O- VAH to his People. * Deut. xxxiii. i6.
M 4.
1 68 The RON /<? Asp AS 10. Let. 9.
Give me with Wonder at thy Works to gloWy To grajp thy Vifion^ and thy T'ruths to know : 0\r Time's tempeftuous Sea to reach thy Shore, And live J and Jing, where Time Jl:all be no
more.
You fee, Afpafio, I have been Hudying the Volume of Nature ; endeavouring to read its ca])ital Chara6lers, and learn fome of its in- f}:ru6live Lefibns. The Sea has been the Page ; but XxQw fuperficial is my Perufal, and no lefs fcanty my Knowledge. Little, very little have I feen or conceived, relating to thofe Works of Vv^onder, which the vaft unfathomable
Deep contains the Plants it produces, and
the Creatures it nourifhes its ftupendous
Rocks, and fubterranean Caves the Heaps
of Pearl, which are its native Growth ; and the Loads of Gold, which it has gained by
Shipwreck. So fuperficial are my Views of
CHRIST -yfo fcanty is my Acquaintance with the Gofpel.
You, I prefume, are fitting at the Feet of that fuWime TEACHERi and attending to the Dictates of HIS Mouth, in whom are hid all the Treafiires ofWifdom and Knowledge *. Let me promife myfelf a Communication of your Thoughts, as I have freely tranfmitted a Specimen of mine. And I will make no Scruple
to
* Ccl. ii, -?.
Let. 9« Theron to Aspasio. 169
to acknowledge the Superiority of the Ex- change s that I receive
Or, as the eloquent Ifaiab fpeaks ; For Brafs you will bring Gold, and for Iron you will bring Silver * : rendering me, by this Intercourfe, your more obliged, though it is fcarce pollible for me to be, more than I already am.
Tour affeSlionate
Theron.
P. aS. Monfieur Pafchal, who was remarkably fond of Brevity, makes an odd Excufe for tranfgreffing, on a particular Occafion, his favourite Rule. He intreats his Friend to pardon the unufual Length of his Epiftle, by afluring Him, T^hat he had not Time to make it fiorter. — I cannot, it muft be confefled, adopt this Philofopher's Apology.' For, I have purpofely length- ened my Letter, with a View of fetting, in this one Circumflance, a Pattern for my Afpajio,
* I/ai. Ix. 17.
LET-
I JO AspAsio /o Theron. Let. 10.
LETTER X.
AsPAsio to Theron.
Dear Theron,
IT H A N K you for your Letter y becaufe it entertains and improves me : I thank you for your Pojifcript, becaufe it is my Encourage- ment and my Apology. 1 am fet down to
write, with a copious Stock of Materials. It will be far more difficult to contra6f, than to anlarge. I muft therefore acknowledge myfelf obliged to your Candour, for alllgning me the ea/ier Talk. — That Prolixity, which, in others, might be an inexcufable Fault ; is, in me, an A61 of Complaifance, and Matter of Duty.
Though abfent from You, I went with You in your late Ramble. Your defcriptive Pen has made me Partaker of the ideal Delight : may Divine Grace enable me to fliare in the Jpiri-
tual Improvemefit ! When you difplayed the
Beauties of the Morn, breaking forth from the Obfcurity of Night -, when you adopted that noble Afpiration from our philofophic Poet^ I could not forbear adding — " Thus may the •^ gracious GOD, who commands the Light to '■' Ihine out of the Midnight Darknefs, fhine
" into
Let. 10. AsPAsio to Theron. 171
** into our Hearts; and give that incompar- " ably glorious Knowledge, the Knowledge of " his bleffed SELF ! Which, though difcern- <* able through all the Tra6ls of Creation, and " derivable from every Work of his Almighty ** Hand ; yet no where beams forth with fuch ** complete and fuch amiable Luflre, as in the *' Perfon of JESUS CiiRZSr*."— Here we be- hold all the fublime Perfe6lions of the DEITY, not only manifefled with inimitable Splendor, but operating for our own Advantage. We behold them, as Job fpeaks, fo?^ Our/elves -f ; and cannot but receive inexpreflible Refrefli- ment and Joy from the View.
When you walked beneath the Shade of thofe huge, horrid, and enormous Clefts ; both amufed and alarmed at their llupendous Mag- nitude, and frightful Irregularity — When you cafl your Eye upon the wide-expanded Sur- face of the Ocean When you furveyed the
far more unme'afurable Arches of the Sky
And meditated, in that awful Solitude, on the wildeft and moft magnificent Appearances of Nature — I felt the fame Kind of devout Afto- nifhment with yourfelf While the Soul was wrapt mpenfive Stilnefi, and pleafing Dread X^
mc-
* 2 Cor. iv. 6. t Joh xix. 27.
X It feems to have been fuch a Kind, not of anxious but of pleafing Dread, which feized the Difciples on the Mount of Transfiguration : wav yoi.^ iK(po^oi, for they were ftruck With a profound, but delightful Awe. Delightful, otherwife
Peier
172 AsPAsio /oTheron. Let. 10,
methought, I heard a Voice, or fomething like a Voice, from the filent Spheres, as well as from the founding Seas. It feemed to echo back, what the mighty Angel, whom "John faw fly- ing in the midft of Heaven, once proclaimed -, " Worfiip HIMj who made Heaven and Earthy " and the Sea, and the Fountains of Water *. " W^orfliip Him, who ftretched out that azure " Pavilion with fuch amazing Grandeur : who *' meafured yonder World of Waters, in the " Hollow of his Hand : and before whom, *' this immenfe Range of mountainous Clifts, " is but as Dull upon the Scale."
When you defcribed the dijmal Situation of a Wretch, expofed on the Edges of the tre- mendous Precipice -, hanging over the ragged Rocks, and the unfathomable Gulphs and cleaving only to a flender, treacherous, break- ing Bough : how heartily did I join in your adoring Acknowledgments to that kind, inter- pofmg, blelTed Pland, which refcued us both from an infinitely more threatening and dread- ful Danger ! Refcued us, as Slaves^ from the Dominion of the Devil : fnatched us, as Brands, from the inextinguifliable Burnings. And bid Us (O marvelous, fuperabundant Goodnefs !) bid Us poffefs Xht Liberty of Righ-
teoufnefs ^
Peter would not have propofed to build Tabernacles therCj nor have wilhed to continue in thofe Circumftances, Mari ix. 6.
* Rev. xiv. 7.
Let. 10. Aspasio/oTheron. 173
teoulhelsj bid us inherit the Kingdmn of Heaven.
When You mentioned the paft Indolence, and the prefent Fervour of your Prayers, I could not forbear reiterating my Praifes to GOD on your Behalf. This is a Proof, my dear 'Theron, that you are going in the Way everlafting ; for it is written, They Jliall corns with Weepings and with Supplications will 1 lead them *. This is the Work of the PI O L Y GHOST, dwelling in your Heart ; for what faith the Scripture ? 7 will pour upon them the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication -f-. And our LORD Himfelf mentions this, as the Indica- tion of a true Converfionj Behold! He pray ^ eth %. — Had not aSW prayed before ? Yes ; and made long Prayers too. But he never, till that Inftant, was fenfible of his undone and dam- nable Condition. Never cried to GOD from the Depths of his Diftrefs, or from the Depths of his Heart. Nor ever folicited the Throne of Grace, in the all-prevailing Name of JE^
SUS CHRIST. His Prayers, till then, were
like the MoteSj which flu6luate to and fro in the Air, without any vigorous Impulfe, or any certain Aim. But, in that Hour, they were like the Arrow^ which fprings from the iirained Bowj and, quick as Lightning, flies to the Mark.
I
^Jer, xxxiii. 8.- f Zechar. xii. 10. % /i^s'ix, 11,
174 AsPAsio to Theron. Let. io.
I was pleafeci to find You, in the Procefs of your Letter, infenfibly forgetting the Narra- tive ; and fo engaged by the Subject, that you ipoke not as the Relater, but as the Beholder,
Thus may We always be affected, when
We fludy the Oracles of Truth. Study them, not as cold unconcerned Critics, who are only to judge of their Meaning} but as Perfons deeply inter efied in all they contain. Who are particularly addrefled in every Exhortation, and dire6led by every Precept. Whofe are the Promifes, and to whom belong the precious
Privileges. When We are enabled thus to
realize and appropriate the Contents of that in- valuable Book ; then we lliall tafle the Svveet- nefs, and feel the Power of the Scriptures. Then We fhall know, by happy Experience, that our divine MASTER'S Words, are not barely Sounds and Syllables, but they are Spi- rity and they are Life *.
1 was flill more agreeably entertained with your Picture of Commerce^ and of the Advan- tages We receive from Navigation. One Ad- vantage, however, I can fpecify, which is greater than any, greater than all. You have celebrated. An Advantage, that will endear and ennoble Navigation, fo long as tlie Sun and Moon endure. The Gofpel, my dear Friend, the glorious Gofpel came to our Ifland
through
* "John vi. 63.
Let. lo. AsPAsio to Tkeron. 175
through this Channel. The Volume that com- prizes it, and the Preacher that pubHflied it, both were imported by Shipping. And may We not fay, with the inraptured Ifaiah ? How beautiful are the Feet of them^ that bring glad Tidings of good Things * / It is pleafant to hear their Voice j pleafant to contemplate their Meffage ; and pleafant even to behold the Ground on which they trod, or the very Waves
over which they failed. This made the holy
Prophet rejoice in Spirit, when he fore fa w the extenfive Spread of his MASTER'S Glory, and the certain Commencement of our Happincfs. This put into his Mouth that afFe6i:ionate and congratulatory Addrefs^ which is, in a very particular Manner, directed to Us and our Countrymen : Sing unto the LORD a ?jew Song, and his Praife from the Ends of the Earth : ye that go doivn to the Sea, and all that is therein -, ye Ifles, and the Inhabitants thereof. Let the Wilderjiefs and the Cities thereof lift up their Voice-, let the Inhabit aiits of the Rock Jing, let them jhout from the Top of the Mountains. Let them give Glory unto the LORD j aftd declare hi$ Praife in the Iflands "f-.
We read, in Ezekiel, of the moji magnificent Fleet, that ever ploughed the Seas. The Mafts were of Cedar J, and the Benches of Ivory.
Fine
* Ifal. lii. 7. f Ifai, xlii, lo, II, I2,
X E%ek. xxvii. 5.
176 AsPAsio /o Theron. Let. io.
Fine Linen, beautified with Embroidery, float- ed to the Winds, and formed the Sails. Blue and Purple rigged the Veflel, and clothed the
ineaneft Mariner. Let Us fuppofe, that the
Freight of this fplendid Navy, was propor- tioned, in Value, to its fumptuous Tackling. Yet how poor, how defpicable were either, were both, if eftimated with the Treafures of the Gofpel : thofe divine T'reafures, which fpring from the Imputation of our REDEEMER'S Righteoufnefs ! And which have much the fame kindly Lifluence on religious Fra6lice, as Navigation, with all her Improvements, has upon Traffic. — Give me leave to confirm this Aflertion, by felefting a few Inftances, and applying them in a few Interrogatories.
One of the Benefits, proceeding from the Imputation of CHRIST^s Righteoufnefs, is Pardo?2. Pardon, not partial, but complete. A Pardon of each Sin, be it ever fo heiiious-, si Pardon of all Sins, be they ever fo numerous. For thus faith GOD the LORD, who fent both his Prophets and Apoftlcs, preaching Peace by JESVS CHRIS'T. I will pardon all their Iniquities^ 'whereby they have Jinned, and whereby they have tranfgrejfed againfi me -f-.— To learn the defirable Nature of this Blefling, let Us flep back into the Annals of Hiftory,
and
* y^r. xxxiii. 8.
Let. loV As PAS 10 to Theron. 177
and attend a traitorous and unhappy Noble- man to his vindiBhe Exit. His Body is de- manded by the Minifters of Juftice. Reluc- tant and trembhng He is condu6led to the Scaffold. There, the alarmed Criminal {t^s the mourning Block. Sees the glittering Ax. Sees the Coffin prepared for his Corpfe. Sees thoufands of anxious Spe6lators ; waiting, with eager Looks and throbbing Hearts, the fearful Cataftrophe. In a Word j he fees Death advancing, with all the Solemnities of Horror
and Woe. Time elapfes. The preparatory
Ceremonies are difpatched. The fatal Mo- ment is arrived. No longer Refpite can be al- lowed. He mufl fubmit to immediate Execu- tion. Accordingly he proflrates himfelf to re- ceive the Stroke. But — feized with new Ter- rors, at the poifed Ax, and approaching Blov/, He ftarts from the dangerous PoUure. — Again he bends, and again fnatches his Neck from the impending Edge.- — A third Time, He lifts his pale Countenance, to the pitying Crowds, and departing Light. — Once more He bows to the Block, and once more raifes his Head, in wififul ExpeBatioji of the royal Clemency.— — Had a MefTenger appeared, at this critical In- ftant, with a Shout of Joy upon his Tongue, and a fealed Pardon in, his Hand 3 O! how tranfporting the News ! How inexprejfihly 'wel- come the Favour ! — What was denied to his paf- VoL. IIL ■" N fionate
178 AspAsio io Theron. Let. \q\
fionate Defires ; denied to the importunate So- licitations of his Friends 3 is freely offered to Us in the Gofpel of CHRIST: a Pardon of infinitely higher Confequence; which oblite- rates Millions and Millions of rebellious A6ls : which extends its blelfed Effefts, not merely through the little Span of Life, but beyond the Gates of the Grave beyond the Boun- daries of Time through all the Ages of
Eternity.
How unfathomable *is that immenfe Flood, on which my T'heron lately exercifed his Con- templation ! The toiling Plummets, with all their Length of Cordage, are unable to find a Bottom. Were the hugefl Millflones, or the highefl Towers, or the mofl fpacious Cities, caft into this prodigious Gulph, they would be totally overwhelmed, and irrecoverably loft. Therefore the infpired Prophet, to fhew the boiindlefs Extent of the divine Mercies in y£- SVS CHR IS T, and to denote the Fuhiefs of their Pardon who are cleanfed in the R E- D E E M E R's Blood, hath illuftrated both by this grand Similitude. "T/jou wilt cafi all their Sins into the Depths of the Sea * — not one, or a few, but all their Sins — not barely behind thy Back, but into the Sea — and not into the fhal- lower Parts, but into the very Depths of the
Ocean fo that they fliall never rife up in
Judg-
• Miih. vii, 19,
Let. 10. AsPAsio /«? Theron, 179
Judgment i never be taken notice of; no, nor ever be remembered any more.
With an A61 of total Indemnity, let Us join
a thorough Refioratioii to Favour, If the
Wrath of an earthly King be as the Roai-ing of a Lion * ; how much more tremendous is his Indignation, who is able to cafl both Body and Soul into Hell! If the Favour of an earthly Sovereign be as Dew upon the Grafs-, how much more defirable and delightful HIS Loving-kindnefs, whom all Things in Heaven
and Earth obev! By the Righteoufnefs of
JESUS CHRISr, we are freed from all fore- boding Apprehenfions of the former, and efla- blifhed in the comfortable Pofleffiion of the lat- ter. The Gofpel renews and ratifies that joy- ful Proclamation of the angelic Hofl, Peace on Earth, and Good-will to Men -f-. G O D is not only pacified towards Believers, but well pleafed with them in his dear SON. They are the Objects of his complacential Delight, and He rejoices over them to do them Good.
Nay, they are made Children, Sons and Daughters of the LORD Almighty t^ And if Sons, then Heirs of GOD, and joint Heirs with CHRIST \\. — The chief Captain mentioned in the ABs, purchafed his Freedom of the Impe- rial City Roj}jey vv'ith a great Sum of Mo- ney.
* Prov.xlx. 12. t LukeVu 14. % 2 Cor, vi. 18.
\ R?m, viii. 17,
N a
l8o ASPASIO to T HERON. Let. lO.
ney *. If fuch a little tranfient Immunity, was fo valuable in his Efteemi who can ex- prefs the Worth, who can conceive the Dig- nity, of this divine Adoption ? Yet it belongs to Thofe, who receive the Gofpel, and are in- terefted in CHRIST. — They have Accefs to the omnipotent BEING 5 fuch free and welcome Accefs, as a beloved Child to an indulgent Fa- ther. To Him they may fly for Aid, in every Difficulty ; and from Him obtain a Supply,
in all their Wants. GOD, as the facred
Charter runs, is their GOD. All his love- ly, all his adorable Perfe6lions, are their glo- rious Inheritance, and exceeding great Re- ward. That eternal Power, to which nothing is impoffible, exerts itfelf as their Guard-, and that unerring Wifdom, from which nothing is concealed, acls as their Guide, His very Ju- flice is no longer an incenfed Adverfary, de- manding Vengeance or meditating Deftruc- tion ', but a faithful Guarantee^ to provide for the pundlual Execution of the REDEEMER'S Treaty, and their complete Enjoyment of its
various Bleffings. What a Privilege is this !
Rather what a Chiller of Privileges is Here ! Weigh the Kingdoms of the World -, caft all the Glories of them into the Scale ; and they will be found, when compared with thefe di- vine Prerogatives, emptier than the Bubble that burfls, lighter than the Spark that expires.
In
Let. 10. Asp A sio /<? Theron. iSi
In the Gofpei are given exceeding great and precious Promifes. Of fuch Value, that they were procured by the Blood of CHRIST-, of fuch Cerfai?ity, that they are ratified by the Oath * of J E H O V A H. So durable, that, though all Flefh is Grafs, and all the Good- iinefs thereof as the Flower of the Grafs, this Word of our GOD abideth for ever -f- -, fo efficacious, that there are no fuch Cordials to re- vive our fainting, and no fuch Bulwarks to fecure our endangered Souls. With thefe the Bible is as richly replenifhed, as the clear mid- night Sky is befpangled with Stars. They are all Tea and Amen, configned over as a fure unalienable Portion, to them that are in yESUS
CHRIST^.
Another Benefit, given in Confequence of the REDEEMER'S Righteoufnefs, is the fanBify- ing SPIRIT. A moft comprehenfive Bleffing this! Our SAVIOUR intimates, that it in- cludes every heavenly Gift, is an Aflemblage of all good Things ||, — How fingular a Com- fort muil it be to blind Bartimeus, to have his Eyes opened, and behold the all-chearing Light of the Sun § ! So, and far more com- fortable, are the inlightening Influences of the blefled S P I R I T i when they Ihine upon the wretched Creature, who fits in Darknefs
and
* Heb. vii. 17. f I Pet. i. 23. % 2 Cor, i. 20.
II Compare M&tt, vii. 11. with Lukei^iu 13. § Mart
N 3
i82 Aspasio/oTheron. Let. lo.
and the Shadow of Death. How peculiar a
Mercy for the impure and abhorred Leper, to be healed of his inveterate Difeafe ! To feel the foothing Senfations of Eafe, where Sores rankled and Pain raged ! Inftead of infcebling Languors and loathfome Deformity, Vigour braces his Limbs, and Comelinefs blooms in his Countenance *. Equally benign and equal- ly falubrious, is the Agency of the Divine SPIRIT, on our depraved, polluted, fenfual
Minds. How fignal was the Recovery, and
how welcome the Change ! When that un- happy Creature, fo wildly agitated by a viif- chievoiis T)ccmon, was reinftated in the peace- ful Pofielhon of Himfelf and his Faculties \ When, inftead of unnaturally cutting his own Flefli, or committing barbarous Outrages on innocent Travelers, He fat compofed and at- tentive at the Feet of JESUS -f I Receiving heavenly Inftruclion from his Lips, and learn- ing the Meeknefs of Wifdom from his Ex- ample. So falutary and beneficial is the tranf- forming Power of the HOLY GHOST the Comforter i foftening the rugged, fweetening the morofc, and calming the pafiionate Tem- per.— It is undoubtedly the utmoft Improve- ment and the higheft Happincfs of our Na- ture, to have the Image of the bleiTed GOD re- inftamped on our Hearts. This is an Earneft,
and
* Matt, viii. 3. t MarJi v. 15.
Let. 10. Asp AS 10 /(? The RON, 183
and an Anticipation alfo, of endlefs Felicity. A Bud, that will bloom in Heaven, and open into immortal Glory. A Dawn, that will fhine more and more, till the Sun of Righteonfnefs arifes, and brightens it into everlafting Day. This Bud the fanftifying SPIRIT ingrafts, this Dawn the Grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST' ditfufes, in the barren and be- nighted Soul.
In a Word ; get this Righteoufnefs, and You have a Title to all Bleffings, whether they be prefent or future, bodily or fpiritual, temporal or eternal. From the neceflary Conveniencies, of Bread to eat, and Raiment to put on ; even to the Crowns of Glory, and the Fulnefs of Joy J a//, ally are owing to our REDEEMER'S
Righteoufnefs. You fee now, I'heroji, That
our Scheme, has no Tendency to impoverifh your fpiritual Condition, or diminifh your true Riches : any more than thofe Tracts of Wa- ter, which furround our Ifland, are detrimen- tal to the Wealth of its Inhabitants. Detri- mental ! No ; they are an inexhauftible Source of Treafure. They convey to our Ufe the choiceft Accommodations, and the moft ele- gant Delights. Such as would in vain be ex- pe6led, if the whole Ocean was converted into the fineft Meads, and moll fertile Paftures. So —but to apply this Comparifon, would fore- ilal your principal Queilion.
N 4 " Do
184 Aspasio/^^Theron. Let. 10.
" Do not thefe Favours, though unfpeak- " ably precious in themfelves, tend to the In- " troduftion or Support of Ungodlinefs ?" — Quite the Reverfe. Have We Redemption through our SAVIOUR s Blood, even the For- givenefs of our Sins ? We are redeemed, not that We may fmk in Supinenefs, or launch into Licentioufnefs, but that We may be a pe- culiar People, zealous of good Works *.
Are We made the Children of GOD? Then let our Light fo fliine before Men, that others, feeing our good Works, may glorify our FA- THER vv^hich is in Heaven -f-. This is the ge- nuine Confequence of fuch a Do6lrine, and the proper Effe6t of fuch a Benefit. — Are We vefted with facred Privileges ! This fiiould ad- monifh us to walk worthy of FIIM, who hath called us to his Kingdom and Glory J. Shall the Citizens of Heaven be animated with no higher Views, than tlie Slaves of Appetite, and Drudges of the World ? — Are We conflituted Heirs of the Promifes ? The Grace which they afcertain, is intended to make Us Partakers of a Divine Nature || ; and the Encouragement which they adminifler, fhould incite Us to cleanfe Ourfelves from all Filthinefs of Flefh and Spirit, and to perfect Holinefs in the Fear of GOD §. — Such high Immunities are a mod
en-
* Tit.'ix. 14, t Mntf. V. 16, X I ^hefflut 12*
fl 2 Pet. \. i. ^2 C;;-. vu. I.
Let. 10." A SPA SI o /o The RON. 185
endearing Perfuafive, not to difgrace, but mag- nify, not to provoke, but pleafe, their un- fpeakably beneficent AUTHOR.
I might farther obferve, that Holinefs is one of the moft diftinguifhed Bleflings in our Syftem. Nay, is the very central Blefling, to which all the others verge ; in which they all terminate. — Were We chofen from Eternity ? It was for this Purpofe, that We may be holy and unblameable in Love *. — Are We called in Time ? It is to this Intent, that We may fhew forth the Praifes of Him, who hath call- ed Us out of Darknefs into his marvelous Light f. — Are We created agai?z in CHRIST JESUSF It is, to capacitate Us for accept- able Service, and to furnifh Us unto every good Work J. / will put my Spirit within Tou, faith the LORD. For what End? That Te may walk in 7ny Statutes^ and keep my 'Judgments^ and do them §. Here comes in your favourite Endowment, fmcere Obedience. Far, very far from difcarding fmcere Obedience, We would only introduce it, under its due Cha- rafter, and in its proper Order. JJiider its due Charadler ; as the Fruit, not the Caufe, of our Intereft in CHRIST % Righteoufnefs. In its due Order; as following, not preceding, the Gift of Juftification,
Thefe * Eph. i. 4. ^ I iV/. ii. 9. X E^h, ii. 10,
1 86 Aspasio/oTheron. Let. lo.
Thefe Privileges, my dear T'heron, are falu- tary, as the Pool of Bethefda'^. They are re- florative, as the Waters of Siloajn -j-. Or like that facred Stream flov/ing from the ^aiiciuary, which healed the Rivers, healed the Sea, and made even the Defart flourifh J. — If Juflifi- cation by the Righteoufnefs of CHRIST had a Tendency to fubvert the Foundation of Ho- linefs ; to confirm the hypocritical ProfefTor, in his Neglect of moral Duties ; or difcourage the fmcere Convert, from the Purfuit of real Virtue ; it v^rould, doubtlefs, be unworthy ' of any Acceptation, or rather worthy of univer- fal Abhorrence. But I dare appeal, not only to the Nature of the Doctrine, and the Rea- fon of Things, but to the Experience of All — Yes, of all who have tnjledy that the LORD is gracious^. How were they affe6led, when they have been enabled to believe, that GOD is reconciled, has received the all-fatisfying Atonement, and placed his SON's Righteouf^ nefs to their Account ? That He regards them as his Children, and will receive them to his Glory ? Have they not, under /?/f/6 Convic- tions, felt their Hearts exulting with confcious Joy ; and every Power of their Soul fpringing forwards, to glorify their heavenly FATHER — glorify Him by every Inftance of Obedience, Fidehty, and Zeal ?
Can
■ * John V. 4. t Jo^^fi ix. 7. % £^^> xlvii. 8, 9*1
§ I P(t. ii. 3.
Let. 10. Aspasio/oTheron. 187
Can fuch invaluable Benefits have a preju- dicial Influence on our Pra6lice, if, to the Confideration of their fuperlative Worth, We add that unequaled Price^ by which they were
purchafed? HE, who was high above all
Height, humbled Himfelf to be made of a Woman, and born in a Stable ; that We might be admitted into the Family of GOD, and, exalted to the Manfions of Heaven. And will this great Humiliation, which is the Bafis of our Happinefs, prompt Us to look down with Contempt on Others, or entertain arrogant Thoughts of Ourfelves ?
The ONLY BEGOTTEN and the fupreme Delight of the FATHER, was numbered with TranlgrefTors, and ranked with Felons ; that We might be joined to the innumerable Com- pany of Angels, and aflbciated with Saints in Glory everlafting. And will any One make this a Precedent or a Plea, for walkifjg in the Counfel of the Ungodly j for fianding in the Way of Sinners ; or fitting in the Seat of the Scor?i-
All manner of Evil was fpoken of the fault- lefs JESUS 5 his blelfed Name was vilified by blafpheming Tongues, and his unblameable Condudl blackened with the fouleft Afperfions; on purpofe that We may be applauded, when We are judged 5 and each hear thofe tranf-
porting
* Pfal. I I.
1 88 Aspasio/oTheron. Let. lo.
porting Words, Well done thou good
AND FAITHFUL SERVANT*! Will tllis em-
bolden Us to diJl:o?2our our LORD, and Jlain our holy Profeffion ? Shall We from hence be induced to open the Mouths of his Enemies, and give them Occafion to fpeak reproach- fully ?
HE v^^ent, galled with the Laflies of the Scourge, and penetrated with the pungent Thorns j He went, loaded with the execrable Crofs, and marking the Way with his preci- ous Blood J thus He went to his ignominious and tormenting Exit : that We may enter into Sion with Songs of Triumph on our Lips, and with everlafling Joy on our Heads. Does this invite Us to go, crowned with Rofe-buds, to the Houfe of Riot ; or go, muffled in Dif- guife, to the Midnight-Revel f Will it not ra- ther incline Us, to fit down at his pierced Feet^ and bathe them with Tears, and take Delight f in mourning for our crucified LORD?
Behold ! He hangs on the curfed Tree. There, there He hangs , rent with Wounds, and racked with Pain. He pours his Groans, and fpills his Blood. He bows his Head, his
patient
* Matt. XXV. 21. •\ This is a Cafe, in which Homers rtlapTrufxta-^x yooio may be literally and moft eminently verified. Iliad "¥. — The Sorrow, arifing from fuch tender and grateful Views of our crucified LORD, is that evangelical godly Sorrow, which worketh Repentance unto Salvation not to h repented of, 2 Cor, ?ii,io»
Let. 10. Aspasio/oTheron. 189
patient princely Head, and dies — aflonifliing, ravifliing Confideration 1 He dies for Tou and me. And will this harden our Hearts, or arm our Hands, to crucify Him afrefh by any al- lowed Iniquity ? Does not Reafon fuggeft, and Chriftianity di6late, and all that is ingenuous inforce, the Apoftle's important Inference ? If One died for All, then they which ^ live, Jhoidd not henceforth live unto themfelves, but unto Him which died for them "*.
He thought upon Us, long before the Foun- dations of the World were laid j He remem- bers Us, now he is exalted to the Right-hand of the MAJESTY in the Heavens s and will never, never forget Us, through all the Revo- lutions of Eternity. And is this a Motive to forget his Name 3 to difregard his Word ; or to imitate the fliameful Neutrality and Indif- ference of Gallio ? Imprefled with a Senfe of this invariable and everlafting Kindnefs, furely. We fhall declare Ourfelves, as thofe Captives in Babylon, concerning their dear native City Jerufalem : If I forget "Thee, O blefled JESUS, Let my Right-hand forget her Cunning \ if I do not remember T'hee, let my I^ongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth -f-.
' Remember 'Thee !
Ay, my dear LORD, while Me?nory holds a Seat
in,
f 2 Cor, V. 15". t -P/«/. cxxxyii. 5, 6.
ipo AsPAsio to Theron. Let. io«
Jn this devoted Breajl — Remember Thee ! TeSy from the liable of my Memory III wipe away all trivial fond Records ^ Which Touth and Obfervation copied there. And thy Remembrance all alone fhall live Within the Book and Volume of my Brain *.
Is it polTible, Therony for the Contemplation of fuch Goodnefs, to weaken the Motives, or relax the Springs of Obedience ? As foon may lenient Balms kill, and rankeft Poifons cure ?
Is fuch a Behef calculated to difcourage
Duty, and patronize Licentioufnefs ? Juft as much, as venial Showers are fitted to cleave the Earth v^'ith Chinks, or Summer-funs to
glaze the Waters with Ice. When Anthony
made an Oration to the Soldiers, on Occafion of Ccefars Death ; when He fliewed them their honoured Mafter's Robe, transfixed with fo many Daggers ; when He reminded them of the Vi6lories they had won, under their afTaf- fmated Commander; when He farther in- formed them, that their murdered General had remembered them in his Will — had bequeath- ed all his fine Gardens, and beautiful Walks,
to their Ufc and Delight ; Heavens ! How
they took Fire ! Revenge fparkled in their Eyes : Revenge flamed in their Bofoms : Revenge was all their Cry. They flew to the Houfes of
the f Shakcfpean,
Let. 10. AsPASio if<? Theron. 191
the Confpirators ; laid them even with the Ground j and had they met the Owners, would have tore them Limb from Limb. — Some fuch Refentment againft Sin, will a Senfe of our adored REDEEMER'S Sufferings excite : Ef- pecially, when fet home by his B L E S S E D SPIRIT, and confidered in Conne6lion with thofe deteflable Iniquities, which caufed them ; and with thofe invaluable Bleflings, which
were procured by them. Nothing, nothing
is fo efFe6lual, to beget the moft irreconcilable Abhorrence of all Ungodlinefsi to make the Remembrance of it, bitter as Wormwood ; the Temptations to it, horrible as Hell.
Let me remind You of an Incident, related by your favourite Hiftorian Xenophon, — Cyrits had taken captive the young Prince of Armenia^ together with his beautiful and blooming Prin- cefs; whom He had lately married, and of whom He was paflionately fond. When both were brought to the Tribunal, Cyrus afked the Prince j what He would give, to be reinftated
in his Kingdom } He anfwered, with an
Air of Indifference ; " That, as for his Crown, " and his own Liberty, He valued them at a " very low Rate. But, if Cyrus would reftore " his beloved Princefs, to her native Dignity " and hereditary Pofleflions, He fliould infi- " nitely rejoice 5 and w^ould willingly pay
192 AsPASIO/i>THERON. Let. 10.
** (this He uttered with Tendernefs and Ardour) " would willingly pay his Life for the Pur- " chafe." — Could fuch a Declaration, fo highly- endearing, alienate the Affedlions of the Prin- cefs, or induce Her to violate her Fidelity ? Let her own Conduct anfwer the Query. When all the Prifoners were difmilTed with Freedom, it is impoffible to exprefs, how they were charmed with the royal Generofity. Every one extolled their common Benefa6tor to the Skies. Some celebrated his martial Accom- plifhments. Some applauded his focial Vir- tues. All were prodigal of their Praifes, and lavijh m grateful Acknowledgments. And You, faid the Prince, (addreffing himfelf to his Bride) what think You of Cyrus "i — I did
not obferve Him, replied the Princefs. Not
obferve Him ! Upon what then was your
^^Kention fixed ? — Upon that dear and generous Man, who declared, " He would purchafe " my Liberty, at the Expence of his very
" Life ^''"." Was her Heart imprefied, were
all her Thoughts ingroffed, by that benevo- lent Offer ? And fliall ours be lefs affected with the incomparably more tender and endearing Love of CHRIST'? — He was not only willing, but adfiially laid down his Life for Us j a Life immenfcly precious, and of higher Dignity than
all
T«uT»v, Xenoph. Dt' Cyri Injht, Lib, III,
Let. 10. Aspasio/oTheron, 193
all Heavens. — He laid down his Life, not for amiable Perfons, or worthy Creatures, but for vile Earth, and miferable Sinners. — Fiirchajing thereby for Us and our Children, Privileges of ineflimable Worth, and of everlafling Dura- tion.
Surely, fuch Beneficence, fo unmerited, fo unequaled, mufl win * the mofl relu6lant, and melt the moft obdurate Heart. The Heart, that is not wrought upon by this Miracle of Divine CompafTion, muft be Steel, muft be Adamant ; quite impenetrable, and abfolutely incorrigible. — " OThou ever blefled, thou all- " gracious REDEEMER, thy Love to Us is " wonderful -J pajjing^ I will not fay, the Love
''of
* Beneficia., fays one of the Antients, qui invemt, Compe- des invenit. Which fine Sentiment may almoft ferve as a Comment, on the beautiful and tender Declaration of GOD by his Prophet Hofea ; I drew them to Obedience with Cords of a Man^ with Bands of Love. Chap, xi, 14. HE who made, and intimately knows our Frame, knew that thefe Motives would be moft pov/erful in Operation ; moft power- ful on Creatures, capable of Love, and fufceptible of Gra- titude. Therefore He calls them, The Cords of a Man. — And if a Deliverance from temporal Bondage, if the Settle- ment of Ifrael in all the Plenty of Canaan^ conftituted fo fweet an Incitement to Duty ; doubtlefs, the everlafling Be- nefits mentioned by Jfpafio, together with all the endearing Circumftances of their Procurement, muft be abundantly more engaging. — May the SPIRIT from on High rend the Veil of Ignorance and Infenfibiiity ! Let into our Hearts the Knowledge and Faith of thefe great evangelical Truths ! We (hall then want no farther Demonftration, either of the Pro- priety of the Remark, or the Efficacy of the Principles.
Vol. Ill, - O
194 AsPASio io Theron. Let, lo.
" of Women *, but the Power of Language, and *' the Reach of Thought ! Who can hold out " againft fuch charming Attraclives ? Who
*' can refift fuch heavenly Goodnefs ? Only
" let a Senfe of thy Love be alu^ays warm, al- " ways operative on our Minds. This fliall *' be inftead of a thoufand Arguments to en- ** gage, inftead of ten thoufand Motives to
** cjuicken our Obedience." Other Motives
may produce fome eternal Services, or hypo- critical Performances. Terrors may extort the Drudgery of the Pland. Bribes may gain the Adulation of the Tongue. But this concili- ates the Will J this profelites the AfFedlions ; this captivates the very Soul 5 and makes all its Powers like the Chariots of Ammi-jiadib -j-, ready, expedite, and a<5live in Duty.
Hear the holy Apoftle, giving an Account of Himfelf and his fpiritual State. He fpeaks in Language fomewhat fimilar, though greatly fuperior, to the Profellion of the Armenian Prin-
cefs. " So. great is the Glory, fo rich is the
«' Grace, fo fuperabundant are the Merits of *'nfy REDEEMER, that I am determined to «< know nothing but CHRIST JESVS and Him " crucified X" — Aik the fame zealous Apoftlej What prompted Him to fuch indefatigable Di- ligence, and animated Him with fuch invin- cible Fortitude ? Why did He decline no Toil,
and
* 2 Sam. i. 25. f Cant, vi, 12. % 2 Cor, ii. 2.
Let. 10. AsPAsio to TheRon. 19^
and dread no Danger ; rejoice in Tribulation ^ and glory in the Reproach * j welcome Perfe- cution, and defy Death? This is his Reply j " T^he Love of CHRIST" conjlraineth •f' me ; bear- " eth me on, with much the fame fbrong, ftea- " dy, prevailing Influence, which Winds and " Tide exert, v/hen they waft the VefTel to its " deftined Harbour/'
Shall we hear what another Difciple, one of the moft advanced Proficients in Divine Love^
fays
■ * That fupreme Affeaion to the blciTed JESUS, which reigned in the Hearts of his priinitive Difcipies, could never have been fo emphatically difplayed by any Strokes of Elo- quence, as by their own chearful and heroic Manner of ex- prefling themfelves, with relation to their SufFerings, — Far from regretting, I take Pleafwe {I'nys the Apoftle) /'« y^/c- iions ; and embrace them, when occurring in my Divine iVIA- STER's Service, with a real Complacency, ju^okw. 2 Cor. xii. 10. — To Tou, adds the fame Apoftle, and fpeaks in a congratulatory Strain, it is given {s^oc^tcr^n) as a defirable Privilege, to fuffer for the adorable JESUS, Philip, i, 29. — St. Luke, recor<iing the abufive and cruel Outrages, com- mitted on two Difcipies, for preaching boldly in the Name ■ of CHRIST, ufes a Phrafe remarkably gallant and fpirited : Tbey departed fran the Council rejoicing, o\i y.izln^iui>n(Txv a7t- jtAaorS-rvat, thcft they were counted worthy to fuffer- Shame \ had the Honour of being vilified and reproached, in fo venerable and glorious a Caul'e. — This PaiTage is a fine Exemplinca- tion of the Figure, which Rhetoricians ftyle Oxy?norum. And Horace's — Duke Periculum — Splendid} mendax — j^vj he-
atus Vulnere feem fiat and jejune upon the Comparifon,
A^sw. 41.
f Could You ftation a Coward, in the MiJfi: of a nume- rous Army advancing to the Battle ; or rather, could You place a Boat on the impetuous Catarads of the Nile; You would fee what is meant by the fignificant Word, (ru^?p^t-t 3. Cor, V. 14. -
O 2
1^6 Aspasio^oTheron. Let. io.
fays upon the Subje6l? One, who learned his Knov/ledge, not in the School of Philofophy, but on his SAVIOUR'S Bofom. I'Jois is the Love ej GODi that we walk after bis Commandtnents *. This is the natural Fruit, this the certain Evi- dence, of Love to that glorious, tranfcendent, and adorable BEING. What ? Not that We fupinely negle6l, much lefs that We profanely violate, his facred Precepts ; but that with A{- fiduity and Delight, We make them the P.ule cf our Conduct. — Charity edijieth -f- : this Di- vine Love, far from razing the Foundations, far from demolifliing the Stru6lure, buildeth lip % the fair Fabric of univerfal Godlinefs.
Let me borrow an Illuftration from your own Leter. When a Pebble is caft into the fmooth Canal, it moves the Center, and forms a Circle. The firft creates a fecond : the fecond breaks into a third : they continue to multiply and expand themfelves, till the whole Surface is covered with circular Undulations. Thus, the Love of an all-gracious REDEEMER |(, when ficd abroad in the Soul by the HOLT
GHOST,
* 2john-ver. 6. f 2 C^r. viii. i. ij OixcxJ'o/aej.
jl I cannot but think, the Reafoning is much more juft, and the Principle much more efficacious, in Afpafio\ Maa- ncr of ftating the Affair, than in the following famous Lines :
Sclf-loz'c hut f ewes the virtuous Mind to wakey As thefmall Pebble Jiirs the peaceful Lake : The Center mov'd^ a Circle Jirait fucceeds, JwtberjVdli andjlill amtber fpreads,
Friendy
L^t. 10. AsPAsio /(3 Theron. 197
GHOST*, will diffufe itfclf through every intelle6lual Faculty, and extend to every Spe- cies of Duty. Till the whole Heart is filled with the Image, and the whole Bthaviour re- gulated by the Law, of the bleiTed GOD.
So that I am perfuaded, there is a great deal of Truth and Solidity, as every One muft acknow- ledge, there is a peculiar Spirit and Beauty, in the Apoftrophe of our Poet s
I'alk they of Morals ? O thou bleeding Love I Thou Maker of new Morals to Mankind, The grand Morality is Love of THEE -f.
You
Friend, Parent, Ne'tghhour, firjl it will cmhrace. His Country next, and next all human Race : Wide and more wide tlj Overflowings of the Mini Take every Creature in of every Kind.
Self-love too often a6ls on the Affeclions, as a BJaft on the Leaves, Jhrivels and contrails them. But the Love of CHRIST, like a vernal Sun on the tender Buds, opens and expands them ; till they become wide, as the Extent of his gracious Redemption ; wide as the Compafs of his rational Creation. — By Self-love I am almoft necefiarily determined to malign the Pcrfons, who crofs my Inclinations, and ob- ilrud my Interefts. From the Love of CHRIST, I have a cogent Reafon, and a moft prevailing Inducement, to love my very Enemies. — How does St. Peter analize this Subject:? Not in Mr. Pope's, not in Lord Bolingbroke\ Me- thod. Godlinefs, or a fupreme Love to the gracious GOD, He reprefents as the Root or Trunk : then brotherly Kindnefs^ or an afFe^lionate Regard to Relations, Friends, Neighbours, as fomc of the grand and mafter Branches : after this C/'i?- rity, or a difFufive Good-will to all Mankuid, as the Sprea-i of Boughs, which complete and adorn the Tree. 2 Pet. i. 7. * Ro/n. V. 3. t Night-Thoughts^ N" IV.
03
jgS AsPASio to Theron. Let. lo.
You mentioned the LoadfionCy as moft fig- nally and moft extenfively ferviceable in the ica-farins: Bufinefs. Such is Faiths fo efhca- cious, in praclical Chrijlianity. — This, perhaps, You think a fcanty and defcclive Principle. The Property of fliewing the northern Part of the World, may feem equally mean and incon- fiderable. But as the one is the very Soul of Navigation, the other is the very Life of Ho- linefs. — It is fomevv^hat like the Stone, which the Babylonian Monarch fav^ in his Dream, cut frofn the Rock without Hands *. Which, though defpicable to human Appearance, was mighty in Operation 3 deftroyed the fuperb Statue j became a great Mountain, and filled the whole Earth. Thus will Faith exert and difFufe its kindly Energy j to every Corruption, that it may be fubdued i to every Virtue, that it may be cherifhed,
Faith is a real Perfuafion, That the blefled JESUS has fhed his Blood for me, and fulfil- led all Righteoufnefs in my (lead: that, through this great Atonement and glorious Obedience, He has purchafed, &vQT\for my fmful Soul, Re- conciliation with GOD, fan6lifying Grace, ^nd every fpiritual BlelTmg -f*.
When
^^ Dan. ii. 34.
t This IDefinition of Faith may poflibly, at the firft View, ftartle and alarm even fome pious People. But if they pleafe to take it in ConncSlion, with that Explanation and Adjuft- fnent, which are delivered in the ywr/^^w//; Dialogue, I hope,
all
Let. 10. AsPAsi o /(? Theron. 199
When the ALMIGHTY funk the Cavities of the Ocean, and replenifhed them with the liquid Element, He provided an inexhauftible Source of Moiflure, for the Refrefliment of every Animal, and the Nutriment of every Ve- getable. In like manner, where-ever He works this true Faith, He plants the Seed of imive?'" fal Holinefs, and provides for the Propagation of every Virtue. This Perfuafion of the Divine Good-will, overcomes our natural Relu61ance, and excites a fervent Defire, to pleafe our molt merciful FATHER. This Experience of the abundant Grace of CHRIST'^ attrafts and af- fimilates the Soul j turning it into his amiable Likenefs, " as the Wax is turned to the im- " printed Seal." — What will be the Language of fuch a Perfon ?
" Did my exalted MASTER empty Himfelf " and become poor, that his moil unworthy " Servant might be filled with all the Fidnefs of " God * ? And fliall not I chearfully deny my- " felf the expenfive Pleafures of the World, " that I may have fomewhat to beftow on
" his needy Children ? Has the Death of
" CHRIST, as a Punifhment, fatisfied the moil " rigorous Juflice for my Sins ; as a Price, has
" it
all Caufe of DifTatisfadion or Surprife will vanifli. The Sen- timent, I hope, will be found, not only comfortable for the Siimer, but agreeable to Scripture i and truly unexaptioful'lf, as well as highly defirable. * Eph. iii. 19.
O 4
2CO AsPAsio /<? Theron. Let. 10.
" it redeemed me from every Evil -, and, as a '' Sacrifice, made my Peace with GOD Moft *' High ? And fliall I not, by thefe Mercies of *' my dying LORD, be induced to prefent all *' the Members of my Body, and all the Fa- " culties of my Soul, as a living Sacrifice * to " his Honour ? To be employed in his Service,
" and refigned to his Will ? Do I believe,
" that my SAVIOUR has not only refcued me ^' from Hell, but eftabliflied my Title to all " the BleJJings included in the Promifes, and " all the Felicity laid up in Heaven ? And can '' I negle6l to feek thofe invaluable BlefTings, or -** forbear to afpire after this immenfe Felici- " ty ? Can I be fo ungrateful as to affront, fo " infetifible as to forget, the infinitely beneficent
" Procurer of both ? Am I perfuaded, that
" the Prince of Peace is entered into Glory as *' my Forerunner -f*, and has prepared Manfions " of Blifs for my final Reception ? And fliall I *' not follow Him thither in my Hopes and ** my Affections ? Be as a Pilgrim below, and ^* have my Converfation above ? — Is not this ** a moft fweet and efi'e6lual Method of gain- ** ing my Heart; and if my Heart, then all ^* my Powers, to his blefled Self ?"
Such, my dear T'heron, will be the EffeBs of Faith. Therefore, it is not in vain, much lefs Xo the pifcouragement of real Virtue, that the
Scrip- f ^om. xii, I. f Hel>, vi. 20,
Let. 10. AsPASio to Theron. 201
Scripture lays fuch a Strefs upon Faith : fo fre- quently urges the Importance and Necefllty of Faith : reprefents Faith, as the principal Work of the Divine SPIRIT, and the great Inftru- ment of receiving Salvation. Becaufe it is a fure, a fovereign Means oi purifying the Heart *,
and never fails to work by Love '\. Was
Faith, as fome People are apt to imagine, like a Candle put under a Bufhel, or like the Lamps that burn in Sepulchres ; it would then be an infignificant Labour to inculcate it, and no better than an empty Flourilh of Words, to celebrate it. But nothing is more certain, than that Faith is a vital^ an operative^ a vi5iorious Principle.
CHRIST IS a Store-houfe of all Good. Whatever is neceflary to remove our Guilt, whatever is expedient for renewing our Na- ture, whatever is proper to fit Us for the eter- nal Fruition of GOD, all this is laid up in CHRIST. ■ All this is received by Faith, for Application, Ufe, and Enjoyment. — Accord- ingly, when Zacchem believed. He com- menced a new Man : his Bowels yearned with Companion : the rapacious Publican became a Father to the Poor J, and a Friend to the Needy in his Diftrefs. — When the Macedonia ans BELIEVED, how eminently was their Spi- rit ennobled, and their Practice improved!
Though f 4^s xy. ^. t Gal V. 6. X Lnke xix. %,
202 The RON io Aspasio. Let. lo.
Though prefled with Afflictions, their Souls overflowed with Joy ; and even in the deepeft Poverty, they fignahzed themfelves by the Abundance of their Liberahty *. — When the jirji CowoerU believed, the Change in their Behaviour was fo remarkable, the Holinefs of their Lives fo exemplary j that they won the Favour, and commanded the Refpccl, of all the
People '\. In fhort j it is as impoffible for
the Sun to be in his meridian Sphere, and not to diffipate Darknefs, or diifufe Light -, as for Faith to exift in the Soul, and not exalt
the Temper, and meliorate the Conduft.-
That my dear Theron may be ejlablifiedm Faith, may encreafe in Faith, may abound in Faith, is the moft affeftionate Wifli, that Thought can fuggeft, or Friendftiip adopt. May his Faith therefore be eftablifhed like the Mountain- Oaks } enlarge like the progreffive Stream ; till it fwells and fpreads like the overflowing Flood + !
I
* 2 Cor. viii. 2. Here is, efpecially in the Original, as fine an Antithefn^ perhaps, as ever was penned. Since my Jaft Notes were fo copious, I fhall forego the Pleafure of particularizing the Beauties of this Claufe. I leave it to the Lover of facred Literature, to admire the Apoftle's Ex- preflion, to be charmed with the Spirit of the Macedonicm Believers, and to derive Edification from both.
f A6ls ii. 47.
\ Thefe Images We may venture to ftyle beautiful, be- caufe they are borrowed from the Apoftle ; ^fSatB/xEvoi £u th •srfr£». Col. ii. 7. 7n-po>to7rri thj suTiui, Phil. i. 25. v^sTE^au^avjt 7] TTjpf. 2 Thejf. i. 3.
Let. II. AsPAsio to Theron. 203
I intended to have clofed my Letter, and confirmed my Point, by a very memorable Storv. But however your Patience may perfevere, my Time fails, and my Hand is weary. The next Pofl, if nothing unexpe6led intervenes, fhall bring You the Sequel. May it, when brought to my Friend, be as a Nail fafteiied in a jure Place, and give the Rivet of Conviction to all thefe important Truths ! — In the mean Time, or rather at all Times, I remain
Cordially and invariably TourSy
A s p A s I o.
LETTER XI.
AsPAsio to Theron,
. Dear Theron,
F^ AIT H in the imputed Righteoufnefs of JESUS CHRIST is a fundamental Prin^ ciple, in that invaluable Syftem of facred and divine Philofophy — the Gospel. By which the HEAVENLY TEACHER is continually training up Millions of rational and immor^ tal Creatures, for the true Perfedion of their
Nature -,
204 AsPAsio fo Theron. Let. II.
Nature j for the final Fruition of their GOD 5 or, in other Words, for a State of confummate Happinefs and everlalting Exaltation. — In this- School, may You and I be humble Students, and daily Proficients ! While Others are ambi- tious of glittering Diftin6lions, and founding Titles, may it be our higheft Aim, our great- efl Glory, to anfwer the Charadler — of Be- lievers ! By this Chara6ler, the fupreme LORD diilinguifhes his chofen People, and denomi- nates the Heirs of Salvation. This Charac- ter Hands faireft in the Book of Life, and
brighteil in the Annals of Eternity. This
Character, hov^ever negle6led or difefteemed among Men, will be remembered and had in Honour, when the pompous Names of State/- ?nan and Generalijjimo are known no more.
As Faith is of fuch fmgular and extenfive Efficacy in genuine Chriftianity, methinks, I would have all our Meditations terminate on its glorious Object, and be calculated to invi- gorate fo beneficial a Principle. — When we re- fle6l on that flupendous A61, the Creation of the World out of Nothing ; let Us remem- t)er, it was HIS A61, who obtained eternal Redemptiojifor Us. When we contemplate that immenfe Theatre of Wonders, the Heavens and their fliining Hofts ; let Us not forget, that they are all HIS Work, who brought in everlajiing Right eouf?iefs for Us. — Do We turn
our
Let. II. AsPASio /(? Theron. 205.
our Thoughts to the Ocean, that fpacious and magnificent Canal, which covers more than half the Globe ? It was formed by H/aS Word, and is obedient to HIS Will, who loved Us and wafied Us from our Sins in his own Blood. Do We take a View of the Earth, that grand and inexhauflible Magazine, which furnilhes fuch a MultipHcity of Conveniencies, for fo many Minions of Creatures ? It is all HIS Property, and wholly at HIS Difpofal, who e?nptied'^ Himfelf for pur Sake, and had not where to lay his Head. — For thus faith the infpired Philo- fopher ; thus faith the Oracle of Faith 3 All *I'hings were made BT Hi^n^ and FOR Him.
The great CREATOR has enriched this ha- bitable Globe with a Profufion of Good. He has adorned it with a Variety, an Order, and a Beauty, which are perfe6lly charming. He has ennobled it with a Dignity, a Sublimity, and a Grandeur, which are at once delightful and aftonifliing. In all this, Reafon cannot but difcern a clear Manifeftation of Power, a bright Difplay of Wifdom, and a rich De-
monflration of Benignity. -But will the
CREATOR himfelf vouchfafe to be made Flefh, on Purpofe that He may obey and die for his guilty Creatures ? This is what, nei- ther the utmoft Penetration of Men, nor the very fuperior Intelligence of Angels, could ever have demonftrated, difcovered, or con- ceived,
J Exivwfl-fv wvTpi', Phil, ii, 7.
2o6 AsPAsio to Theron. Let. ii.
ceived. This exceeds whatever the Elements have produced, v^hatever the Sun has beheld, as much as the Extent and Magnificence of the planetary Syftem exceed the Dimenfions
and the Furniture of a Shepherd's Hut.
To reveal this, is the blefled Peculiarity of the Gofpel. To know this, is the diftinguifh- ing Prerogative of a Believer. To apply this, to dwell upon this, to conneSf this with all our Obfervations of the Univerfe, fhould be our favourite and habitual Employ. This will improve Wonder into Devotion, and raife the Delights of Science into the Joy of Salvation. This will render every philofophical Specula- tion a Strengthener of our Faith ; and make the various Scenes of Nature, a Guide to
Grace, and a Step to Glory. When this is
done, then all Things attain their proper End ; and as they are by CHRIST, fo they are /or CHRIST.
But I forget myfelf, my Bufmefs, and my Promife. I am to eftablifli the Point by in- conteftable Fa6l, not to embellifli it by loofe Harangue. With Pleafure I addrcfs myfelf to difcharge my Obligation j and exemplify, in a very memorable Inftance, the Power of Faith
on religious Pra6lice. From whence fliall I
fetch my Exemplification ? From the Memoii-s of the indefatigable Apoflle of the Gentiles ? Here I find one, moft concifely, and at the fame Time moft forcibly difplayed.
Jfter
Let. II. AsPAsio to Theron. 207
After thefe Thijigs were ended, fays the facred Hiflorian, Paul purpofed in the Spirit , when He had pajjed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to yerufalenij faying. After I have been there, I
mufi alfo fee Rome * Who can obferve, and
not admire, this plain unambitious Manner of relating a Series of Labours, the moft iig- nally fuccefsful, and moft extenfively ufeful ? Nothing in human Condu6l ever furpaffed the Greatnefs of the one, and perhaps nothing in hiftorical Compofition ever equaled the Sim- plicity of the Other.
St. Paul had already reduced Ephefas and Afta to the Obedience of CHRIST. Pie had already brought Macedonia and Achaia into Subje6lion to the Gofpel. He had long ago erected the Standard, and fpread the Triumphs of Chriftianity in the Regions of Arabia. Yet, as if He had hitherto atchieved nothing, He bends his Forces towards Jerufalejn. Then he marks out Ro?ne for the Seat of his fpiritual Warfare. After this, he forms the fame be- neficent Defign upon Spain : including, in his comprehenfive Plan, the Metropolis and the Boundaries "f of the World. — The Univerfe is
but
* y^^s xix. 21.
t Spain was then fuppofed to be the Boundary of the Wejiern^ as the Ganges was reckoned the Extremity of the Eajiern World.
Omnibus in Terris qua funt a Gadibus ufque Auroram ^ Gangen, Juv. Sat. x.
2o8 AsPAsio /o Therom. Let.lii
but jufl large enough, to be the Scene of his Adion ; and He never difcontinues the chari- table Campaign^ but with the lail Breath of his Life.
Whicli of your Alexanders^ which of your CcefarSy v/hich of all the Heroes celebrated in Grecian or Roman Story, can vie with the Zeal and Magnanimity of this poor, defpicable Tent-maker ? So poor^ that he was conftrained to work with his own Hands, for a Morfel of Bread : fo defpicable^ that fometimes He had fcarcely Clothes to cover his Nakednefs, and was frequently treated as the OfFscouring of all Things. Notwithflanding all thefe Dif- couragements, what did He not attempt, what did He not accomplifli, for the Honour of his MASTER, and the Good of his Fellow- creatures ? He embarks in a Shallop j He
has neither Shield nor Spear ; yet he pur- pofes to command the Ocean, and conquer the Globe. What Greatnefs of Soul was here ! He experts * nothing but Poverty, Contempt, and Death J yet his Heart is big with the Hope of enriching, ennobling, and faving Ages and Generations. What Benevolence of Spirit was this ! Should you inquire, con- cerning this illuilrious Champion of the Crofs 3 Who were his potent Auxiliaries ? None but the Divine SPIRIT. — ^^What were his mighty
Weapons ? * J^s XX. 23.
Let. ir. AspAsio ^^Theron. 209 Weapons ? Nothing but the Word of Grace. Whence proceeded his intrepid, his enter- prizing, his all-conquering Refolution ? On- ly from Faith, a lively Faith in yESUS CHRIST.
This, I think, is a fufficient Confirmation of my Do6lrine. Neverthelefs I have ano- ther Inftance to produce. One that was ex- hibited in an Age, when the glorious Objedl of our Faith, fhone with dim Lullre, and with diftant Beams. Yet it may juftly be ad- mired, and will hardly be eclipfed, by the moft inlightened among the Chrijiian Saints.
To keep You no longer in Suipence, the
Cafe I mean, is that which Mofes records, and the Apoftle celebrates. By Faith Abrahanty when he was tried^ offered up Ifaac : and He that had received the Promifes, offered tip his only be- gotten Son^. — As this is fo fmgular an Exam- ple of the efficacious and triumphant Opera- tion of Faith ; unequaled in any Nation of the World, or under any Difpenfation of Re- ligion i You will give me leave to dwell a little on fome of its marvelous Circumftances.
Abraham was an eminent and difllnguifhed Servant of the Mofl High GOD. Favoured with peculiar Manifeftations of the Divine Will, and dignified with the honourable Title
of
_ * Hcb, xi. 17.
Vol. III. P
210 Aspasio/oTheron. Let. ii.
of his maker's Friend*. Yet even this Man, is harafled with a long Succeflion of Troubles ; and, which was reckoned in thofe Ages the moft deplorable Calamity, goes child- lefs •^.
Long He waits, worfhiping GOD with the mofb patient Refignation. At length, an Oracle from the LORD gives Flim Hope, gives Him AfTurance of a Son. Joyfully he receives the Promife, and refts in humble Expeftation of its
Accomplifhment. Several Years run their
Rounds, but no pleafmg Infant prattles in his Arms, or is dandled upon his Knees. At lafl, the Handmaid becomes pregnant. But what a DiJ- appointment was here ! This is the Son of the Bond-woman, not of the free.
How affli6ling the Cafe of this excellent Per- fon ! His Kinsfolk and Acquaintance fee their Olive-branches, flourifliing round about their Tables. Even his ungodly Neighbours have Children at their Defire, and leave the Refidue of their Subflance for their Babes. But Abra- ham, the Worfhiper of the ALMIGHTY, the Favourite of Heaven — this Abraham is de- ftitute of an Heir, to fupport his Name, to
pro-
* 2 Chron. xx. 7. Ifai. xli. 8.
t There was fo much Gall in this Calamity, that it embit- tered every other Species of Happinefs. Vilited by this Af- fliction, the Patriarch could tafte no Joy in his late fignal Viflory \ all his worldly Profperity was infipid ; and He feems to have been incapable of relifhing any other Comfort \ JFhat tv.'It Thou give mcy feeing I go cbildlefs ? Gen. xv. 2.
Let. 1 1. Aspasio/(?Theron. 211
propagate his Family, and inherit the Bleffing. — O the Straits ! to which the BeUever is fome- times reduced ! How does a fovereign Provi- dence try his Faith, as it were in a Furnace of Fire ! Not that it may be confumed, but
efined, and come forth with augmented Luflre; to the Praife of ever-faithful ^ all-fufficient Grace.
G O D is pleafed to renew the Giant, and afllire Him more expHcitly, That Sarah fliall have a Son. But this Notice comes at a very late Period in Life ; when Sarah is advanced in Years, and too old, according to the Courfe of Nature, to conceive. However, the pious V2itv\.2LVch.Ji aggers ?iot through Unbelief -, but hopes even againft Hope * .? — Is it improbable ? Is it difficult .? Nay, is it to all human Appearance impoffible ? So much the fitter for the Exer- tion, and fo much the more proper for the Dif- play of Almighty Power.
At laft, the Gift, fo earnellly defired, is
vouchfafed. Sarah has a Child a Son an
Ifaac. One who fhould be a Source of Confo- lation and Delight to his Parents j fliould fill their Mouth with Laughter -f-, and their Tongue with Joy. — With tender Care, doubtlefs, this pleafant Plant is reared. Many Prayers are put up, for his long Life, and great Happi- nefs. The fond Parents watch over Him, as
over
* Rom. iv. 18, 20.
t Pfah cxxvi. Z, This is the Im^^ort of the //f^r^Name Jfaac.
P 2
212 AspAsio to Theron. Let. ii.
over the Apple of their own Eye. I'heir Life
is bound up in the Life of the Lad. He
grows in Grace, as he grows in Stature. So amiable is his Temper, and fo engaging his Behaviour, as could not fail of endearing him even to a Stranger ; how much more to fuch indulgent Parents, after fo long a State of Barrennefs, and fo many Expeclations fo fre- quently fruftrated.
Now, methinks, we are ready to congratu- late the happy Sire; and flatter Ourfelves, that his Tribulations have an End. That the Storms, which ruffled the Noon of Life, are blown over; and the Evening of his Age is becoming calm and ferene. — But let not Him that girdeth on his Har?iefsj boajl Himfelf, as He that ptitteth it off'^. Our Warfare on Earth is never accompliflied, till We bow our Head, and give up the Ghoil. The fliarpefl fevereft Trial is ftill behind. GOD, the fupreme and uncontroulable GOD, demands the Child. 'Tis the divine Will, that He make his Exit, juft as He arrives at Manhood. — " Abraham ^ " where now are all thy pleafmg Profpedls ? *' How often didft Thou fay, in thy fond de- *' lighted Heart ; T^his fame jlmll comfort JJs con- " cerning our It rouble -f*. Many have been my Sor" " rows i but this Child Jhall dry up my T'ears, and *' bri?ig me to my Grave in Peace. — Alas ! This
** lovely
* 1 Kings XX. II, t G^w. V. 29.
Let. II. Aspasio/^jTheron. 213
*^ lovely Flower is to be cut down, in its ful- " left Bloom. All thy fliining Hopes are over- " caft in a Moment."
Abraham * s fays GOD Abraham knows
the Voice. It was the Voice of condefcending Goodnefs. He had often heard it with a Rap- ture of Delight. — Inftantly He replies, " Here " / am. Speak, LORD i for thy Servant is all " Attention." Hoping, no doubt, to receive fome frefh Manifeftation of the divine Good- will to Himfelf and his Family 5 or fome new Difcovery of the Method, in which the divine Wijdom would accomplifh the Promife, that all the Nations of the Earth Jhoiild be blejjed i?i
Him. Take thy Sow, and might He not rea-
fonably expect, that, fnice his Son was advanced to Years of Maturity, He fiiould be direfted, how to fettle Him in the World with Honour and Advantage ; where to find a virtuous and fruitful Partner of his Bed? He is com- manded,
* The Sentence, with which the infpired Hiflorian intro- duces this affecting Narrative, is unhappily tranflated in our Bibles ; CD^'^I1^^ HN* HDJ GOD did tempt Abrahmn. — This Expreflion feems, more than feems to clafh with the Do£trine of St. Ja7nes, chap. i. ver. 13. And cannot but found harfh to thofe Ears, which have been accuftomed to under- ftand by Tempter and Tanpting^ Perfons utterly odious, and Pradices extremely pernicious. — Whereas, the true and na- tural Signification of the Original is, He tried or explored. GOD founded the Depth, and meafured the fieight of his Servant's Faith j in order to erect an Everlafling l\lonument of the victorious Efficacy of this divine Principle ; and exhi- bit an illuftrious Pattern to all them, who fhould hereafter believe.
P 3
214 Aspasio/^jTheron. Let. II.
manded, not barely to take his Son, but his 077ly Son -y his Son Ifaac ; whom He lo'ved. How muft thefe afFe6ling Images awaken all that foft Complacency, and all that tender Triumph, which are known only to the fond feeling Heart of a Parent ! Mull: not fuch an Introduction, fo remarkably endearing, heigh- ten his Expectation of fome fignal Mercy, to be conferred on the beloved Youth ^ and would it not render the Bleffing peculiarly acceptable,
more than doubly welcome ? Was He not
then fhartled ? Was he not horribly amazed ? When, inftcad of fome renewed Expreflion of the Divine Favour, He received the following Orders. 1'ake now thy Son — thy only Son — Ifaac — whom 'Thou loveji — and get thee into the Land of Mori ah, and offer Him therefor a Burnt -Of •- feringy upon one of the Mountains which I will tell thee of*. — Was ever MefTage fo alarming ? Each Word more piercing to parental Ears, than the keenefl Dagger to the Heart. Every Claufe brings an additional Load of Mifery^ till the whole Command fwells into the moil ac- cumulated and aggravated Woe.
Abraham, take thy Son. Who, but Abra- ham, could have forbore remonftrating and
pleading, on fuch an Occafion ? Ananias,
being charged with a Commifilon to Saul the Perfecutor, takes upon Him to argue the Cafe
with
* Ccn. xxli. 2.
Let. II. AsPAsio/t?THERoN. 215
with his Almighty SOVEREIGN. LORD, I
have heard by Many concerjiing this Man, how much E'uil He hath dojie to thy Saiftts at yeru- falem j and here He hath Authority from the chief Priejis, to bind All that call upon thy Name *. Sure, it can never be fafe or expedient, to prefent myfelf voluntarily before Him 3 who came hither breathing out Threatenings and Slaughter againfl me. What is this, but to court Danger; and run, with open Eyes, into Ruin ? — Thus Ananias : and, with how much greater Appearance of Reafon, might Abraham have replied ?
" LORB, Shall I lofe my Child ? Lofe Him, *' almofl as foon as I have received Him ? " Didfl Thou give Him, only to tantalize thy " Servant? Remember, gracious GOD, the " Name He bears. How fhall He anfwer its " chearing Import ? How fhall He be a Source " of Satisfaftion to his Parents, or the Father " of many Nations, if Thou takeil Him away " in the midft of his Days ? ^ " If Sin lies at the Door, let me expiate the " Guilt. Let thoufands of Rams, let every " Bullock in my Stalls, bleed at thy Altar. " My Wealth, blefled LORD, and all my " Goods, are nothing in comparifon of my " Ifaac, Command me to beg my Bread, to ^' be ftript of all my PofTeffions, and I will P 4 " blefs
* J^six. 14.
2l6 ASPASIO to T HERON. Let. II.
" blefs thy holy Name. Only let my Child, " my dear Child, be fpared.
" Or, if nothing will appeafe thy Indigna- " tion but human Blood, let 7ny Death be the **' Sacrifice. Upon me be the Vengeance. I " am old and grey-headed. The befl of my ** Days are pail, and the befl of my Services " done. If this tottering Wall tumbles, there " will be little, or no Caufe for Regret. But, " if the Pillar of my Houfe, and the Founda- *' tion of my Hopes — if He be fnatched from *^ me, how fliall I endure to live ? Or what " Good will my Life do me ? O my Son ! my " Son ! would GOD I might die for ^hee *.
" If it mufl be a blooming Youth, in the *' Prime of his Strength, be pleafed, mofl mer^ " ciful^ O D, to fetch it from fome fruitful ** Family. There are thofe, who abound in " Children. Children are multiplied unto them, " and though many were removed, yet would " their Table be full. There are thofe, who ** have Flocks and Herds ^ whereas, I have " only this one little Lamb -f- ; the Solace of " my Soul, and the Stay of my declining Years. " And fhall this be taken ^way, while all thofe *' are left?"
Yes, Abraham j it is thy Son, and not An- other's, that is marked out for the Vidlim. — What Diflrefs, had He not been fupported by
Faith,
* 2 ^ams xviii. 33. t 2 ^am, xii. 3.
Let. II. AsPAsio to The RON. 217
Faith, what exquifite Diflrefs miift have over- whelmed this affedionate Parent ! How could He refrain from crying out, and with a Flood
of Tears ? " If the Decree cannot be re-
" verfed ; if it mufl be the Fruit of my own " Body; O! that Ifimael, the Son of the
" Hand-maid How fliall I fpeak it ? My
" Heart bleeds at the Thought ; at the Thought " even of his expiring Agonies, and untimely " Death. But as for IfaaCy the Son of my *' beloved Spoufe, the Son of my old Age, " the Crown of all my Labours — I fliall ne- " ver furvive fuch a Lofs. The Blow that " goes to his Heart, mufl be fatal to Us " both.
" Yet, if He mtiji die, and there is no Re- medy ; may He not at leafl expire by a na- " tural Diflblution ? May not fome common " Diflemper unloofe the Cords of Life, and " lay Him down gently in the Tomb ? May " not his fond Mother and myfelf feat his " clofing Eyes, and foften his dying Pangs by " our tender Offices ?" — No, Abraham, Thy Son muft htJJaughtered on the Altar. He fhall have no other Bed of Death, than the Pile of hewn Wood ; no other Winding-lheet, than his own clotted Blood. The facriticing Knife, and not any common Difeafe, fliall bring
Him to his End. And think not to fatisfy
thy forrowing Fondnefs, by paying Him the
laft
cc
2i8 Aspasio^oTheron. Let. II.
lafl Honours of a decent Interment. It is my Pleafure, that He be cut in Pieces j confumed to Afhes ; and made a Burnt-offering, So that nothing (hall remain, to be preferved, or em- balmed. It fhall not be in thy Power to footh thy Grief, by reforting to his Grave, and weeping at his Sepulchre, and faying. Here lies Ijaac,
" But if all mufl be executed -, GOD grant, " thefe Eyes may never behold the difmal *^ Tragedy ! If my Ifaac muft be bound Hand " and Foot for the Slaughter ; if He muft *' receive the Steel into his Bofom j and welter " in his own innocent Blood j Heaven forbid, " that I fliould behold fo killing a Spectacle."
Even this Mitigation cannot be granted. Thou muft not only be an Eye-witnefs of his Agony, but be the Executioner of thy Ifaac, Thy Hands muft lift the deadly Weapon ; thy Hands muft point it to the beloved Breaft; thy own Hands muft urge its Way, through the gufhing Veins, and fhivering Flefli, till it be plunged in the throbbing Heart. GOD will not permit the Work to be done by Ano- ther. The Father, the Father muft be the Butcher.
Is not the wretched YdiXhcr Jliimied and thun^ derjiruck .^ Does He not ftand fixed in Horror, and fpeechlefs with Grief. What Words can be mournful enough to exprefs his Sorrows ?
Let. II. AsPAsio to The RON. 219
—Unheard of, fliocking Affair ! Nature re- coils at the very Thought ! How then can the
beft of Fathers perform the Deed ? How
fhall He anfwer it to the Wife of his Bofom,
the Mother of the lovely Youth ? How can
He juftify it to the World ? They will never be perfuaded, that the GOD of Goodnefs can delight in Cruelty, or authorize fo horrid an
A6lion. Will they not take up a taunting
Proverb, and fay at every Turn ? " There " goes the Man, the Monfter rather, that " has imbrued his Hands in his own Son's " Blood ! This is He that pretends to Piety ; " and yet could be fo favage, as to aflaffinate, " cooly and deliberately affaffinate, a good, a " duteous, an only Child !" — Might not Thou- fands of fuch Refle6lions croud into his Thoughts, and rack his very Soul ?
But G O D is unchangeable. Pofitive is his Word, and muft be obeyed. Obeyed imme- diately too. Take now thy Son. The LORD's Command requireth Speed. No Time is to be loft, in bidding Adieu to his Relations, or in fruitlefs Supplications for revoking the
Doom. Nay, cheat-fully as well as inftantly
muft this Command be fulfilled. The great JEHOVAH expe6ls Alacrity in his Service. — Prodigious Tryal indeed ! Yet not too great for a Faith, which the Divine SPIRIT infufes, ^nd the Divine SPIRIT fuftains.
The
2 20 AsPAblO/^THERON. Let. II.
The Patriarch knew full well, that Obedi- ence is no Obedience, unlefs it be willing and chearful. Therefore He confults not with Flefli and Blood. He is deaf to the Arguings of carnal Reafon, and regards not the Yearn- ings of paternal Affeftion. Without a mur- muring Word, without a Moment^ Delay *, He fets forward on his Journey. Not fo much as betraying the leaft Uneafinefs, to alarm his Wife i nor heaving the leaft Sigh, to furprife
his Attendants. And canft Thou, Abraham^
can ft Thou perfift in thy Purpofe } Can thy Heart firmly refolve, can thy Hand fteadily execute, this inexpreflibly fevere Talk .^ Moft triumphant Faith indeed ! Defervedly art Thou ftyled, The Father of the Faithful^, Thy Faith is ftronger than all the Tics of Affe6lion j ftronger than all the Pleas of
Nature, or all the Terrors of Death
even of a Death, far more dreadful than thy own.
And now muft He travel, during three tedi- ous, and One would think, moft melancholy Days. With his Ifaac conftantly before his Eyes ', with the bloody Scene continually in his Apprehenfions j and nothing to divert his Mind, from dwelling on every bitter Circum- ftance, and all the grievous Confequences. —
On
* For it is written, He arofs early in the Morning, Vcr. 3. f Ro?n, iv. 18.
Let. II. AsPASIO/oT HERON. 221
On the third Day^ Abraham lifted up his Eyes, and beheld afar off' the appointed Place. His Servants are ordered to keep their Diflance j while Himfelf with the Fire and the Knife in his Hands, and his Son with the Burden of Wood on his Shoulders, proceed on their Way, and afcend the Mountain. — Who does not pity the fweet Youth, toiling under that Load, which muft foon reek with his Blood, and foon reduce Him to Afhes ? — Mean while the intended Vi6lim, wondering to fee all thefe Preparations made, and no proper Animal near, afks this pertinent Queflion , My Father, behold the Fire and the Wood ! But where is the Lamb for a Burnt -off ering"^ — Sure, this endear- ing Speech, which difcovered fuch a Know- ledge of Religion, and fuch a Concern for its Duties, muft roufe the Father's Anguifh, and fliake his Refolution. How can He be the Death of fo much Innocence, and fo much Piety ?
Faith overcomes all Difficulties. Unmoved and inflexible, the Prophet replies ^ GOD will provide Himfelf a hamb for a Burjit-offer^
ing, my Son. Methinks, I fliudder, as We
draw near the direful Cataftrophe. The Altar is built : the Wood laid in Order : all Things are prepared for the folemn Sacrifice. — And now the Father addreffes Himfelf to the fatal Bufinefs, — It does not appear, that the amiable
and
2 22 Aspasio/oTheron. Let. 1 1,
and pious Youth rcf.fled or gainfayed. He had Strength enough to oppofe, and Speed enough to efcape *. But fmce his CREATOR called, He was content to go. Neverthelefs, that the Work of Defliny might be fure, and no one Circumflance relating to a Sacrifice omitted, Abrahmn binds his Soji.
I have known a ftubborn Malefa6lor, quite imalarmed, when fentenced to the ignomini- ous Tree ; not at all imprefTed, with all the Reprefentations of eternal Judgment ; yet, when a Perfon came to meafure Him for his Coffi?!^ the hardened Wretch was hard no lon- ger. He ftarted ; turned pale , and trembled
in every Joint. Even fuch a Circumflance
makes no ImprefTion on Abraham j neither al- ters his Purpofe, nor changes his Countenance. He meafures his Ifaac j meafures thofe Limbs, which He had fo frequently and fo tenderly carefTed; and if not for the Coffin, yet for
immediate Slaughter. Having bound Him,
bound Him for the Sword and for the Flame, He lays Him upon the Altar on the Wood. There, now, lies Ifaac j the dear, the dutiful, the religious Ifaac I Abraham's Joy ; Sarah's Delight i the Heir of the Promifes ! There
He
* According to the Hiftory of "Jofephus, Ifaac was, when He ofFered himfelf to the Slaughter, about twenty-five Years old. Others think, his Age was thirty-three ; which makes Him more exadtly refemble his fuhrenng LORD. Either Account will jullily Jfpafia\ Suppolitioa,
Let.ii, AsPAsio /o Theron. 223
He lies, all meek and refigncd 3 expecting, every Moment, the Stroke of Death to fall. — O Parents ! Parents ! Do- not your Bowels yearn ? Is not Humanity itfelf diflrefled at the Scene ? Say, thou who art a Father, what thinkefl Thou of Abrahams Obedience ? Couldfl ThoUj tofuch a Son, have 2i3it(lfucb
a Part ? See ! the Father, relblute to the
very lafl, unflieaths the murdering Blade; makes bare the innocent Bofom ; and marks the Place, where Life may find the fpeediefl Exit. His Heart is fixed I He ftretches his Arm J and now, even now is aiming the mor- tal Blow — When — rejoice O ye Worfliipers of a gracious GOD ! Break forth into Singing, Ye that are in Pain for the tried Parent ! The LORD Almighty interpofes, in this Article of extreme Need *. The Angel of the Covenant fpeaks from Heaven, and with-holds the wil- ling
* Upon this moft feafonable Interpofition, the infpired Hiftorian makes a very judicious and edifying Remark. "Which feems to be greatly obfcured, if not intirely fpoiled,! by our Tranflation; In the Mount of the LORD it Jhall he' feen. I muft confefs, I have always been puzzled to find, not only a pertinent Senfe, but any Senfe at all, in thefe Words. Whereas, the Original is as clear in its Signifi- cation, as it is appofite to the Purpofe. — Hi*?"!' TWTV "IPH In the Mount the LORD willbefecn^ q. d. Tiiis memorable Event gave rife to, at leaft is an eminent Exemplification of, that proverbial Expreflion, which is commonly ufed at this Day. In the Mount of Difficulty, or in the very Cii- fi3 of Need, when Matters Yeem to be irretrievable and dcf- perate, then the LORD appears as a prefent Help. Man's Extremity is GOD's Opportunity. See Gin, xxii. 14.
224 AspAsio /^ Theron. Let.ii,
ling Hand, in the very A61 to flrike. GOD, who only intended to mamfefl his Faith, and make it honourable^ bids Him defift. GOD applauds his Obedience ; fubftitutes another Sacrifice in Ifaacs ftead j renews his Covenant with the Father j and not only reprieves the Life of the Son, but promifes Him a numer- ous and illuflrious Ifllie. Promifes to make Him the Progenitor of the MESSIAH, and thereby a public Blefling to all the Nations of the Earth.
Tell me now, 'T'herojij was there ever fuch an aftonifiiing Effort of Obedience ? Such a perfe6l Prodigy of Refignation ? Yet THIS
HATH FAITH DONE *• If you fliould
alk,
* Heb. xi. 17. By Falth^ Abraham, when He ivas ir'iedy
offered up Ifaac. The Faith, of which fuch glorious
Things are fpoken, to which fuch admirable Atchievements are aicribed, throughout this whole Chapter, was a Faith in " the Seed of the Woman," the promifed MESSIAH. — Or, could it be demonftrated (which, I will venture to conclude, is impoflible) that, in all thefe heroic Inftances of Obedience, fo nobly defcribed by the eloquent Apoftle, there was no believing Regard to CHRIST; no Apprehen- fion of his unfpcakable Love ; no Application of his tran- fcendent Merits ; our Argument would not lofe its Force, but ftrilce with redoubled Energy. For, if a Belief in very inferior Manifeftations of the divine Goodnefs, Faithful- nefs, and Power, wrought fo efficacioufly on thofe anticnt Worthies ; how much more vidorioufly muft the fame Principle a£l, under far brighter Difplays of all the fupreme Perfcdions, in the Perfon of JESUS CHRIST!— I would only add, that fo long as this Chapter remains in the Bible, it will lurnilh an unanfwerable Confutation of thofe Objcc-
tionsy
Let. II. Aspasio/<?Theron. 225
afk, How was it poflible for Abraham to per- form all this, in the Manner defcribed ? The Anfwer is obvious. Becaufe, Abraham believ- ed ; or, in other Words, was fully perfuaded, that the GOD, who had given Him this Son from the barren Womb, was able to raife Him again from t\\^ fmokhig * Aflies. As the fame GOD, who required this Sacrifice, had expreily declared. In Ifaac Jhall thy Seed be called , the Patriarch doubted not, but in a Way knov/n to infinite Wifdom, he would certainly accom- plifh the Promife. Pience he made no Difpute, and felt no Reluftance. His Faith banifhed every uneafy Apprchenfion, and neither Fear nor Sorrow had Place in his Bread. By Faith He was enabled, fpeedily and chearfully, with- out fo much as a parting Tear -f-, to obey this unparalleled Precept.
And
tions, which fuppofe the Dodlrine of Faith to have an un- kindly Influence on reHgious or virtuous Pradlice. Againft all fuch Cavils, it will Ji and faji for ever more as tl^e Mooriy and as the faithful JVitnefs in Heaven.
* He feems to have expected not only the certain, but the immediate Reftoration of hh flain Son. That he v/>^uld be revived on the very Spot j before He left the Place ; fa as to accompany his Return. For, he fays to his Servants, not /, but fFe will go, and worfliip, and return. HliTl^J Ver. 5.
f This Account, is fo very extraordinary, that I (hall not be furprifed, if the Reader finds fome Difficulty in giving hi$ Affent to it. Efpccially, as He may have accuftomed Him- felf to form very different Conceptions of this remai kablc Af- fair; and may poffibly be confirmed in a different Train of
Vol. III. - Q^ Ideas,
226 ASPASIO to T HERON. Let. II,
And if all this, which would other wife have been utterly impracj^icable, was wrought by Faith ; You need not fufpccl, of Wcakncfs and Injufficiency^ fo approved a. Principle. Far from enervating, it will invigorate every good Dif- pofition; and inftead of damping, will give Life to every religious Duty. — Cherifh Faith, and You will of courfe cultivate Obedience. Water this Root, and the Branches of univerfal
God-
Ideas, by feeing a Reprefentation of the Story in a celebrated Print. Where the Father appears, clafpinghis Son in a ten- der Embrace ; bedewing Him with his Tears i and fuffering as much througli Grief, as the devoted Youth is going to fufter by the Knife. — But the Engraver^ I apprehend, had not fo attentively examined the Circumftances of the facrcd Narrative, nor fo carefully compared them with other Paf- fages of Scripture, as a judicious, ingenious, and worthy Friend of mine. From whom I learnt to confider this won- derful Tranfa(ftion in the above-reprefented View. And I jnuft confcfs, the more I revolve it in my Mind, the more I am convinced of its Propriety.
I flatter myfclf, the Reader will be of the fame Opinion, if he pleafes to confult the Tenth Chapter of Leviticus. Where Nadah and Abibu^ the Sons of Aaron^ are devoured by Fire from before the LORD. Yet Aaron is not allowed to mourn, even at fuch a terrible and afflii5live Vifitation. And when, through the Frailty of human Nature, He could not wholly refrain. He durfl not prcfume to eat of the Sin-ofler- ing. Such Thing! ^ fays He, have befallen /w, if 1 had eaten of the Sir -offering, Jhould it have been accepted in the Sight of the LORDi* — Let me add, that we find not the leall Indica- tloii of fuch agojiizing Sorrow, nor indeed of a;/)' Sorrow at all, in the Hiftory as related by Mofes. Neither could Abraham have been a proper Tvpe of the eternal FATHER, making his onlv begotten SON a Sacrifice for Sin, if He had not of- fered Him wilFnigly. And indeed to olTcr willingly, feems to have been abfolutely nccefjary in every acceptable Oblation. Sec 2 Cor, ix. 7.
Let. II. As PAS 10 to The R 0 1^. 227
Godlinefs will aflliredly partake the beneficial Effe6ls ; will fpread their Honours, and bring
forth their Fruits. Through the Power of
Faith, the Saints have wrought Righteoufnefs, in all its magnanimous and heroic A6ls. — The Do^rine of Faith is called by St. PW, A Doc- trine according to Godli?iefs * ; exquifitely con- trived to anfwer all the Ends, and fecure every Intereft of real Piety. — The Gi-ace of Faith St. jfude ftyles, Our mofl holy Faith -f- ; intimating, that it is not only produ6live of Holinefs, but that the moil refined and exalted Holinefs arifes from" this Stock.
Let Us then be diligent to obtain, and care- ful to increafe, Faith in JEmS CHRIST. Let Us maintain the fame zealous Solicitude for this leading capital Grace, as the renowned Epami- nondas expreifed for his Shield. When that gallant General was, in an Engagement with the Enemy, llruck to the Ground ; his Soldiers carried him off, breathlefs and fainting, to his Tent. The very Moment he opened his Eyes, and recovered the Ufe of Speech, he alked — not whether his Wound was mortal ? not whe- ther his Troops were routed ? But whether his
Shield was fafe ? May We be enabled, my
dear Friend, to keep our Shield fafe ! May We. htjlrong, hcfieady, be lively in Faith! Then, I doubt not, We fhall give Glory to GOD, re- ceive
* I Tim, vi, 3. I Jude 20.
Q2
228 AsPAsio /(? The RON. Let. 12.
ceive Comfort to Ourfelves, and abound in the Works of the LORD.
Nothing can be more pertinent to my Pur- pofe, than the Apoftle's Prayer ; That We may know what is the Hope of our Calling in CHRISI* yESUSy and what is the exceeding Greatnefs of his Fewer to themward who believe. And nothing can be more exprefjroe of the very Soul of
Tour affectionate
Asp A SI o.
LETTER Xn.
Aspasio/^Theron.
T is very probable, while I am reading yours, You are perufmg mine. But how unlike is my Friend to the Reprefentation He receives ! How unlike the fatisfied, unfufpe6l- ing, chearful Abraham ! Why this dejected Air in your Temper ? Why thofe penfive Strokes in your Letter ? — Let me anticipate your Re- ply, and make Anfwer to myfelf. This
Gloom, I truft, is a Sign of approaching Day. Jull before the Morning Dawn, the no^lurnal Darknefs is blackeft. And jufl before the Ap- pearance of the SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
the
Let. 12. AsPASio /£j Theron. 229
the Penitent's Diftrefs is frequently the deepefV. I promife myfelf, the Hour is at Hand, which will put off your Sackcloth y and gird Ton with Gladiiefs,
Another favourable Pi-efage is, That You take the dire6l and certain Way, to obtain fubflantial Comfort. The Righteoufnefs of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, after which You inquire, about which You are folicitous, is a never-failing Spring of Confolation. Becaufe it acquits from all Sin -, fecures from all Con- demnation J and renders the Believer unblam- able and unreprovable in the Sight of GOD. Therefore fays the HOLY GHOST, His Name is as Ointment poured forth * ; even that divinely precious Name by which He has been cele- brated in the preceding Epiftles 3 by which He is diftinguillied in the Scriptures of Truth -, by which, I hope. He will be more and more re- vealed in my Therons Mind THE LORD
OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. The Difcovery of Him under this moil amiable and glorious Ca- pacity, will indeed be like breaking open a Vial of the richeft Unguents. Which not only fill the Room, and regale the Senfe, with their delightful Fragrance j but refrefh the Spirits; and rejoice the very Heart.-- — -Might my Writ- ing, or my Difcourfe, be as the Alabafter-bcx to contain, to convey, and prefent thef; reviv-
ing
Cant, i, 3;
230 AsPASio to Theron. Let. 12.
ing Odours j how highly ihould I thmk my- felf honoured, and how fignally my Endea- vours blelTcd !
You afk, " How this Righteoufnefs of the
« Divine REDEEMER becomes ours ?" It
is a Queilion, which I receive with the utmoft Pleafure \ and, with equal Pleafure, fliall at- tempt an Anfwer. Or rather, as the SPIRIT of our GOD prompted the firfl, may the fame
unerring Guide fuggeft the laft ! This He
has abundantly done by his Prophets and Apoflles. So that I need only have Recourfe to their Writings, and colleft fome of the Hints, which lie treafured up in thofe Store- houfes of Wifdom.
There We are often told of Union with CIIRIST:, Believers are faid to be in CHRIST^, and to be one with CHRIST f .— What is ftill higher, and implies a greater Degree of Near- jiefs, They are Members oj his Body^ of his Flejh^
and of his Bones J. And, which denotes the
moft intimate Connexion imaginable, They that are joined to the LORD JESUS, are one Spirit II with Him ! — As thefe Expreflions ap- peal* dark, and their Senfe lies deep, it has pleafed our all-condefcending INSTRUCTOR to illuilrate them, by a Variety of fignificant Types, and lively Similitudes. This Remark
very
* Coh \. 2. t Hah, ii. it, % E^h,v, 30,
)!__! 6V. vi. 17.
Let 12. Aspasio/oTheron. 23 j
very opportunely reminds me of an Engage- ment, which, fome Time ago, I undertook to execute, but have hitherto omitted — -To make it evident, that the blefied Doclrine, for which We have been pleading, is deducibk from feve- ral Scripture Images. A flicrt Delcant upon fome of the principal, will, I hope, at once difcharge my former Obligation, and fatisfy your prefent Inquiry.
This was fliatiowed forth by the coftly, odo-' riferous, flowing Unguent, which was poured upon Aaron % Headj and ran down upon his Beard, and defce?ided to the Skirts * of his Cloth- ing, So, the Merits of our great HIGH- PR I E S T are derived down to all the Faith- ful ; even thofe of the meaneft Station in Life, and the lowefl: Attainments in Religion.
Was it not typefied by that inilruclive Vi-
fion, which the Prophet Zechariah faw ? I have
looked^ and behold I A Candle/lick all of Gold ^ with
a Bowl upon the T'op of it^ and his feven Lamps
thereon^ and feven Pipes to the fe-ven harrips,
which
* Pfal. cxxxlii. 2. What We render Sh'rfs^ is, in the Original, VDIID *3 27;^ Mouth, or, as the Word is tranf- lated (Job XXX. i8.) The Collar of his Garments. It is hardly fuppofeable, that the confecrating Oil fiowed down to the very Bottom of the facerdotal Veftments. But it might probably reach the upper Hem, or the Opening round the Neck ; what the Greeks call i^i^ili^x'xr.Xiov — This Senfe will fufficiently preferve the Gradation ; The He ^d; the Be.vd ; the Clothes. Which feem to denote CHRIST, his more ad- vanced Saints, and Believers gf a lower Clafs.
<V4
232 Aspasio/oTheron. Let. 12.
which were upon the T'op thereof: And two Olive- trees by it, one upon the right Side of the Bowl, and the other upon the left Side thereof; which, through two golden Pipes, empty the golden Oil out of thcmfehes *. The Bowls and the Lafjips were a proper Emblem of Behevers : who are, by Nature, dry Veflels, and deflitute of all Good j yet fliould fhine as Lights, in the midft of a crooked and perverfe Generation. — The Olive- Jrees, arrayed in Verdure, and abounding with Sap; always emptying themfelves, yet ever full ; are a very juft Reprefentation of CHRIST, of his unchangeable Love, and his inexhaufl- ible Grace. — The golden Pipes, through which the Olive-branches tranfmit their Oil, feem to be figurative of Faith, in its various and re- peated A6lings. By means of which, the un- fpeakable Benefits of a REDEEMER are com- municated to our Souls, and replenifh thele empty Bafons,
Another Type the Apoflle mentions. The firft Adcun, He fays, was a Figure of Him that was to come -f-. So eminent a Figure, and cor- refponding in fo many Inftances, that He flyles our LORD JESUS the lafi Adam t And why ? Becaufe, like the firft, He was a Cove- nant-head to his People, and tranfa6ted in their Stead, Infomuch, that what He did, and
what
* 7aechar/\v, 2, 3, 12, | Rom.v. 14.
t I Qqx, XV. 45.
Let. 12. AsPAsio to Theron. 233
what He fufFered, is placed to their Account. Is Adams Sin imputed to all his natural Off- fpring? So is CHRISTs Righteoufnefs to all
his fpiritual Seed. The Confequences of
both, render the Doctrine more plain, and the Truth more undeniable. All Men are judge dy condemned y dead^^ doomed inevitably to the Death of the Body, and juftly liable to the Death of the Soul, on the Score of Adam's TranfgrelTion. All Believers are acquitted, jiif- tifiedy faved \ j faved from the firft Death, and made Heirs of the Refurreflion j faved from the fecond Death, and intitled to Life eternal 5 by virtue of CHRISTs Obedi- ence.
This Union with CHRIST, was not only prefigured by Types, but is difplayed by a Va- riety of Similitudes, taken from the moft fa- mihar Occurrences of Life. By which it ap- pears, that our Divine MASTER would have Us live under the habitual Belief of this mo- mentous Truth, and in the co7iftant Enjoyment
. of this diftinguifhed Privilege. You cannot
vifit a Friend, or view your Children ; You cannot enter your Garden, difcourfe with your Spoufe, or contemplate your own Body, with- out a Reprefentation and a Remembrancer of this precious BlelTing.
CHRIST * Rom,.\, J5, 16, t Rom. y. 19, 21.
234 AsPAsio to Theron. Let. 12.
CHRIST fays to his Difciples, Henceforth I call Tou not Servants but Friends *, Friends are a fecond Self -f-. St. Paulj fpeaking of Onejimus, ufes this remarkable Phrafe, Receive Himj as Myfelf-j and which is ftill more emphatical, Re- ceive hi?n, that is mine own Bowels J. CHRlST^'s Friendfliip muft affuredly be of the mofl ten- der and exalted Kind. It muft be equal, it muft be infinitely fuperior, to Jonathans. — Jo- nathan loved David as his own Soul. But CHRIS'T loved Sinners with a Love ftronger than Death. They were dearer to Him than his own ineftimable Life. — Jonathan expofed Himfelf to imminent Danger, in vindicating David's Condu6l. JE S US furrendered him- felf to certain Death, in making Reconcilia- tion for our Offences. Jonathan interceded
once and again with his Father in David's Be- half. CHR IS'T ever liveth to make Intercef-
fion for TranfgrefTors. Jonathan Jiripped
Hifnfelf of the Robe that was upon Him, and gave it to David, and his Gartnent, even to his Sword, and his Bow, aiid his Girdle ||. Our REDEEM- ER, without ftripping Himfelf, has clothed Us (fuch is the Prerogative of a Divine Per- fon!) with the Robe of his Righteoufnefs, and with the Garment of his Salvation. He
has
■* yohnxv. 15.
t Horace calls Virgil^ Anhna Dlmidiutn ?nea,
X Phium, 13, 17. H I Sam, xviii. 4*
Let. 12. AsPASio io Theron. 23^
has configned over to Us all the Merit of his holy Life and propitiatory Death.
CHRIST ftands related to his People, not as a Friend only, but as a Parent. He is called by a Prophet, THE EVERLASTING FA- THER* i and \¥e are faid, by an Apoftlc, to be his Children f . — Children look upon them-, felves, as interefted hi the Wealth of their Pa- rents. They expeft, and not without reafon- able Ground, to reap Benefit from it, while the Parents live j and to become Poffeffors of it, when they die. Accordingly the Father fays in the Gofpel ; Sojty all that I have is thine J. — Since the high and holy I M M A N U E L vouchfafes to be our FATHER, can we fup- pofe Him lefs generous than an earthly Pa- rent ? Or that his Children fhall have lefs to hope, than the Heirs of an earthly Progeni- tor ? Doubtlefs, We may, We ought to regard all his communicable Goods, all the Benefits refulting from his meritorious Sufferings and
perfe6l Obedience, as our Portion. Efpeci-
ally, fmce He is the Teftator || alfo j has be- queathed them to Us by Will -, and, having fubmitted to Death, they become legally ours.
/ am the Vine, fays our LORD, Te are the Branches §. They that believe, are ingrafted into CHRIST, — Take Notice of a Cyon. What
are
* Ifai. v\, 9. t Heb. il. 1 3. X Luh XV. 31,
Ij Heb.'ix. 1 6. § John-HY,^,
23^ AsPAsio ^^ Theron. Let. 12.
are the Confequences of its Ligrafture f It is embodied with the Subflance of the Tree, and partakes of its Fatnefs. The Sap, attracted by the Root, circulates into it 3 gives it vege- table Life J fills it with Buds, decks it with
BlofToms, and loads it with Fruit. If then
we are one with CHRIS 1^, as much as the Branch is one with the Stock, it muil follow, even upon the Principles of common Experi- ence, that his Wifdo?jt is ours, to inlighten Us ; his Right eotifjiefs is ours, to juftify Usj his Spi- rit is ours, to fan6lify Us ; his Redemption is ours, to make Us completely and eternally happy.
CHRIST IS united to his People by a Tie, clofer and dearer than the parental. They are not only his Children, but his Spoiife. He is often called their Bridegroom, and is not afliamed to avow the tender Engagement : I ivill betroth Thee to Me for ever; yea, I will be" troth Thee unto me i7i Right eoiifnefsy and in fudg- ment, and in Loving-kindnefs^ a7ui in Mercies. I will even betroth Thee imto Me in Faithfulnefs *. The condefcending GOD multiplies, diverfiiies, accumulates his Words. And this, with admir- able Propriety, as well as furpafling Good- nefs. The Honour is {o highy and the Favour fo great y We fliould hardly know how to be- lieve it, and hardly venture to apply it. Left
there-
* //^/.xi, 19, 20.
Let, 12. AspAsio /(? Theron. ^37
therefore, by a fmgle Expreffion, it ihould not be fufficiently eflablifhed, it ftands ratified by repeated Afieverations, and with all the Energy of Language. So that, be the Grace ever fo aftonifliing, We are aflured, the Fa6l is equal- ly certain ; He that is our MAKER, is alfo our HUSBAND *.
Let Us confider what follows, upon fuch an Union. We may take for an Example, the Cafe of Boaz and Ruth. Soon as their Nup- tials were folemnized, fhe that was poor, be- came rich : from a Gleaner in the Field, fhe commenced Mijirefs of the Harveft : and, from abiding by the Maidens, had a Seat at the Ma- iler's Table. — And if we are united to CHRIS'T by a Marriage Contrail, the fame Efte61s will take place. We that were poor, are rich in Him. We,v\^ho had Nothing, pofTefs all Things in CHRIST. We that dwell in Duft, are made to Jit together with our divine HUSBAND in heavenly Places -f*.
If you choofe fome modern Exemplifica- tion, what can be more pertinent, than the remarkable Inflance of your Neighbour Art- etta? She was lately left a Widow, by the dif- folute and extravagant Bellario. Her Circum- flances miferably embarralTed, and the little Eflate deeply m.ortgaged. Her Friends looked fhy, and her Creditors became clamorous.
Every * IJaU liv. 9, t Eph, ij. 6.
238 AsPAsio to Theron. Let. 12.
Every Day made fome new Difcovery of Debts, contra6led by the Deceafed j and the Affairs of the Survivor appeared, every Day, with a more
melancholy Afpedl. But, having won, firft
the Compaflion, then the Affection, of the wealthy and illuftrious Philander-, how hap- pily is the Face of Things altered ! All her Debts devolve upon Him, and all his Dignity is derived to Her *, He flands refponfible, for whatever She owes : and She is a Sharer, in whatever He pojfejfes. Though little lefs than ruined by her late Hufband, She is more than reftored by her prefent ; and has Reafon to re- joice in his Affluence, and to glory in his Ho- nours. Have not We alfo Reafon to rejoice
in our heavenly BRIDEGROOM ? Since a far more glorious Exchange fubfifts between Him and his myflical Spoufe. He has bore the Ciirfe^ that We may inherit the Bkjfing, Sifi was charged on Him, that Righteoufnefs might be imputed to Us. In a Word 5 He has fu- ftained all our Miferies, that He might impart to Us all his Benefits. Has the Law any De- mand? It mufl go to Him for Satisfa6lion. Have We any Wants ? We may look to Him for a Supply. TO H I M, T^hcron, in whom it
has
* IJhi Tu Qiiusy ibi Ego Ca'ia, was the Romon Maxim." Agreeably to this Rule, which has obtained among all civi- lized Nations, the Scripture calls the Church by the Name of her divine Hnjband. Compare Jtretn. xxiii. 5, 6, wi^l^ ,7'-'- rem. ^ycxiii. 15, 16.
Let. 12. Aspasio^<?Theron. 239
has f leafed the FATHER, that all Fulnefi JJmild dwell *.
If any Thing can exprefs an Union, more intimate and infeparable than the conjugal, it is that of the Members with the Head. And this Image is ufed by the HOLY GHOST, to fhadow forth the Connection between CHRIST and the Faithful. He is the Head over all Things y with refpe6l to Rule and Supremacy j but a Head of Union and Influence, with Refpeft to
the Church -j-. The Head and the Members
conftitute one natural Body ; CHRIST and his Church compofe one myftical Body. What Kindnefs is done, what Injury is offered to the Members, the Head regards them as done to itfelf. Accordingly, CHRIST fays to the outrageous Satily who made Havock of the Church ; Saul J Saul, ivhy perfecufefi Thou ME J ^ He declares, concerning thofe indigent Chrijli" ans, to whofe Neceffities We adminifter Re- lief; Inafmuch as Te have done it unto them, Te
have done it unto ME ||. The Animal Spirits
formed in the Head, are formed for the Bene- fit of the whole Body, and defigned for the Ufe of all the Members. So the Righteoufnefs wrought by JESVS CHRIST, is wrought out for his whole myftical Body, and intended for the Advantage of all his People; to be the
Caufe
* Col \. 19. t Eph, i, 22. X Mt, ix. 4,
U -Matt, xxy. 40. .
240 A S P A S I O /O T H E R O N. Let. 1 2 *
Caiife of their Juftification, and the Purchafe of their Salvation.
Being then fo nearly related, fo clofely unit- ed to the bleffed JESUS, it is no Wonder, that Believers are now loved with the fame fatherly Love, and will hereafter be Partakers of the fame heavenly Glory. — What might We not expecl from the Divine REDEEMER, if He vouchfafed to acknowledge but one of thefe en- dearing Names ? Since He is related to Us by till the Ties of Affinity and Affeftion; may We not promife Ourfelves, and with the Af- furance of Hope, every good Thing ; Even all the Fulnefi of GOD * our Saviour? — Does not each of thefe tender Relations, fubfifting be- tween CHRIST and his Saints, imply an in- tire Property in one another, and a mutual Participation of all that belongs to either ? My Beloved is mi?ie, and I am bis, is the undoubted Effect of this divine Union.
How pleafmg, yet how amazing theThought! Shall We, who fay to Corruption, Thou art my Father ; and to the Worm, Thou art my Mo- ther ajid my Sifter % -, fhall IFe be permitted to fay, concerning the HEAD of all Principality and Power, fp'^e are Members of his Body, of his
Fleftj, and of his Bones || f What a Mercy
might
*Epl\ iii. 19. ty^^xvii. 14. || Ej>h. v. 30.
Let. 12. AsPAsio /o Theron. 2ii
might We efteem it, not to be'confounded be^ fore a MAJESTY fo exalted and fublime ! What a Favour, to obtain the leafl propitious Regard from the KING immortal and invi- fible ! What an Honour, to be admitted into his Family, and numbered among the Mean- eft of his Servants !— But to be his adopted Children ; to be his efpoufed Bride ; to be the
Members of his facred Body To have HIM
for our everlafting Father, HIM for the Bride- groom of our Souls, HIM for our heavenly Head', who is the MAKER of all Worlds, and the Objed of Worfhip to all Creatures I What Words can duly celebrate, w-hat Heart can fufficiently admire, the Condefcenfion and the Love of our adorable JESUS? Or who can juftly queftion the Fruits of fuch a Fcl- lowfliip, and Confequences of fuch an Union? Queftion them ! No, the Fruits are as infallibly fure, as the Privilege is inexpreflibly great.
Let me once again introduce a great and venerable Witnefs of both thefe Truths. " La- " ban fpake high, when He faid j Thefe ChiU *' dre?2 are mine, and all thefe Things thou feefi " are mine. But how high and glorious is *' that, which may be faid of a juftified Per- " fon ! All thou heareft of CHRIST is thine; " his Life is thine, his Death is thine, his Obe- '-' dience. Merit, Spirit, all thine'*." Rich
and * See Dr. Lightfooth Works, Vol. 11. p. 1077.
Vol. III.- R
242 AsPASio to Theron. Let. i2r
and important Words ! Than which nothing can give Us ajufler or fuller Explanation of the Apoflle's AfTertion, We are Partakers of CHRIST'*; We are complete in CHRIS'tf. When fome foreign Ladies, of the firfl Qua- lity, paid a Vifit to Leonidass Queen ; the Talk turned upon their rich Clothes, their cofl- ly Jewels, and fplendid Equipage, After they had feverally difplayed their own Grandeur, they inquired after her Majeily's Finery. What She had to diftinguifh Her from the Vulgar ?
-She replied. My illujirioiis Hujba?id
+ .
What elfe ? My illujirioiis Husband. And as
often as They repeated the fame Queftion, She returned the fame Anfwer. — Could this Queen fpeak in fuch admiring, rejoicing, felf-gratu- lating Terms, of her royal Confort ? And fliall not vile Sinners look upon their RE- DEEMER— that all-glorious, yet all-conde- fcending Bridegroom ; who is full of Grace and Truth, full of Merit and Righteoufnefs
fhall not they much more look upon HIM
as their Honour and their Joy ; the Obje6l of their Dependence, and the Caufe of their Boafling ?
I
* Heh. jii. 14. t Col ii. 10.
% The amiable and heroic Panthea exprefles Herfelf in much the fame Manner, concerning her gallant Hufband Abradatci ; 2j yce.^ (i/.oi'ys /"-eJ'ij"©^ KOirfJ^os £«r)j. Xenoph. Cyrcpisd. Lib. VI.
Let. 12. AsPAsio to Theron. 24^
I fhould find it difficult to refrain from the farther Profecution of fo engaging a Topic, did I not propofe to wait upon You very fpeedi- ly. Then I fhall have an Opportunity of pouring into your Bofom all the Fulnef? of my Heart, with regard to this delightful Sub- je6t.- — ^\\\ the mean time, let me exhort my dear Friend to be of good Comfort. Hea'^i- nefs may endure for a Night, but Joy comet h in the Morning*, This Sorrow of which You complain, may be the Seed of fpiritual and eternal Confolation.
While I am writing, there appears full in my View, one of the finefl: Rainbows, I ever beheld. // compaffeth the Heaven with a glorious Circle ; fo glorious, that it is no Difparage- ment of the Almighty CREATOR, to fay, the Hands of the MOST HIGH have bended it \, — On what Foundation, would I afk, is that beautiful and (lately Arch raifed ? From what Source,- do all its radiant and lovely Co- lours fpring ? It is raifed on a gloomy AfTem- blage of Vapours ; and all its rich Tinctures fpring from a louring Cloud.— Thus does the bleffed GOD, on a Con virion of Guilt and a Senfe of Ruin, fpread Faith, paint Holinefs, and diffufe Gladnefs. May all thefe, e'er long, .
arife in my T^herons Bread ! And each be
bright,
* Pfal, XXX. S' t Ecdus. xliii. I2,
R 2
244 AsT Asio to Theron. Let. i f'
bright, as that refplendent Bow lofting^ as
the Sun that creates it !
In the mean time, it is the ardent Defire of my Soul, and fliall be my frequent Prayer to GO D, ^hat both our Hearts may be comforted^ beins' knit together in Love, unto all Riches of the full Aff'urance of JJnderfianding *, in this great Myftery of GodHnefs. — What Vigour of Ex- preffion, what Exuberance of Ideas, and, above all, what diftinguifhed Privileges are Here ! — AJjiirance — Full AfTurance — Riches of the full Ailurance — All Riches of the full Af- furance of Underftanding — in reference to our Union with CHRIST, and its unutterably pre- cious EfFefts ! — Can the Orator exprefs more ? Can the Sinner wifh for more ? Can the Saint, I had 'almoft faid, can the Archangel enjoy more ? — May this be the Portion of my dear Theron, and of
His ever fait hf id
A S P A S I 0.
* Col. il 2.
D I A-
DIALOGUE XV.
S P A S I O had taken Leave of his Friend CatnilhiSj and was come to revifit Theron. Whofe Thoughts fcemed to be in a State of much Fluctuation, and no fmall Anxiety. Hoping, that fome proper Converfation on the Grace and Privileges of the everlafting Gofpel, might compofe and comfort his Mind. Might, while his Heart was foftened by humbling Convictions, fix the Stamp of genuine Chrifti- anity; and deliver his whole Soul into the Mould* of evangehcal Religion.
men
* Deliver into the Mould —T\iii, is the literal Tranflation, and exact Senfe of St. PauH Phrafe ; Ek oy Trapsi^wOrli t^ttos SiSx-/jf,i:. Ro?n. vii. 17. — Which, as it contains a beautiful Ailufion^ conveys alfo a very injiru^ive Admoyition. Inti- mating, that our Minds, all pliant and duiflile, fiiould be conformed to the refined Precepts of the Gofpel, as Jiqui'l Metals take the Figure of fome elegant Mould, into v/hicb they are caft*
R3
i246 D I A L O G U E XV,
TVJcen Sorrow wounds the Breajiy as Ploughs
the Glebe, And Hearts obdurate feel her fof tuning ^howr^ Her Seed celejiial then glad Wijdom fows : Her golden Harvejis triumph in the Soil,
He arrived pretty late in the Evening ; and, being fomewhat weary with the Journey, foon
withdrew to his Repofe. The next Morn^
ing, as ^heron walked abroad, to tafle the cool Delights of the Dawn ; He was agree- ably furprifed, by meeting Afpafw.
i'her. So foon awake, my worthy Friend ! And after fo much Fatigue on the preceding
Day !' 1 had not the lealt Expe6lation of
your Company, till Breakfaft. Then indeed
I promifed myfelf a double Regale The
Refrefliments exhibited on the Table ; and thofe wholefome Words of our LORD JESUS CHRIST*y which, more precious than Man- na, drop
A/p. How, Theron ! — Have you alfo learnt thofe foothing Arts, which polifli the Speech, to deprave our Sentiments ? Could I have fuf- pe6led the inchanting Wiles of Flattery, from my fincere, my tried, my bofonl Friend ?
^her. Your Friend is itill fuicere, and his Words are very remote from Flattery, — How welcome to the windbcund Mariner, weary
with 5 I Tim. y'u 3;
DIALOGUE XV. 247
with Expectation, and fick with Difappolnt- ments, is the Vifit of a propitious Gale ! How welcome to the Fields, parched with Drought, and gafping for Moifture, are copious Show- ers of Rain ! How acceptable to the Ifraelitesy traveling through the inhofpitable Defarts, and pining away for want of the Fruits of the Earth, was the miraculous Supply of
heavenly Bread ! Yet, neither propitious
Gales to the wind-bound Mariner, nor copi- ous Showers to the thirlly Soil, nor heavenly Bread to the famiflied i/rW/V^j, could be more welcome, than your late Converfation, and later Correfpondence, to my anxious Soul.
Afp. Why I thought you looked upon my Notions as chimerical. Is I'heroji alfo become credulous ? Like one of Us weak-headed Be- lievers ! Has He quitted the Strong-holds
of Reafon ? Is He vanquiflied by the Sling- ftone of Faith ? Or can He fubmit to this ftrange Method of Salvation, by embracing the Righteoufnefs, and relying on the Obedience of Another?
T:'her. I find, my Reafon was a feeble Guide ; or I myfelf not faithful to its genuine Dic- tates. I was blinded with Prejudice. I was intoxicated with Pride. A vain Conceit of my moral Powers betrayed me, as I fear it has betrayed many, into a Contempt of the evangelical Righteoufnefs. I held, what I R 4 thought
248 DIALOGUE XV.
thought an Honour to human Nature. I now retra6l my Opinion. My true Glory and real Happinefs I would derive from the bleffed
JESUS. — No more Banter, ^Jpa/w : Have
done : — I am ferious, and very much in ear- ned. So much in earnefl, that if all my Ac- quaintance of the Pharifaical Turn, or all my Brothers of the Smile, fliould rally me on the Subje6li I would frankly acknowledge my Error, and as freely fign my Recantation.
Jfp, My dear T'heron^ I applaud your Refo- lution. You have no more Caufe to be afliam- ed of fuch a Pra6lice, than Philip had to be aihamed of the Imperfection in his Limbs. When being obferved to go lame, with a Wound received in Battle, he had this Confo- lation fuggefted by one of his Courtiers : " Ne- " ver blufli, my royal Sir, for a Defe6l, which " puts You in mind of your Valour^ every *' Step You take." — To facrifice our Preju- dices, in the Search of Truth, is no lefs ho- nourable, than to be marked with a Scar, in the Defence of our Country.
I beg Pardon for my Pleafantry. Since you are fo very ferious, a gay Air was quite unr feafonable. — You cannot often complain, that J am guilty of this Fault. Nor can You eafily imagine, the Satisfaction I fhall enjoy ; if, dther my Letters, or my Difcourfe, have ad- iniaillered any Advantage to my Friend. I
Ihall
DIALOGUE XV. 249
iliall note it down, among the diftinguifhed Blefllngs of my Life j and have an additional Obligation, to love the beneficent AUTHOR of all Good.
But, as I cannot be a Furtherer of your Happinefs, without the greateft Delight j fo I cannot be a Witnefs of your Solicitude, without a painful Regret. You mufl: therefore permit me to afk the Caufe of that unufual Vehemence^ I obferve in your Speech -, and of that deep Concern^ which I read in your Countenance.
T^her. I have been confidering very atten- tively. What is the prefent State, and what is likely to be the ^;?^/ Condition of my Soul.
. My Hopes and Fears
Start up alarmed; and o'er Life's narroivVerge Look down — on what 1 Afathomlefs Abyfs^ A vajl Eternity !
My Sinsy at the fame time, like an armed Hofl, are fet in dreadful Array, and furround
me on every Side. Jujiicey like an injured
and incenfed Foe, unfheaths the Sword, and
makes a loud Demand for Vengeance. No
Righteoufnefs of my own prefents itfelf, to
which I may fly for Refuge. The Method
of Salvation, in which I formerly confided, is a Bridge broken down 5 and leaves me, without ^ny Poffibility of Efcape, abandoned to the approaching Enemy.
To
250 D I A L O G U E XV.
To a Perfon in fuch deplorable Circum- flaiices, how reviving, how delightful, is the very Thought of being interefled in the great REDEEMER'S Righteoufnefs !— I don't won- der now at a Saying of Luther s j which I have fometimes exploded, as llrangely extra- vagant: " That, upon theDifcovery of this glo- " rious Righteoufnefs, the Gates of Paradife " feemed to fly open before Him, and the ^^ Dawn of Heaven was all in view."
Talking in this manner, they capie to an elevated Terrace. Which, about an Hour be- fore, had been lliaved by the Scythe, and emitted all the Frefhnefs of new-mown Herb- age. On one Side, a fine Champaign Country
ftretched its wide Dimenfions. — On the other, a Flower-Garden exhibited the laft Ornaments of the Year. — Here, You might ft ill fee the tufted Vermilion, and the full-blown Ivory, glittering through Spangles of liquid Ciyftal.
There, You might trace the Footfteps of
the early Cattle, by many a recent Print on
the dewy Lav/n. On the Vl^alls and Efpali-
ers, Autumn had fpread her Stores j and was beginning to beautify their Rinds with many a ruddy Streaky or to breathe over their glofTy Skins her delicate and inimitable Bloom.
Afp. See, faid Afpafio, the Wifdom and Be- nignity, which, in amiable and infeparable
Con-
DIALOGUE XV. 251
Conjunftion, difplay themfelves through the whole Oeconomy of the Univerfe ! GOD has made every I'hing beautiful in his ^ime * j every Thing ferviceable in its Place. A little while ago, the flowery Meads delighted our Eyes, and the melodious Birds charmed our Ears ; now, the tafleful Fruits are preparing th^ir Dainties 5 and prefenting Us with a Collation, to regale our Palate, — The whole Earth, and all the Seafons, are rich with our CREATOR'S Goodnefs, Yea, the whole Earth, and all that replenifhes it, all that furrounds it, are full of his Prefence. He^ HE it is, who
Warms in the Sun^ refrejhes in the Breeze^ Glows in the Stars, and bloffoms in the Threes ; Lives through all Life ^ extends through allLxtent^ Spreads undivided, operates unfpent.
An habitual Belief of this Truth, gives Na- ture her lovelieft Afpe6l, and lends her the mofl confummate Power to pleafe. The Breath of Violets, and the Blufh of Rofes ; the Mu- fie of the Woods, and the Meanders of the Stream j the afpiring Hill, the extended Plain, and all the Decorations of the Landfchape 5 then appear in their highell: AttraClives 3 then touch the Soul with the moft refined Satisfac- tion J when G O D is feen — when G O D is
heard — and GOD enjoyed in all
—Is
252 DIALOGUE XV.
— Is Ihcron lofl in Thought, and de- prived of Speech ? Is He alone filent, while all Things fpeak their MAKER'S Praife? — Does Faith throw a Shade over the Works of Crea- tion ? Does it not heighten their Beauties, and enliven their Graces ? — The religious is the only true Philofopher ; and the Pleafures of Imagination never acquire their proper Re- liili, till they are ripened by the Exercife of Devotion. With this View then, lince my Friend forbears, let me attempt to fpeak : not to increafe his Knowledge, but to cherifh Faith, and cultivate Devotion in Us both.
The fpacious Canopy * over our Heads, is painted with Blue; and the ample Carpet un- der our Feet, is tinged with Green. Thefe Colours, by their foft and chearing Qualities, yield a perpetual Refrefhment to the Eye -f*. Whereas, had the Face of Nature gliftered with White, or glowed with Scarlet ; fuch ardent and dazling Hues would, inftead of exhilarat- ing,
* If the Reader has Patience to go through the following Eflay, He will find it, in the liTlte, not altogether foreign to the main Subje6l. — If He pleafcs to confider it, as a kind of praCl'ual Comment^ on that lovely Celebration of provi- dential Goodnefs, Hh tcndtr Mercies are over all his TVorks — This may poflibly alleviate the Toil of perufing, and recon- cile Him to the Length of the Defcant.
^ Gay Green,
Thou fmllin^ Naturf's un'iverfal Robe !
United Li^ht and Shade ! Where the Sight dwellsy
With grcrwing Strength^ and iver-ncw Delight.
ThomfonV Spring,
DIALOGUE XV. 253
ing, have fatigued the Sight. — Befides ; as the feveral brighter Colours are interfperfed, and form the Pi6lures in this magnificent Piece i the Green and the Blue conflitute an admi- rable Groii?id, which fhews them all, in their highefl Lurtre, and to the utmoft Advantage.
Had the Air been confiderably gr offer, it would have dimmed the Rays of the Sun, and darkened the chearful Day. Our Lungs had been clogged in their vital Fun6lions : Men had been fuffocated, without the ftrangling Noofe J or drowned, without the overwhelm- ing Flood. — Was it feveral Degrees moxQfubtley Birds would not be able to wing their Way through the Firmaments 5 nor could the Clouds be fuflained, in fo attenuated an Atmofphere. It would elude the Organs of Refpiration : We fhould gafp for Breath, with as much Diffi- culty, and with as little Succefs, as Fifhes out of their native Element.
The Ground alfo is wrought into the moft proper Temperature. Was it of a firmer Con- iiftence, it would be impenetrable to the Plough, and unmanageable by the Spade. — Was it of a laxer Compofition, it would be incapable of fupporting its own Furniture. The light Mould would be fwept away by whirling Winds i or the oozy Globe foaked into Sloughs by the defcending Rains. — Becaufe, every Si- tuation fuits not every Plant ; but that which
is
254 D I A L O G U E XV.
is a Nurfe to one, often proves a Step-mother to others ; therefore, the Qualities of the Earth are fo abundantly diverfified, as properly to accommodate every Species of Vegetation. We have a Variety of intermediate Soils, from the loofe disjointed Sand, to the y^^cohe five Clay : from the rough Projedions of the o-aggy Clift, to the foftly fwelling Bed of the fmooth Par- terre.
The ^ea carries equal Evidences of a mofl: wife and gracious Ordination. — Was it larger^ We (hould want Land for the Purpofes of Pafturage, and the Operations of Hufbandry. We fhould be deftitute of fufficient Room for Mines and Foreftsj our fubterranean Ware- houfes, and our aerial Timber- Yards. — Was it f?nalkj'y it would not be capable of recruit- ing the Sky, with a proper Quantity of vapor- ous Exhalations ; nor of fupplying the Earth, with the neceflary Quota of fructifying Showers.
Do We not difcern very apparent Strokes of Skill, and the moft pregnant Proofs of Good- nefs, in each individual Obje6l ? In the various tenants of the Globe, and the feveral ApftiV" tenances of this great Dwelling ? — It is need- lefs to expatiate upon the more eminent and confpicuoiis Beauties ; all that fiines in the Heavens, and all th^t Jmiles on the Earth. Thefe fpeak to every Ear, thefe fliew to every Eye,
the
D I A L O G U E XV. 255
the adorable Munificence of their MAKER. — It is needlefs to launch into the Praifes of the Valleys, delicately clothed with Herbage ; or of the Fields, richly replenifhed with Corn. Even the ragged Rocks, which frown over the Flood J the caverned Quarries, which yawn amidft the Land ; together with the Moun- tains, th.oiQ fiapelefs and e?2ormoiis Protuberances, which feem to load the Ground, and incumber the Skies j even thefe contribute their Share, to increafe the general Pleafure, and augment the general Ufefulnefs. They variegate the Profpedl J raife an agreeable Horror in the Be- holder i and infpire his Breaft with a religious Awe. They add new Charms to the wide Level of our Plains j and fhelter, hke a Screen, the warm Lap of our Vales.
We are delighted with the folemn Gloom, and magnificent Afped, of the Foreil. One, who faw the Cedars of X^/;^«o??, was tranfported with Admiration, at their ample Trunks, and towering Heads j their diffufive Spread, and verdant Grandeur. Compared with which, the ftately Elm is but a Reed ; and the branch- ing Oak, a mere Shrub. — Was our Sight qua- lified for the Search, We fliould difcover a Symmetry and 2iDignityy altogether as perfe6l, and far more wonderful, in thofe Groves o^Mofs *
v/hich
* See, /or a Proof of this Remark, the Explanation ot the tenth PlatCy in that very curious, very entertaining, and
no
£256 D i A L O G U E XV.
which adhere to the rude Stone. We (houlcl contemplate, with greater Surprife, if not with greater Rapture, thofe diminutive Plantations; which ftrike their haily Roots in the mouldy Confeftion, or wave their curious Umbrage over the perifhed Pickle *.
Who is not charmed with the Vine, and its generous warming Juices ? With the Melon, and its delicious cooling Pulp ? Yet, were all our Trees to produce Fruits of fuch exalted Qualities, or of fuch an agreeable Relifli, what would become of the Birds! How fmall a Scantling of fuch choice Delicacies, would vo- racious Man refign to their Enjoyment? — That Provifion may be made for the meaneft Va<rrant of the Air, as well as for the moft renowned Sovereign of a Nation ; there is, in
all
no lefs Inftruvnive Piece, intitled Micrographia Rejlaurata.~r— Where our Author compares the Size of this little Vegetable, with the Dimenfions of thofe vaft Trees, which grow in the vi"-orous Climates of Guinea and Brazil. The Trunks of which are, according to the Report of Travelers, twenty Feet in Diameter. Whereas, the Body of this minute Plant, meafurcs no more than the fixtieth Part of an Inch. So that, upon a Calculation, the Thicknefs of the one exceeds that of the other, 2,985,984 Millions of Times. — So prodigi- oully various are the Works of the CREATOR !
* That whitifh kind of Down, which fhags the putrefying Pickle ; which incrufts the Surface of fome corrupted Li- quors ; and conrtitutcs what We call Mouldincfs ; is really a Clufter of little Plants. Each has a Root and a Stalk: Each fprcads its Branches, and produces Seed in Abundance.
Radicefque fuas babet, cxUemqiie Coronam, Frondefquc^ Fru^urnqne gcrit, velut ardita ^wcus.
DIALOGUE X¥. 257
all Places, a large Growth of Shrubs, covered annually with a Harveft of coarfe and hardy- Berries. So coarfe in their Tafte, that they are unworthy the Acceptance of Man: fo hardy in their Make, that they endure the extremefi: Se- verities of the Weather ; and furnifh the fea-= thered Tribe with a ftanding Repaftj amidll all the Defolations of Winter.
The Fir, with her filver Bark, and fiiapely Cone J the Beech *, with her quivering Leaves, and embowering Shade j are flately Decora- tions of our rural Seats. But, if there were no intangling T^hickets^ no prickly 'Thorns^ where would the Farmer procure Fences, fo clofely wattled, or fo ftrongly armed -f- ? Flow
could
* The i^^V, Beech, &c. Thefe, and fuch like Trees, are called in Hebrezv, tZyh^T\^ ^'- ^"- '9- Which Word is rendered, but I think very improperly, Bufies. It rather fignifies the grand and moft admired Plants. It is intended as a Contraft to the coarfe and defpicable Thorns, mentioned in the preceding Claufe. And both taken together exprefs all Sorts of Trees, from the towering Cedar to the groveling Shrub.
t Something to tliis Purpofe is hinted in the Prophecy of Ifaiah, by ^yZ^^ "i^-C' DN*"!' Terriculaynentum Sent'mm ^ Vepr'nim : The Terror of Thorns and Briars. Meaning thofe fliarp and ragged Mounds, with which Vineyards, Corn-fields, and other cultivated Spots, were ufuaily in- clofed. Which deterred the moft adventurous Cattle from forcing, or attempting to force, a Paflage. — The Words are fomewhat oblcure, and have been ?reatlv rn ifunderftood. But, thus interpreted, they aflbrd an eafy Senfe, and per- fedlly coincide with the Context. Implying, *' That Places, *' formerly fenced about with Abundance" of Care, fhould " lie open, and expofed to every wandcrincr Foot. That
Vol. III. S. "' *' Tilla-'e
25^ DIALOGUE XV. could He guard the Scene of his Labours, or lecure his vegetable Wealth, from the Flocks and the Herds ? Thofe roving Plunderers, which accede to no Treat)r, but that oifG7xible Reflraint ; fubmit to no Laws, but thofe of the coercive Kind.
Moft People are fond of the Purflane's flefhy Leaves, and the ramified Fatnefs of the Bro- coli : the Potato's mealy Orbs, and the Len- tile's fucculent Pods. We fpare no Toil, We grudge no Expence, to have them flourifh in our Gardens, and ferved up at our Tables. — ■ But there are innumerable Herbs, which pafs under the contemptible Character of Weeds-, and yet are altogether as defirable to many Claflbs of Creatures, as thefe culinary Gifts to Mankind. Who Ihall be at the Pains to plant, to water, to cultivate, fuch defpicable Produc- tions ? Man w^ould rather extirpate^ than pro^ pagate, thefe Incumbrances of his Acres. There- fore Providence vouchfafes to be their Gar- dener. Providence has wrought off their Seeds into fuch a Lightnefs of Subflance, that they are carried abroad with the Undulations of the Air. Or, if too heavy to be wafted by the Breeze, they are faftened to Wings of Down, which facilitate their Flight. Or elfe,
are
" Tillage fh<^,u!(I be difcontinueJ; and the whole Country
*' degenerate into a cont'ufed, difordcrly Wafte ; without
*' either the l^iftributions of Property, or the ImproYC-
*' ments orinduflry." //ui.v\i,2^. \ 'vi. Fitting, in k'^.
D I A L O G U E XV. 259
are inclofed in a fpringy Cafe ; which, forcibly bu riling, flioots them abroad on every Side. — By fome fuch means, the reproducing Prin- ciple is difTeminated i the univerfal Granary filled ; and the univerfal Board furniflied. The buzzing Infeft, and the creeping Worm, have each his Bill of Fare, Each enjoys a never* failing Treat, equivalent to our finefl Venifon, or to the " Fat of Kidneys of Wheat *."
As the Seeds of fome are mofl artfully fcat- tered abroad, when ripe j the Seeds of others are moil carefully guarded, till they come to Maturity ; and, by both Contrivances, every Species is not barely preferved, but in a man- ner eternized. — Some are lodged in the Center of a large Pulp ; which is, at once, their De- fence, and their Nourifliment. This We find exemplified in the talleful Apple, and the juicy Pear. — Some, befides the furrounding Pulp, are inclofed in a thick Shelly hard and irnpe-' netrable as Stone. . We cannot pluck and eat one of thofe downy Peaches, or incrimfoned Ne6larines, which fo beautifully embofs the Wall, without finding a Proof of this Precau- tion.— Call your Eye upon the Walnuts, which flud the Branches of that fpreading Tree. Before thefe are gathered, the Increafe of the Cold, and the Emptinefs of the Gar- dens,
* The Fat of Kidneys of Wheat, Deut. xxxii. 14. A Sen- tence, rich with Elegance ! Such as would have {hone in Pindar i or been admired by Loyiginus,
S 2
26o DIALOGUE XV.
dens, will fliarpeii the Appetite of the BirdSr To fecure the fine Kernel from the Depreda- tions of their bufy aflailing Bills, it is fortified with a ftrong Inclofure of Wood, and with the Addition of a difguftful bitter Rind.
If Grafs was as fcarce as the Guernfey -Lilly ; or as difficultly raifed as the delicate Tuberofe j how certainly, and how fpeedily, mufl many Millions of Quadrupeds perifli with Famine \ Since all the Cattle owe their chief Subfiflence to this Vegetable, by a fingular Beneficence in the Divine Oeconomy, it waifeth not^ like the Corn-field and the Garden-bed, for the annual Labours of Man, V^hen once fown, though ever fo frequently cropped, it revives with the returning Sealon, and fiouriflies in a kind of perennial Verdure. It covers our Meadows ; difFufes itlelf over the Plains ; fprings up in every Glade of the Forefl: ; and fpreads a Side-board in the moft fequeflred Nook.
Since the Nutriment of Vegetables them- felves,. lies hid under the Soil, or floats up and down in the Air : beneath^ they plunge their Roots * into the Ground, and difperfe every V^ay their fibrous Suckers, to explore the la- tent, and attra6l the proper Nourifhment : iiho'-cc^ they expand a Multitude of Leaves *, which, like fo many open Mouths, catch the
Rains
* * '^joh mod beautifully alludes to thefe two Sources of vegetable P'crtility ; My Root was fpread out by the IVatersy mid the Dnu by alt Nigbt upon my Branch y Job xxi?c. 19.
D I A L O G U E XV. 261
Rains as they fall ; imbibe the Dews as they diilil i and tranfmit them, through their nice Orifices, to the Heart of the Plant, or the Lobes of the Fruit.
I have touched upon the infenfible Creation j and pointed out the Care of a condefcending Providence, exercifed over thefe Imveft Forma- tions of Nature. — The animal World, 'Theroriy falls to your Share. It is yours to defcant upon thofe higher Orders of Exiftence ; and fhew Us the Goodnefs of GOD, extending its in- dulgent Regards to them and their Interefts ; as tenderly, as officioufly, as a Hen fpreadeth her Wings * over her infant Brood.
^her. The Subje6t is in good Hands. Let Part the fecond be of the fame Strain with Part the fir ft, and there will be no Occafion to wifh for a new Speaker. As to myfelf, I have very little Inclination to talk. But I have an Ear open and attentive to your Difcourfe.
Afp. You put me in mind of the Philofo- pher, who prefumed to read a Lecture on the Art of War, in the Prefence of HannibaL But his Impertinence was "cohmtary, mine is con^ Jirained, — Since You injoin me this Office, let Us pafs, from the vegetable, to the animal World. Here, We fliall find no Tribe, no
Indi-
* This feems to be the Image ufed by the rfalmijU P*"^'. cxlv. 9. And a moft amiable linage, as well as a moft pic- turefque Reprcieritation, it is
262 DIALOGUE XV.
Individual negle6led. The fuperior Claffes want no Demonftration of their excellent Ac- compUfliments. At the firil Glimpfe, they challenge our Approbation ; they command our Applauie. Even the more igmbk^ Forms of animated Exiflence, are mod wifely circum- flanced, and moft liberally accommodated.
They all generate in that particular Seafon, which is fure to fupply them with a Stock of Provifion, fufficient both for themfelves, and their increafmg Families. — The Sheep yean, when there is a Profufion of nutrimental Her- bage on the Soil, to fill their Udders, and create Milk for their Lambs. — The Birds lay their Eggs, and hatch their Young, when Myriads of new-born, tender LifeBs fwarm on every Side, So that the Caterer, whether it be the male or female Parent, needs only to alight on the Ground, or make a little Excurfion into the Air ; and they find a Feafl ready drefl, and all at free Cofl, for the clamant Mouths at home.
Their Love to their Offspring, while they continue in a helplefs State, is invincibly llrong. Whereas, the very Moment they are able to ihift for themfelves i when the parental Affec- tion would be attended with much Solicitude, and productive of no Advantage , it vaiiijhes, as though it had never been, — The Hen, that marches at the Head of her little Brood, would
fly
DIALOGUE XV. 263
fly in the Eyes of a MaftifF, or even encounter a Lion, in their Defence. Yet, within a few Weeks, flie abandons her Chickens to the wide World, and not fo much as knows them any
more.
If the GOD of Ifrad infpired Bezakel and AhoUab with Wifdom, and Vnderpnding, a?id Knowledge in all Manner of Workmanjhip : ths GOD of Nature has not been wanting, in his Inflru6lions to the puny Inhabitants of the
Bough. The ^kill, with v.diich they eredl
their Houfes, and adjuft their Apartments, is inimitable. The Caution, with which they fe- crete their Abodes from the fearching Eye, or intruding Foot, is admirable. No General, though fruitful in Expedients, could plan ^ more artful Concealment. No Architeft, with his Rule and Line, could build fo commodious a Lodgment. — Give the moft celebrated Arti-- ficer the fame Materials, which thefe weak and unexperienced Creatures ufe. Let a "Jones, or a De Moivre, have only fome rude Straws or ugly Sticks j a few Bits of Dirt, or Scraps of Hair ; a forry Lock of Wool, or a coarfe Sprig of Mofs J and what Works, fair with Delicacy, or fit for Service, could they produce ?
We extol the Commander, who knows how to take Advantage of the Ground : who can make the Sun and Wind fight for Him, as well as his Troops : and, by every Circumftance,
S 4 embar-
264 DIALOGUE XV.
embarrafles the Forces of the Enemy, but ex- pedites the Adion, and advances the Succefs 6f his own. Does not this Praife belong to our feathery Leaders? Who pitch their Tent, or (if You pleafe) fix their penfile Camp, on the dangerous Branches, that wave aloft in the Air, or dance over the Eddies of the Stream. By which judicious Difpofition, the vernal Gales rock their Cradle, and the mur- muring Waters lull their Young: while both concur to terrify the Shepherd, and keep the School-Boy at a trembling Diflance. — Some hide their little Houfhold from View, amidfl the Shelter of intangled Furze. Others re- move it from Reach, in the Center of a thorny Thicket. And, by one Stratagem or another, they are generally as fecure and iinmolefled^ in their feeble Habitations -, as the Foxes, that in- trench themfelves deep in the Earth j or as the Conies, that retire to the Rock for their * Citadel.
If the ^wan has large fwecplng Wings, and a copious Stock of Feathers, to fpread over her callow Brood ; the Wren makes up by Contri- vance, what is deficient in her Bulk. — Small as fhe is, fhe intends ^l- to bring forth, and
will
* ^rov. XXX. 26,
t Jfpafto has ventured to fay, She intends-^hn^. one is zU moft tempted to think, from the Preparation which the little Creature makes, that She had really fat down, and counted the Coft, and concerted her Scheme. As though She had 4eliberat(.d with Herfclf — '^ I iliali lay, not a Couple of
DIALOGUE XV. 265
will be obliged to nurfe up, a very numerous IfTue. Therefore, with the correfleft Judg- ment She defigns, and with indefatigable Af- fiduity finifhes, a Nefl proper for her Purpofe. It is a neat Rotund ; lengthened into an Oval^ bottomed and vaulted with a regular Cojicave, To preferve it from Rain, it has feveral Coat- ings of Mofs : to defend it from Cold, it has but one Window, and only a lingle Door : to render it both elegant and comfortable, it has Carpets and Hangings of the fineft fofteft Down. — By the Help of this curious Man- fion, our little Lady becomes the Mother of Multitudes. The vivifying Heat of her Body is, during the Time of Incubation, exceedingly augmented. Her Houfe is like an Oven, and greatly aflifts in hatching her Young. Which no fooner burft the Shell, than they find them- felves fcreened from the Annoyance of the Weather J and moft agreeably repofed, amidfl the Ornaments of a Palace, and the Warmth of a Bagnio.
Perhaps, We have been accuftomed to look upon the Infedlsy as fo many rude Scraps of
Creation,
** Eggs, but near a Score. From thefe I am to produce a *' Houfe full of Young. But how (hall I have Warmth ** (unlefs Art fupply, what Nature has denied) fufficient to " hatch the Embrios, or cherifh the Infants ?" — The Truth,. I believe, is ; That, in all her feeming Forefight, and cir- cumfpedl Behaviour, She a<5ls. She knows not what. Only- She ails, what eternal WISDOM knows to be ncceflary, and what all-condefcending GOODNESS prompts He^- (o perform.
266 DIALOGUE XV.
Creation, and to rank them amongil the Re- fiife of Things. Whereas, if We examine them, without Prejudice, and with a Httle Attention, they will appear fome of the moft poliflied Pieces of divine Workmanfhip. — Many of them are decked with the richeft Finery. Their Eyes are an Affemblage * of Micro- fcopes; whofe Mechanifm is nice beyond Ex- prellion. Their D?'ejs is a A^eflure of refplen- dent Colours; fet with an Arrangement of the mojft brilliant Gems. Their Wings are the fineft Expanfions imaginable: Cambric is mere Canvafs j and Lawn is coarfe as Sack- cloth, compared with thofc inimitable Webs. The Cafes, which inclofe their Wings, glitter with the moft glofly Varnifli ; are fcooped into ornamental Flutings ; are ftudded with radiant Spots; or pinked with elegant Holes. — Not one among them but is equipped with Weap- ons,
* The common Fly, for inftance. Who is furrounded •vt-ith a Multitude of Dangers, and has neither Strength to refift her Enemies, nor a Place of Retreat to fecure Herfelf. For.which Reafon, She had need to be very vigilant, and always upon her Guard. Yet her Head is fo fixed, as to he incapable of turning, in order to obferve what pafles, cither behind or around her. — Providence therefore, fur- prifinglv wife in its Contrivances, and equally rich in its Gifts, has furniflied her, not barely with a Retinue, but with more than a Legion of Eyes. Infomuch, that a fmgle Fly is fuppofed to be Miftrefs of no lefs than eight thoufand. Every one of which is lined with a diftin6t optic Nerve.— By means of this coftly and amazing Apparatus, the little Creature (ecs on every Side, with the utmoft Eafe and with inftantaneous Speed ; yet without any Motion of the £ye, or <tnv Fledtion of the Ncclu
D I A L O G U E XV. 267
ons, or endued with Dexterity, that qualify them to feize their Prey, or efcape their Foe j to difpatch the Bufinefs of their refpeclive Sta- tion, and enjoy the Pleafures of their particu- lar Condition.
Now I am in a talking Humour, give me leave to celebrate the Endowments, and aflert the Honours of my puny Clients. Yet, not fo much to fupport their Credit, as to magnify their all-gracious CREATOR. — What? If the Elephant is diflinguifhed by a prodigious Probofcis f His meaneft Relations of the reptile Line, are furniflied with curious A?iten7id; ^ re- markable, if not for their enormous Magni- tude, yet for their ready Flexibility, and acute Senfation. By which they explore their Way, even in the darkeft Road : they difcover and avoid, whatever might defile their neat Ap- parel, or endanger their tender Lives.
Every one admires that majeftic Creature the Horfe-, his graceful Head, and ample Cheftj his arching Neck, and flowing Mane ; his cleanly turned Limbs, and finely- ad jufted Mo- tions. With extraordinary Agifity, He flings Himfelf over the Ditch j and with a rapid Career, pours Himfelf through the Plain. With unwearied Application, He carries his Rider from one End of the Country to another ; and with undaunted Bravery, rufhes into the fiercefl; Rage, and amidft the thickefl Havock of the
Battle,
268 D I A L O G U E XV.
Battle. — ^Yet, the Grafiopper fprings with a Bound, altogether as brilk, if not more im- petuous.— The Anty in proportion to its Size, is equally nimble j equally flrong ; and will climb Precipices, which the mod courageous Courfer dares not attempt to fcale. — If the Snail is flower in her Motions, She has no need to tread back the Ground which She has pafled. Becaufe, her Houfe is a Part of her travelling Equipage: and whenever She de- parts, She is ftill under her own Roof 5 where- ever She removes, is always at Home.
The Eagle, 'tis true, is privileged with Pini- ons, that outftrip the Wind. Elevated on which. She looks down on all that foars ; and fees fly- ing Clouds, and {training Wings, far below. Her optic Nerve fo flrong, that it meets and fuflains the dazzling Beams of Noon : her wide furveying Glance fo keen, that from thofe ^wering Heights, it difcerns the fmalleft Fifli, which fculks at the Bottom of the River. — Yet, neither is that poor Outcaft, the groveling and gloomy Moh\ difregarded by divine Pro- vidence. Becaufe flie is to dig a Cell in the Earth, and dwell, as it v/erc, in a perpetual Dungeon, her Paws ferve her for a Pick-axe and Spade. Her Eye, or rather her vifual Speck, is funk deep into a Socket, that it may fuffer no Injury from her rugged Situation : it requires but a very fcanty Communication
of
DIALOGUE XV. 269
of Light, that fhe may have no Reafon to complain of her darkUng Abode. I called her fubterranean Habitation a Dungeon ; and fome People, perhaps, may think it a Grave. But I revoke the Expreflion. It yields her all the Safety of a fortified C^/?, and all the Delight of a decorated Grof.
Even the Spider, though abhorred by Man- kind, is evidently the Care of all-fuftaining Heaven. She is to live upon Plunder -, to fup- port Herfelf, by trapanning the idle, infigni- ficant, fauntering Fly. Suitably to fuch an Oc- cupation, fhe pofTefTes a Bag of glutinous Moi- fture. From this flie fpins a clammy Thready and v^^eaves it into a tenacious Net, Ex- pert as any pra6lifed Sportfman, flie always fpreads it in the moft opportune Places. Sen- fible that her Appearance v^ould create Horror, and deter the Prey from approaching the Snare, when watching for Sport, flie retires from Sight. But conftantly keeps within Diftance, fo as to receive the very firft Intelligence of what palTes in the Toils ; and be ready to launch, without a Moment's Delay, upon the ftruggling Cap- tive. And what is very obfervable, when Win- ter chills the World, and no more Infeds ram- ble amidft the Air, forefeing that her Labour would be vain, fhe difcontinues her Work^ and abandons her Stand,,
1
270 D I A L O G U E XV.
I muil by no means forget the little Mo- narchy, that inhabits the Hive. The Bees are to fiibfill, not as a lawlefs Banditti, but as a regular Community. 'Tis theirs, to earn a decent Livelihood by honefl Induftry ; not to glut themfelves with Carnage, or enrich them- fclves by Rapine. For which Reafon, they are a6luated by an invariable Inclination to So- ciety. They poflefs the trueil Notions of Oe- conomy, and have ena6led the wifefl Laws for Government. — -Their indulgent CREA- TOR has made them a Prefent of all necefTary Implements, both for conftru6ling their Combs, and for compofmg their Honey. They have each a portable VefTel, with which they bring Home their collected Sweets : and they have all the moil: commodious Storehoufes, in which they depofit their deUcious Wares. — Though made for Peace, they know how to handle the Sword. They can take up Arms with the utmoft Re- folution and Intrepidity, when Arms are re- quifite to guard their Wealth, or repel their Foes. — Without making Botany their Study, they can readily diftinguifh every Plant, that is mofl likely to yield the Materials proper for their Bufmefs. Without ferving an Appren- ticefliip in the Laboratory, they are complete Praftitioners in the Art of Separation and Re- finement. They are aware, without borrow- ing their Information from an Almanack, that
the
DIALOGUE XV. 271
the vernal Gleams, and Summer Suns, con- tinue but for a Seafon. Mindful of this Ad- monition *, they improve to the utmofi: every fhining Hour ; and lay up a Stock of balmy Treafure, fufficient to fupply the whole State, till the Blolibms open a-frelh, and their flowery Harvefl returns.
Let the Peacock boaft, if he pleafes, his ele- gant Topknot and lofty Mien ; his Neck adorn- ed with varying Dyes, and his Train befpangled with a Round of Stars. — Yet let him know, that the defpifed Butterfly^ and even the loathed Caterpillar^ difplay an Attire no lefs fumptuous ; and wear Ornaments, altogether as genteel, though not quite fo magnificent. — If Beauty fits in State on that lordly Bird, flie lliiines in Miniature on the vulgar Infe(5l. And if the Mafler of this lower Creation, is ennobled with the Powers of Peafon -, the meanefl: Clafles of fenfitive Exiftence, are endued with the Faculty of InJiinB. Which gives them a Saga- city, that is neither derived from Obfervation, nor waits for the Finifhings of Experience : which, without a Tutor, teaches them all ne- cefTary Skill i and enables them, without a Pat- tern, to perform every needful Operation. And, what is far more furprifing, never mifleads them, either into erroneous Principles, or pernicious
Practices :
* Venturaque Hyemh memons^ JEJlate Lahorem ExpcriuntWf ^ in medium qutpjita repotiunt, ^'^ifg*
272 DIALOGUE XV. '
Praftlces : never fails them, in the nicell of moil arduous of their Undertakings.
Can you have Patience to follow me, if I flep into a different Element, and jufl vifit the watery World f — Not one among the innumer- able Myriads, which fwim the boundlefs Ocean, but is watched over by that exalted EYE, whofe Smiles irradiate the Heaven of Heavens. Not one, but is fupported by that Almighty HAND, which crowns Angels and Archangels with Glory. — The condefcending GOD, has not only created, but bemttified them. He has given the moft exact Proportion to their Shape, the gay eft Colours to their Skin, and a poliflied Smoothnefs to their Scales. The Eyes of fome are furrounded with a fcarlet Circle ; the Back of others is diverfified with crimfon Stains. View them, v/hen they glance along the Stream, or while they are frefh from their na- tive Brine j and the burnifhed Silver is not more bright, the radiant Rainbow is fcarce more glowing, than their vivid, gliftering, gloffy Plues.
Yet, notwithftanding the Finery of their Apparel, We are mider painful Apprehenfions for their Welfare. — How can the poor Crea- tures live, amidft the fuffocating V/aters ? — As tliey have neither Hands nor Feet, how can they help themfelvcs, or how cfcape their
Enemies ?
D,I A L O G U E XV. 27^
Knemies ? — We are foon freed from our Feais by obferving, that they all poilcfs the benefi- cial, as well as ornamental Furniture of Fins. Thefe when expanded, like-Mafts above, and B^Uaft below, poife their floating Bodies, and keep them fteadily upright.— We cannot for- bear congratulatirig them on \hz. flexible Pla.y, and vigorous Aclivity of their Tails. With which they fhoot themfelves through the Paths of the Sea, more Aviftly than Sails and Oars can waft the Royal Yatch. — But v/e are loft in Wonder, at the exquifite Contrivance, and deiicacC Formation of their Gills. By which they are accommodated, even in that denf^ Medium, with the Power of Breathing, and the Benefits of Refpiration. A Piece of Me- chanifm this, indulged to the raeaneft of the Fry J yet furpaiung, infinitely furpaiiing, in the Finenefs of its Struclure, and the. Felicity. of its Operation, whatever is curious in tjje Works of Art, or commodious in the Palace^,, of Princes. 1
.l^her. Some Perfons, Jfpajh, have the AiX of giving Dignity to trivial, and ^ipirit to jejune Topics. I cannot but liiien, with a plcafed Attention, to your Difcourle j though it de- Icends to the loweit Scenes, and mcaned Pro- ductions of Nature. — To make fuch philoio- phical Remarks, v/as ufually my Province ; to add the religious Improvement, yours. But
Vol. Ill, T my
274 DIALOGUE XV.
my Thoughts, at prefent, are wholly taken up with the Confideration of my S AV I O U R's Righteoufnefs. I can hardly turn my Views, or divert my Speech, to any other Subje6l.' All thofe amiable Appearances of the external Crea- tion, which I was wont to contemplate with Rapture, afford but a languid Entertainment to my Mind. — Till my Intereft in this Divine REDEEMER is afcertained, the Spring may bloom y the Summer fhine ; and Autumn fwell with Fruits : but it will be Winter, chearlefs, gloomy, defolate Wijiter in my Soul.
Jfp. You fay, 'T'heroHy You attended to my curfory Hints. Then, your own fuperior Dif- cernment could not but perceive, how every Part of the exterior World is adjufted, in the moft excellent and gracious Manner. — Not the coarjejl Piece of ina6live Matter, but bears the Imprefs of its MAKER'S fafhioning Skill. — Not Vifwgk Creature, however infignificant, but exhibits evident Demonftrations of his pro- vidential Care. — His Hand is liberal, profufely liberal, to all that breathes, and all that has a Being.
Let me only alk — and to introduce this Queftion, with the greater Propriety j to give it a more forcible Energy on our Minds -, wa-s the principal Defign of the preceding Remarks — Let me alk -, Docs GOD take Care for Oxen * f
Is
■* I Csr. ix. Q.
DIALOGUE XV. ^y^
Is He a generous Benefa(5lor to the meaneft Animalsj to the lowed Reptiles ? Are his mu- nificent Regards extended farther ftill, and vouchfafed even to the moil: vvorthlefs Vege-' tables ? And (hall they be with-held from Tou^ my dear Friend, and from me f — Not one among all the numberlefs Produflions, which tread the Ground, or fland rooted to the Soil, , wants any Convenience, that is proper for its refpe6live State. And will his heavenly FA-* THER deny Theron, what is fo necelFary to his prefent Comfort, and his final Happinefs ? Impofllble * !
^her. I wilh for, but I can hardly hope to partake of, that fpiritual Blefling j which aU;
ways
* I .know not how to forbear tranfcribing a Paragraph, from one of our periodical Papers ; which contains a Pro- pofal for adapting natural Philofophy to the Capacity of Chil- dren. VVifhing, at the fame time, that the ingenious Au- thor would inlarge his Sketch into aTreatife ; and execute the Plan, which He has fo judicioufly proje£led, and of which He has given Us fo delicate a Specimen.
After feme Remarks on the Sagacity of Birds, their In-- duftry, and other furprihng Properties, He adds ; " — Is it ** for Birds, O LORD, that Thou haft joined together fo *' many Miracles, which they have no Knowledge of? Is »* it for Men v;ho give no Attention to them ? Is it for the *' Curious, who are fatiified with admiring, without raifmg " their Thoughts to Thee ? Or is it not rather vifible, that '* thy Defign has been to call Us to thyfelf, by fuch a Spec- " tacle ? To make Us fenfible of thy Providence and in- *«. finite Wifdom j and to fill Us with Confidence in ihy *' Bount}', who watcheft, with fo much Care and Tender- ** nefs, over Biids, though two of them are fold but for a
«> Farthing:
Tz
276 DIALOGUE XV.
ways included my whole Happinefs, and now ingrolTes my whole Concern.
Jfp. Not hope to partake of! — What Foun- dation, what Shadow of Pretence, has this de- iponding Temper, either in Reafon, or in Scripture ? Is it not written, in the Book of divine Revelation ? Is it not apparent, through the whole Compafs of Nature ? That the Al- mighty LORD, " vs^ho governeth the World *' with the Palm of his Hand *," is remote, infinitely remote, from a niggardly Difpofition. He not only provideth for the Wants, but even fatisjics the Defire of every living '^hing -f-.
Confidcrthofe ftately Poppies, which are now the principal Ornament of the Garden. They have no Tongue to reqiicO: the leafl Favour. Yet the ever-gracious MAKER, clothes them from his own Wardrobe, and decks them \\\t\\ exquifite Beauty. — Obferve the ycwig Ravens y that fit careleily croking on yonder Boughs. Do they cry for Food ? it is in hoarfe unmean- ing Accents. Yet the all-fupporting GOD, pverlooks their Ignorance j and fuppiies their every Need, from his own fpontaneous Bounty. — If He attends to the former, though inca- 5:!able of alking ; if he accommodates the latter, though infenfible of their Benefa6tor j can He difregard our prefling Wants ? Will He rejeSl our carnefc Petitions? Efpeciallv, v/hen We
feek
* Eccluu xvili. 3. |- Pfiil, cxlv. 16.
D i A L O G U E XV. 277
feek fuch pure and exalted Gifts, as it is both his Dehght and his Honour to bellow.
O ! my Friend, look abroad into univerfal Nature, and look away every difquieting Thought.
Ther. Did You inquire what Pretence I have, for this defponding Temper ? Alas ! I have more than a Pretence. I have a Reafon. A P^eafon too obvious j my great Unworthimfs !
Afp. Pray, where was the Worthiness of the lliff-necked Ifraelites "^ Yet the LORD bare them^ and cai'ried thein^ all the Days cf old'^,-— V/here was the V/orthinefs of Said the Blaf- phemer ? Yet the blefled JESUS m?idQ Uxm a chofen Veflel, and fet Him as a Signet on his Right-hand. — You deferve nothing at tlie Hand of GOD our Saviour. Neither did JofepHs Brethren deferve any Kindnefs, from the Viceroy of Egypt. Yet he delivered them from Famine, who fold Him to Slaveiy. He fettled them in the choiceft Territories, v^^ho call Him into the horrible Pit. Pie llievv^ed Himfelf a Friend and a Father to thofe unna- tural Relations ; v/ho v/ere his aclual Betrayerp, and his intentional Murderers. — And can You perfuade yourfelf, will You harbour a Sufpi- cion. That CHRIS'T is lefs companionate than Jofeph ? Shall a frail Mortal out-vie IMMA- J\'(JEL in Beneficence?
T 3 Ther,
* I^^aJ. Ixiii. 9.
2J^ DliV-LOGUE XV.
I'her, Is not fome Righteoufnefs of our own indifpenfibly required, in order to our Parti* cipation of the Righteoufnefs of CHRIST?
j4Jp, Yes, fuch a Righteoufnefs as the Sa^ maritan Woman, and Zaccheus the PubUcan pofTeiled. Or fuch as the Philippian Jailor, and the profligate Corinthians might boaft. — Zaccheus was a Man of infamous Character, and Chief among the Extortioners. The Jailor was a barbarous Perfecutor, and in Purpofe a Self-murderer. Yet our LORD fays of the former, This Day^ without injoining any Courfe of previous Preparation, is Salvation come to thine Hotife *. St. Paul direds the latter, with- out inlifting upon any antecedent Righteouf- nefs, to believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST^ and aflures the poor alarmed Sinner, that, in To doing. He fhould be faved -f-.
So that nothing is required, in order to our Participation of CHRIST and his Benefits, but a Conviftion of our Need, a Senfe of their Worth, and a Willingnefs to receive them in the appointed Way : receive them, as the freeil: of Gifts, or as Matter of mere Grace. Comcy and take freely J, is our Master's Language j without flaying to get any graceful Qualities, 3s his Meaning.
Ther. Surely, to come without any Holinef^, ^vithout any decent Preparative, mull: be a grofs
Indiznit\
* l^Hk xix, 9. I J£fsx\\. 31. %Rev. xxii. 17,
D I A L O G U E XV. ^9
Indignity to the Divine JESUS. Whoever prefents a Petition to any eartlily Sovereign, will think it abfolutely necefiary, not to ap- pear in a flovenly Deftiabille, much lefs in filthy Raiment. Does not our LORD Him- felf, in the Parable of the Wedding-Garment, inculcate this very Point, and caution Us againft a prefumptuous Approach ?
Afp. In the Parable You mention, CHRIST is both the Bridegroom, the Feall, and tlie Wedding-Garment *, And wbo are invited to an Union with this Bridegroom ? To partake of this Feaft ? To be arrayed vvith this Wed- ding-Garment ? — The MelFengers are fent^ not to the Manfion-houfes of the Rich, or the Palaces of the Mighty -, but to the High- ways and Hedges. Where Mifery mourns ; and Po- verty pines i and Bafenefs hides her Head. — »• 7c whom is their Meffage add relied ? To the Poor, the Maimed, the Halt, the Bliiid -f-. Per- fons, who haye no amiable or recommending Endowments, but every loathfome and difguftful Property. Yet thefe (mark the Palfage, my dear Friend ; mark well the encouraging Cir- cumftance) thefe are not only not forbidden, but intreated — importuned — and, by all the Arts of Perfuafion, by every weighty or winning Motive, compelled to come in, — And after all
this,
* Matt. xxii. II. Hac Vejih cji Jiiji\tla CHRIST L Bengel. in Loc. t ^"'^^ '^iv- ii-
T4
28# D I A L O.G U E XV.
this, furely, it cannot be an Act of Prclump- tion to accept, but mull: be a Breach of Duty to refufe the Invitation.
TZv;-. You take no Notice of the Man, who was found without a Wedding-Garment. Which is by far the moft a-lannijig Incident, and that which gives me no fmall Uneafmefs.
Afp. And does my Theron take proper No- tice of the Divine Declaration ? I have prepar- ed my Dinner^ fays the KING eternal. All Tubings are ready *. " Whatever is neceflary " for the Jiiftification, the Holinefs, the com- *' plete Salvation of Sinners, is provided in " the Merit and the Grace of my SON. " Let them come therefore, as to a nuptial " Banquet ; and freely enjoy my Munifi- " cence j and feafl their Souls with the royal ^' Provifion."
The Man without a Vv^edding-Garment, denotes the fpecio.us (uperjicial Profelfor ; who is called by CHRISl^'s Name, but has never
put cji CHRISTJESUS by Faith. Shall
I tell You more plainly, whom this Charac- ter reprefents ? You yourfclf, my dear 1'bero?7y was fome Months ago, in the State of this unhappy Creature. When You trufted in Y'ourfelf, and thought highly of your own, thought meanly of your SAVIOUR'S Righ- teoufnefs.
J
* Matt. xxii. 4.
«
DIAL OG U E XV. 281 I congratulate my Friend, on his happy Deliverance from fo dangerous a Condition* You and I are now like the returning Prodigal. Let us remember, that He had no Recom- mendation, either of Perfon, of Drefs, or of Gircumftance. None but his Nakednefs, his Mifery, and his Vilenefs. Yet He was re- ceived— received with inexpreffible Indulgence j and clothed with that firft, that bcfl^ that di- ymt^Robe"^, the Righteoufnefs of JESUS CHRIST.
■ Let Us accuftom Ourfelves to confider this incomparable Robe, under its evangelical Cha- ra61:er. It is not a Matter of Bargain, nor the Subje61: of Sale, but a Deed of Gift. The Gift of Righteoufnefs, fays the Apoftle. And Gifts, We all know, are not to be furchafedy but received.
Ther. Is nothing then, nothing to be done on our Part ? — No Heavenly-mindednefs to be exercifed ? No Viftory over our Lufts gained ? No Fruits of San6lification produced ?
.^. Thefe legal Apprehenfions! Howclofely they cleave to my Tberoiis Mind ! But, I hope, the Word of GOD, which pierceth to the di- viding afunder the Soul and Spirit, will give
the fevering Blow. And what fays that fa-
cred Word ? It defcribes the Gofpel^ as a Will
or
zH D I A L O G U E XV.
or T'ejlament * j and all its glorious Bleffings, as Legacies bequeathed by the dying JE S US,
When your old Acquaintance Charicles,
left You a handfome Legacy ; what did you doy to eftabUfli your Title, and make it your own ?
I'her. My Title was pre-eflablifhed, by my Friend's Donation. I had nothing to do, but to claim, to accept, and to poffefs.
Afp. Do the very fame, in Jthe prefent Cafe. They who believe, are Heirs, undoubted Heirs of the Right eotifnefs which is by Faith -|-. — Sure you cannot fuppofe, that CHRISl^s Kindnefs is lefs fincere, or that CHRISTs Do- nations are lefs valid, than thofe of an earthly Teflator.
^her. This Illuflration hardly reaches the Point. I fpeak not of doing any thing, hy way of Merit, but by way of Salification,
* Heb. ix. 16, 17. This Notion not only runs through the Scriptures, but ftands confpicuous even in their Title- page, — What are they called ? The old and the new- Testament. — What is a Teftament ? An authentic Deed, in which Eftates are tranfmitted, and Legacies bequeathed. In other Teftaments, Ibme earthly Poflellion ; in this, the heavenly Patrimony, even all the Riches of Grace, and ths everlafting Inheritance of Glory. — Did we confider the Scrip- tures in this Light, it would be a moft engaging Invitation, to fearch them with Afliduity and Pleafure. What Child is willing to continue ignopfint of a deceafed Parent's laft Will and Teftament ? Who does not covet to know, what Honours, Hereditaments, and Wealth devolve to his En- joyment, by fuch an intcrelting and venerable Conveyance ? t Heb. xi. 7.
DIALOGUE XV. 283
\Afp. I can think of no ^Qualification, iin* lefs it be our extreme Indigence. This, in- deed, it will be proper to have : and this, I prefume, you are not without. Other Quali- fication, neither Reafon prefcribes, nor Scrip- ture requires.
Reafon prefcribes no other, — The Gifts of the great eternal SOVEREIGN are intended, not to recognize our imaginary Worth, but to ag- grandize the View of his own Mercy and Grace. To anfwer fiich a Defign, the Un- worthy and the Sinners are duly qualified ; nay, are the only qualified Perfons.
Scripture requires no other,- The ever-mer- ciful SAVIOUR fays not 3 They are unqua- lified for my Merits* They have no valuable or noble Acquirements. But this is his tender Complaint j T'hey will not come to me^ juft as they are j with all their Sins about them -, with all their Guilt upon them ; that they may have Life *. — Pray, take notice of this Text ; and you will fee that Sanftification, Heavenly-r mindednefs, and a Vi61:ory over our Lufts, are not the Qualities which He requires^ but the Bleflings which He will confer.
Ther. " The Unworthy and Sinners, the ** only qualified /" Of this Expreflion I cannot but take particular Notice. — Then fudas Should lland in the firft Rank of qualified Perfons 5
ancj * John V. 40.
284 DIALOGUE XV.
and the devout Centurion, i-vhofc Prayers and
Alms had come up as a Memorial before GODy
v/as thereby unqualified for the Favour of
Heaven.
Afp, If you obferved my Exprefhon, I fpoke in the hypothetical Manner. Made a Suppo- fition, rather than advanced an AfTertion. If there be any Qualification, this is the only one. But, flriftly fpeaking, there is no fuch Thinf'-. The impuliive Caufe of all GOD's Goodnefs exifts in himielf. He has Mercy, not becaufe this or that Perfon is amiable, is meet, or qualified, but becaufe he ivill have Mercv. — And as for our Need of Mercy and Reconciliation, arihng from our Sinfulnefs, this can no more contlitute a real Qualification for the Bleflings, than an Acf of Rebellion can qualify for the firft Honours of the State.
But this We mufl allow, that fuch Need, fuch Mifery, fuch Sinfulnefs, illuflrate the Freenefs, and manifeft the Riches of divine Grace. And this We fhould never forget, that the grand End which GOD propofes, in all his favourable Dlfpenfations to fallen IVIan, is, to demonilrate the Sovereignty, and ad- vance THE Glory of mis Grace. The LORD, promifing a very extraordinary Deli- verance to Ifrael, fays ; not for your Sakes, be it known unto Tou, do I this * fignal Acl of Kind-
nefs.
*■ Ez.eJr. xxxvi. 32.
DIALOGUE XV. 285
ncfs. What then is the Inducement ? Wc find it in the following Declaration ; 7, even I am HE J that blotteth out your Tranfgrejjions FOR MY OWN Sake *. A Ray of the lame undeferved and illuflrious Goodnefs beams forth, in that great evangelical Text j Not I?y Works of Rigbteoujhefsj which We have done^ whether they be initial or habitual, but ac- cording to his Mercy He favcd us-f.
T^her. This is inch a Gift ! — To be intercfted in all the Merits of CHRIST! To have his immaculate Righteoufnefs imputed to my Soul !
So that from henceforth there fliall be no
Fear of Condemnation, but a comfortable Enjoyment of freeil Love, and a delightful Expectation of compietefi: Glorv !
Afp. If this rich Donation, furpafs your very Thoughts, and fill You with grateful Aftonifliment j it is fo much the better adapt- ed to difplay, what the Scripture very em- phatically
* Ija'i. xliii. 25. '>y^^') For my oicn fah. Wliich teaches Us, that GOD, and nothing in the Cieaturc, is the ori- g;inal, entire, fole Caufe of all Grace and every gracious Vouchfafement. It is not only by Him and through Him, but /"s Him, and for the Honour of his adorable JVJajeily, that We arc pardoned, accepted, fiived To the Pkaiss OF THE Glory of his Grace, is a proper Alotto for all the Difpcnfatlons of his Goodnefs. It has been infcribed by the Hand of Truth and Inlpiratioii, Epb. i. 6. Time and Eternity, inftcad of erafmg the Lines, v/ill ftamf5 them deeper, and open them wider.
t Tit. iii. 5.
286 DIALOGUE XV.
phatlcally ftyles, the abimdant^ the juperabiin^ danf, the exceeding abundant * Grace of our GOD.— GOD hath Pleafure in the Profper- ity of his Servants. He is a boundlefs Ocean of Love ; ever flowing, yet abfohitely inex- hauftible. See ! What an innumerable Va- riety of Benefits, are tranfmitted from yonder Sun, to gladden all the Regions of Nature ! Yet the Sun is but a Spark ; its higheft Splen- dor, no more than a Shade ; its uninterrupted and moft profufe Communications of Light, a poor diminutive Scantling ; compared vi^ith the Riches of Divine Benignity,
The Servant in the Parable, who owed ten thoufand Talents, craved only fome kind For- bearance. Whereas, his generous Lord gave him an Acquittance in full ^ Iforga'-ce T^hee all that Debt -f-. — You wonder, and very deferv- edly, at fuch vaft Generofity. But, what had been your Admiration, if the noble Mafl:er had admitted this obnoxious Slave, to a Share in his Dignity ? What, if he had made Him the Heir of his Houfe, and fettled his whole Eftate upon io mean a Wretch ? This perhaps, \'^ou would fay, exceeds the Bounds of Credi- bility. Yet GOD Almighty's ftupendous Be- neficence exceeds all this. He not only fpares guilty Creatures, but makes them his ChiU^
dren i
* TTTfcfaAXstra ;(,apK. iCor.'w. 14. — yvriffm^itTirtvaiv , 1) X,oc^ii' Rom. V. 20. — T7rff£7rAs9v;«o-£v n X'^l'^f* ^ ^'''^' '• H* , t Matt, xviii. 32.
DIALOGUE XV. 287
dren j makes them Inheritors of his Kingdom ; and, as an Introduction to all, or rather as the Crown of all, makes them Partakers * of his SON.
ner. The Gift is ineftimable ; of more Va- lue than all Worlds. It will render me blefled and happy, Now and for Ever. And may fo unworthy a Creature look for a Bleffing, fo fuperlatively excellent ?
jifp. Unworthy ! My dear Friend, dwell
no longer upon that obfolete Topic. The greateft Unworthi72efs is no Obje(5lion in CHRISTs Account, when the Soul is con- vinced of Sin, and the Heart defirous of a SAVIOUR. And as for Worthinefs, this is as much difavowed by the Gofpel, as equivocal Generation -f- is exploded by the Difcoveries
of our improved Philofophy. Nay farther,
this Notion is diametrically contrary to the Gof- pel, and XotiiXY fubverjive oi the Covenant of Grace.
^her. In what Refpecls ?
Afp, Becaufe, it would make our own Duty and Obedience the Terms. Whereas, the Terms were CHRIS'T's Suffering, and
CHRIST'S
*■ Heb. iii. 14. t The Ancients imagined, that many Vegetables and In- fedls Were produced by, I know not what, plaftic Power in the Sun and other Elements. This is called equivocal Ge- neration. Whereas, the modern Philofophers maintain, that €very Individual of this Kind, derives its Being from fom» Parent- Vegetable or Parent- Animal. This i? llyled uni^ meal Geueration.
288 DIALOGUE XV.
CHRISTs Obedience. 7'kfi are the Hinge on which that great Tranfaclion turns, and ou which the Hope of the World liangs.
'T/ier. Be more particular, AJpafio.
Afp. The firil Covenant was made with Adam^ for Himfelf and Us. Breaking it. He loll his original Righteoufnefs, and became fubje6l to Death. Was, at once, a Bankrupt and a Rebel. — Now You cannot fuppofe, that the Almighty MAJESTY would enter into a frefh Covenant, with an infohent and attaiitted Creature. It pleafed, therefore, the SECOND PERSON of the adorable TRINITY, to un- dertake our Caufe ^ to become our Surety ; and put Elimfelf in our Stead. With Him the fecond Covenant was made. He was charged with the Performance of the Conditions : thereby to obtain Pardon and Righteoufnefs, Grace and Glory, for all his People. / have made a Covenant -.viih my CHOSEN *OA/'E,
is
* Pfal. Ixxix. 3. It is generally allowed, that this Pialm, in Its Jul>/me/f Seuk, is referable to CHRIST y and, in its y}/// Extent, IS referable o«A' unto CHRIST. Iffo, Ithink, it would be more fignificant and eniphatical, to render 'l-HH ^'-^y chofcn One. — This will furnifli out a very deaf and cogent Argument to prove, that the Covenant of Grace was made with our LORD JESUS. Juft: fuch an Argument as the Apoftle ufes, to convince the Galatians, That the Pro- mifcs of the Covenant were made to the fame Divine PER- SON, Gal. iii, 16. — From both which Premifcs this impor- tant Conclufion follows ; That Juflification and every fpi- ritual Bleffing are the Purcbaji: of CHRISTs Obedience; are lodged in Him as the great Proprietary ; are communi- catcd to Sinners, only through the Exercife of Faith, or m a Way of Believing, Sec Zav!'. ix. 11.
DIALOGUE XV. 28^
IS the Language of the MOST HIGH. And
the Terms were (You will permit me to re- peat the momentous Trutli) not your Wor- thinefs or mine, but the Incarnation, the Obedience, the Death of G O D's ever-blefled SON.
^her. Has Man then no OiEce alTigned, no Part to a6l, in the Covenant of Grace ?
Afp. He has : but it is a Part, which my Friend feems very loth to difcharge. His Part is to accept the Bledings, fully purchafed by the SAVIOUR, and freely offered ^.o the Sinner. His Part is, not to diflionour the redeemer's gracious Interpofition, and infinitely fufficient Performance, by hanker- ing after any Merit of his own.
T^her. If this be the Nature of the New Covenant, I muft confefs, I have hitherto been ignorant of the Gofpel.
Afp. And from hence arifes your prcfent Diftrefs. From hence your Averfenefs to re- ceive Comfort. — You are a Philofopher, T^he- ron } and have been accuftomed to examine nicely the Proportion of Objects, rather than to weigh them in the Balance of the Sanc- tuary. Here you find all Proportion fvval- lowed up and loft. This quite overthrows all your Conclufions, drawn from the Fitnefs of Things. Here, Ma7i is nothing, kfs than no- thing, while Grace is all in all. — And lliould
Vol. IIL U we
290 DIALOGUE XV.
we not, however unworthy in Ourfelves, mag- nify the Grace of our G O D ?
JhtT. Moft certainly.
Jfp. How can this be done, but by expe6l- ing great and fuperlatively precious Bleffings
from his Hand ? Alexander, You know,
had a famous, but indigent Philofopher, in his Court. Our Adept in Science, was once particularly ftraitcned in his Circumftances. To whom fhould He apply, but to his Patron, the Conqueror of the World ? His Requeft was no fooner made, than granted. Alexander gives Him a CommilTion, to receive of his Trea- furer whatever He wanted. He immediately demands, in his Sovereign's Name, a hundred Talents*. — The Treafurer, furprifed at fo large a Demand, refufed to comply : but waits upon the King, and repiefents the Affair. Adding withal, how unreafonable He thought the Petition, and how exorbitant the Sum. — Alex- cndcr heard Him with Patience : but, as foon as He had ended his Remonfl"rance, replied j " Let the Money be inflantly paid. I am de- *' lighted with this Philofopher's way of think- *' ing. He has done me a fingular Honour ; •* and fliewed, by the Largenefs of his Re- " quell, what a high Idea He has conceived, " both of my fuperior Wealth, and my royal " Munificence."
Thusj * About ten thoufand Pounds,
DIALOGUE XV. igi
Thus, my dear Theron, let us honour, what the infpired Penman ftyles, 'The marvelous Lov^ ing-kindnefs of JEHO VAH. From the King, whofe Name is the LORD of Hofts, let Us ex-
pe6t not barely what correfponds with our
low Models of Generofity much lefs v^hat
We fuppofe proportioned to our fanfied De- fers but what is fuitable to the unknown
Magnificence of his Name, and the unbound- ed Benevolence of his Heart. Then We fhall chearfully and affuredly trull, that CHRIS'T JESUS will be made of GOD tolls Wijdom, and Righteoufncfs, and SanBifcationy and Re- demption,
Ther. I have not only no Merit, but great Guih*. Was, by Nature, a Child of Wrath. Have been, by Pra6lice, a Slave of Sin. And,
what
* I believe, No One experienced in the fptritual Life will fufpeft, that Theron fpeaks out of Charader.—Confcience, .when once alarmed, is a flubborn and unceremonious Thing. It pays no Deference to Wealth : it never ftands in awe of Grandeur : neither caa it be foothed by the Refine- ments of Education, or the Attainments of Learning, And We generally find, that a moft unaccountable Propenfity to Self-worthinefs^ ftrongly pofTefles the new-awakened Con- vert. He is perpetually raifing Objetlions, founded on the Want of peifonal Merit; notwithftanding all our Remon- flranccs, to quiet his Fears, and remove his Jealoufies. It is truly a hard Talk, for a Mind, natur:iliy leavened with legal Pride, to come naked and miferable to CHRIST — to come, diverted of every Recommendation but that of ex- treme Wretchednefs ; and receive, from the Hand of un- merited Benignity, the free Riches of evangelical Grace.
U 2
292 DIALOGUE XV.
what' is worfe, am flill corrupt j have flill a
carnal Heart. And has not fuch a Wretch
forfeited all Title to the Divine Favour ? Nay, does He not deferve the Vengeance of eternal Fire ?
Jfp. That We all deferve this Mifery, is beyond Difpute. I am truly glad, that We are fenfible of our Demerit. Here our Reco- very begins. Now We are to believe, that the LORD JESUS has fatisfied Divine Juftice; has paid a glorious Price, on purpofe to ob- tain for fuch ill-deferving, fuch Hell-deferving Creatures, all Pardon, all Holinefs, and ever- lafting Happinefs. According to the Import of that charming Scripture, When We were Enemies (and what is there in an Enemy, to befpeak Favour, or deferve Benefits ?) JVe were reconciled to GOD by the Death of his SON**
^ As it is Pride, to entertain high Notions
of our own Accomplifliments, or to expert eternal Life on the Score of our own Obedi- ence J fo it will be an Affront to the Grandeur of C//i^/,S T''s Merits, and the Freenefs of his Grace, if We fuppofe our Crimes too heinous to be forgiven, or our Perfons too vile to be accepted.
You have great Guilt. But is this a Rea- fon, why You. fhould be excluded from the Bleffings of the Cov eant ? Contemplate the
State
* Rom. V. 10.
DIALOGUE XV. 293
State of that forlorn and wretched Outcall, defcribed in the fixteenth of Ezeklel. An In- fant in its Blood: this reprefents a Sinner, who has nothing to excite Love, but all that may- provoke Abhorrence. Yet, what fays the HOLY ONE of Ifraen When I Jaw "Thee, not waflied, and purified, and made meet for my Acceptance, but polluted in thy Blood * ; loath- fome with Defilement, and laden with Ini- quity : then, even then IJaid unto Thee^ Live : Ifpread my Skirt over 'Thee j and Thou becamcji mine. This is the Manner of his Proceeding, not barely to one Nation, but to all his Peo- ple; not in one Period of Time only, but through all Generations.
You are 7?/// corrupt : One that is fenfible of his Corruption, and acknowledges his Sinful- nefs ! Then You are the very Perfouj for whom the saviour's Righteoufnefs is intended 5 to whom it is promifed. You are a Gover- nor of the County-hofpital, Theron. You have been induftrious in promoting, and are acSliv^ in fupporting, that excellent Inititution ; where Medicine with her healing Stores, and Reli- gion with her heavenly Hopes, a6t as joint
Hand-
* The Words are peculiarlyemphatical j not only doubled, but redoubled. To denote, at once, the Sira7:genefs of the Fad, yet the Certainty of the Favour. IVhen I pajfed b^ thee^ andfaw thee polluted in thine oivn Blood, I /aid unto thee when thou waft in thy Bloody Live : yea, I J aid tint'j thee ivhtn thou tvajt in thy Blcod, Liv(. Ezek\ xvi. 6.
u 3
294 E> I A L O G U E XV.
Handmaids to Charity. What are the Cir- Gumftances, which render any Perfons the proper Obje6ts, for an AdmiiTion into your Infirmary ?
^her. Their Poverty, and their Diflemper. Without Poverty^ they would not need ; and free from Di/ie?npery they would not prize, the Benefit of our modern Bethefda,
Afp. Apply this to the Cafe under Confide- ration. The whole World is in a State of fpiritual Diforder. CHRIST is flyled, by an infpired Writer, The LORD our Healer*, The Gift of his Righteoufnefs, the Balm of his Blood, and the Influences of his SPIRIT, are the fovereign Reflorative. And fure it cannot be a fanfiful Perfuafion of our Health, but a feeling Convidion of our Difeafe, that renders Us proper Objects of his recovering
Grace. He came^ not to call the Righteous,
the Righteous in their own Eyes, but Sinners -f- 5 felf-condemned and ruined Sinners, to exer- cife Repentance^ and find Mercy.
Ther, But, if any foolifli and refractory Pa- tients have abufed our Beneficence j it is a {landing unalterable Rule of the Houfe, ne- ver to admit them a fecond Time ; however prelfing their Exigencies, or however power- ful their Recommender. I have, not once only, but through the whole Courfe of my
Life,
* £xod,Y.v, 26. t Matt.ix. 13.
DIALOGUE XV. 295
Life, abufed the marvelous Loving-kinduefs of the LORD.
Afp. And is not the LORD fuperior to all his Creatures, in A61:s of Fardon, as well as of Power f Yes ; as thofe Fleavens are higher, than this proftrate Earth j (6 much more in- larged and extenfive is the divint^- Clemency
than the widell: Sphere of human Kind-
nefs, fhall I fay? Rather than the boldeil Flights of human Irnagination. Your Statutes are inexorable, in Cafe of one notorious L're- gularity committed. Buf the free Gift of Grace is vouchfafed, notwithflanding nmny Offences ^ unto fuftif cation *. It is the Glory of our Al- mighty RULER, and redounds to the Honour of his crucified SON, to pafs over -f not a fmgle Tranfgreffion only, but a Multitude of Pro- vocations ; to be as unequaled in Mercy, as He is fupreme in Majefty.
T^heron paufed. — Thefe Confiderations feem- ed to operate : This Anodyne to take effe^l. Defirous- to improve the favourable Junc- ture, ^nd fet Home the needed Confolation, Afpafio added :
How often did the Inhabitants of ferufalein^ difregard the Warnings, and reject the Coun- fels, of our blefTed LORD ! How juftly might He have fworn in his Wrath j " They Ihali " never hear the joyful Sound of my Gofpel
" more.
* Rom, V. 16. t Prov. xix. ii.
U 4.
296 D I A L O G U E XV.
*' more. The BleiTings, which they have (6 •* wantonly defpifed, and fo wickedly abufed,
" fhall be irrevocably withdrawn." Inftead
of pafTmg fuch a Sentence, hear the Charge, which, after his Refurreclion, He gives to his Apollles : T'bat Repentance and Remijion of Sins fiouJd be preached^ in my Name^ to all Nations, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM*. — At Jerufalem, LORD! Have not the Men of that ungrate- ful and barbarous City, been deaf to thy ten- derefl Importunities ? Did they not perfecute Thee even unto Death ? Are not their Wea- pons ftill reeking, as it were, with thy Blood j and their Tongues ftill fhooting out Arrows, even bitter Words ? By which they would murder thy Chara6ter, as they have already crucified thy Perfon. Yet thefe Wretches (and could any be more inhuman ? Could any be more unworthy ?) are not only not abhorred, but unto them is the Meffage of Grace, and the Word of Salvation fent. Nay, to fhew the unparalleled Freenefs of our REDEEMER'S Grace, Thefe zvcfirji upon the heavenly Lift. The glad Tidings of Pardon and Life, which are to be publifned through the World, muft begin (amazing Mercy !) must begin at ycrufalem,
I'her. Thus much I may venture to profefs in my own Behalf: That I long for this BlefT-
ing
* Luke xxiv. 47.
DIALOGUE XV. 297
ing — I pray for this Bleffing But I cannot
fee my Title, to this comprehenfive and inef- timable Bleffing, clear.
Afp. I behold it perfe6lly clear, and afcer- tained by your own Confeffion. — Some Days ago, a worthy Clergyman, who lately came to fettle in the Neighbourhood, did Himfelf the Honour of making one at your Table. Af- ter Dinner, You fhewed Him your Library ; We took a Walk in your Garden ; and made the agreeable Tour of the Fifli-Ponds. Then
^with that amiable Franknefs of Mien and
Accent, which is fo peculiar to my Friend,
and exceedingly endears all his Favours
You told Him ; " That He was as welcome " to any Book in your Study, as if the whole " Colle6lion was his own. That if, on a " Vifit from fome Acquaintance of fuperior " Rank, He fhould wifh to be accommodated " with a more delicate Entertainment than " ufual ; the Productions of your Waters, ** and of your Hot-beds, were intirely at his " Service. And that his Acceptance of your " Offers, without the leafl Shynefs or Referve, " would be the moft pleafnig Compliment, " He could pay You on the Occafion."
What fays the great PROPRIETOR of all Good ? If any Man, however unworthy his Perfon, or obnoxious his Character, thirjl \ thirit for the Blcffings of my evangelical King- dom }
298 DIALOGUE XV.
dom ; let Hhn come unto rne^ the Fountain of thefe living Waters, and drink his Fill*. — You Yourfelf acknowledge, that You long for the facred Privileges of the Gofpel. Your Heart is awakened into habitual and lively Defires after the Salvation of CHRISr. What is this but, in the fpiritual Senfe, to thirft ? To You therefore the Promife is made. To You the Riches of this benign Difpenfation belong.
That Clergyman has not the leaft Sufpicion of being difappointed, in cafe He fhould fend for a Brace of Carp from your Canal, or a
fine Melon from your Garden. Why is He
fo confident .? Becaufe He has done You any fignal Service ? No j but becaufe You have pafled your Word, and made the generous
Offer. And why fhould You harbour the
leaft Doubt, concerning the Divine Veracity ? Why fhould You call in queftion your Right to thefe heavenly Treafures ? Since it is found- ed on a Grant, altogether as free, altogether as clear, as your own indulgent Conceflion ; and infinitely more firm, than any human Engagement. Foundecf on the Fidelity of that fublime BEING, who '' remembers his Cove- ** nant and Promife to a thoufand Genera- *' tions."
T^'her. It is impofiible to confute, yet diffi- cult to believe, what You urge.
* John vii. 37.
D I A L O G U E XV. 299
Afp. What I urge, is not of the Voice of a few dubious Pafiages, nicely culled from the Book of GOD, or forcibly wrefled by the Interpretation of Man. The whole Tenour of Inlpiration runs, with the greatefl Perfpi- cuity, and the greatefl Uniformity, in this de- lightful Strain. — Let me, out of a Multitude, produce another Exprefs from the Court of Heaven. Ho ! every One that ihirfteth, come Te to the Waters^ even He that hath no Money, Come'Tej buy and eat : yea-, come, buy Wine and
Milky without Money and without Price *.
Wine and Milk, undoubtedly fignify the Par- don of our Sins, and the Juftification of our Perfons j the Communications of fanctifying Grace, and the Hope of eternal Glory. Thefe are nourifliing and refrefhing to the Soul, as Milk the richell: of Foods, and as Wine the befl of Cordials, are to the Body. Thefe, You fee, are to be obtained, without Money, and without Price : without any Merit of ouf own ; without any Plea deduced from Our- felves J by poor, undone, perifliing Bankrupts, — They are to be enjoyed by every Ojie, that unfeignedly efteems them, and earneflly feeks them. No Exception is made. No exclufive Claufc added. It is not faid. Whoever is wor^ thy, but whoever will, let Him take of the Water of Life freely -f . — To leave no Room
for
* Ifai, Iv. I. f Kev. xxii. 17,
300 DIALOGUE XV.
for any mifgiving Apprehenfions, the kind In- vitation is renewed j the invaluable Tender is reconfirmed; and both are prefled upon Us with the moil afFe6lionate Vehemence.
Had our heavenly BENEFACTOR permit- ted Us to draw up this Inftrument of Convey- ance, and word it according to our own W^ifh; what Language could We have contrived, to render either the Grant more free, or our Claim more fecure ?
I'her. Thefe are chearing Truths. They amount to little lefs than a Demonftration. ■ And I am ready to declare, in the Language of Agrippa-j Almofi Thou perfuadefl me to commence a Believer.
Afp. And why, my dear Friend, why not altogether f Can You diftruft the Sincerity of the divine Overtures ? If the Overtures are real,i your Title is unqueilionable. — Nay ; there is more than an Overture. You have an aBual Gift, from the Almighty MAJESTY. To Us, fays the Prophet — including all that wait for the Redemption of CHRIST, and the Con- iblation of Ifrael — a Child is born^. To Us — He repeats the precious Truth ; to declare his exuberant Joy -f , and denote the abfolute
Cer-
* Ifai. ix. 6, f Virgil has copied the Prophet's ^ne Manner. He re- prefents Joy, uttering her Sentiments, in the fame fpirited l^train, with the fame reiterated Earneftnefs :
Jrlumilemque videmus
Italiam. Italiam primus conclamat Achates. Ifaliam lata Socii Clamorejalutant^
D I A L O G U E XV. 301
Certainty * of the Thing — a Son is given. Even GOD'S own SON, the ever blefTed JESUS, to be our PROPITIATION, our SURETY, our complete REDEEMER.
Juft caft a Look upon yonder neat Lodge. Though placed in the Center of a fpacious Field, it feems to be contiguous w^ith the Ex- tremity of the Vifta. The Eye, traveling over fuch a Length of Ground, has almoft loft the Windov^s, and the decent Ornaments of the Front, But I fhall not foon lofe the Idea of that amiable Munificence; w^hich, as I was rambling one pleafant Morning, and acciden- tally called at the Houfe, I learned from its prefent Owner. — He was, I find, one of your Servants. Had fpent feveral Years in your Family. When He fettled in the World, You beftowed upon him that commodious Box, and a pretty adjacent Farm; to pofTefs, without Moleftation or Controul, during his Life. — Does He not reckon the little Eftate, by virtue of your Donation, to be his own ? As much his own, for the Time prefcribed, as if He had
paid an Equivalent in Money ? Since the
LORD JEHOVAH has given Us his SON and all his unutterable Merits ; why fhould We not, with an AfTurance of Faith, receive the incomparable Gift ? Why fliould We not confide in it, as firmer than the firmeft Deed ?
and _ * See Gi,'tt, x\l 32,
302 DIALOGUE XV.
and far more inviolable, than any royal Pa- tent?— Efpecially, fince it has been fealed to •Us, in every facramental Ordinance -, and wit- nelled by every good Motion of the HOLY S P I R I T in our Hearts.
'T^ber. My Servant never affronted my Au- thority. If He had vilified my Chara6ler, or infulted my Perfon, fhould I then have been inclined to make the fame advantageous Set- tlement ?
^Jp. Herein appears the infinite Superiority of the divine Bounty. GOD is rich in Mercy, not only to the Obedient and Grateful, but to the Unthankful and Unworthy, ^o the LORD our GOD, fays the Prophet, belong Mercies and Forghenejfes i in Meafure fuperabundant, and in Continuance unwearied. And this, notwiih- fianding We have offended Him, by our mani- fold Failures in Duty. Nay, have rebelled * - againft him, by flagrant Violations of his Law.
In
* Da7i. ix. 9. The Original is ^^l*!^ than which no Ex- preflion, in the Hebrew Language, bears a more obnoxious Signification. It denotes the moft audacious and the moft flagitious Impiety. It denotes that Rebellion, zuhich is as the Sin of Witchcraft \ and that Stitbbornnefs, which is as the Ini- quity of Idolatry. Yet, all virulent and execrable as it is, it does not fupprefs the Yearnings of divine Pity, nor fuper- fede the Exercife of divine Forgivenefs. — With a Word de- rived from the fame Root, Saul, w^hen exafperated almoft to IVIadnefs, upbraids Jonathan. And we know, Perfons fo extremely incenfed, never fpealc in the foftefl Terms ; never touch the Subjed with a Feather, but make their Tongue like a fharp Sword.
^ . May
DIALOGUE XV. 303
In fweet Concert with this prophetical Lef- fon, fings the tranfportedPp/^v;//?; T^hou, LORD, in thy facred Humanity, haji afcended upon high : afcended, from the low Caverns of the Tomb, to the higheft Throne in the highefh Heavens. — 7'hou haJi led Captivity captive : haft abolifhed Death, that univerfal Tyrant ; and fubdued thofe Powers of Darknefs, which had inflaved the whole World.- — Like a glorious ^W trium- phant Conqueror, Thou haft alfo received Gifts ; not merely for thy own Fruition, but to con- fer on Others, by way of honorary and inrich- ingLargenefs. — What are thofe Gifts, 'Therojjf
T^her, The Gifts of the Gofpel, I fuppofe : Pardon of Sin, the Influences of the Holy Spirit, and thofe other Privileges of Chrijii- afiity ; which conftitute the prefent Happinefs of Mankind, and prepare them for future Blifs.
Afp. You rightly judge. — And for whom were thefe royal, thefe heavenly Donatives re- ceived ?
'Ther, May I venture to add ? That our Tranflators feem to miftake the proper AppHcation of the afore-mentioned Paf- fage. They reprefent Saul's Inveaive, flying as ivide of the Mark, as it is over-ehnrged With Malice. — Son of the perverfe rebellious Woman! This might beafferted, without theleaft Impeachment o{ Jonathan's perfonal Loyahy. — Befides, is it not exceffively indecent, as well as abfolutely unreafonablc, to reflea upon the Mother, for the Mifdemeanours of the Son ? •— Surely, the Claufe fhould be rendered, in perfea Confiftence with the Genius of the Original ; Thou Son of perverfe Rebellion ; or, more agreeably to the Englijh Idiom, Thou perverfe rebdlious JVrsUh ! i Sam. xx. 30,
304 DIALOGUE XV.
Ther. Let me recollect — Thou receivedji Gifts
— not for fallen Angels, hut for Men And
not for thy Friends, but for thy Enemies — yea, for the Rebellious alfo *. — Merciful Heaven ! What a Word is this ! And does it come from the G O D of Truth ? — Gifts ! Divine Gifts ! Gifts of unfpeakable Value, and eternal Dura- tion ! And thefe to be conferred on Enemies, on the Rebellious ! Wretches who were defli- tute of all gracious Qualifications ; who deferv- ed not the leafl Favour ; but had Reafon to ex- pert the Frowns of Indignation, and the Sword of Vengeance 1
Afp, Thus it is written, in thofe facred Con- flitutions i which are far more ftedfaft and un- alterable, than the Law of the Medes and Per-
fans, Thus it is fpoken, by the Mouth of
that almighty B E I N G j with whom there is no Variablenefs, nor the leaft Shadow of Turn- ing.— Let Us not, my dear Friend, by unrea- fonable Unbelief, fruflrate all thefe Promifes, and reje6l our own Mercies. Let us not, by an evil Heart of Unbelief, make GOD a Lyar ; and make Ourfelves, of all Creatures, mofl miferable.
But fee ! — The Clouds, that hung their a- greeable Sables, to damp the Ardour, and a- bate the Glare of Day, are departing. The
Sun
* Pfctl, Ixviii. 1 8.
DIALOGUE XV. 305
Sun has been colouring their fleecy Skirts, and fpreading over the floating Screen a Variety of interchangeable Hues. Now He begins to edge them with Gold, and fliine them into Silver. A fure Indication, that (like the glittering^ but tra?ifitory Toys, they reprefent) they will Toon be fwept from the Horizon, and feen no more.
The bright Orb, while We are fpeaking,
burfl:s the Veil j and, from a voluminous Pomp of parting Clouds, pours a Flood of Splendor over all the Face of Nature. — We fhall quick- ly perceive this open Situation, too hot to con- fill: with Pleafure : and muft be obliged to feek for Shelter, in the fliady Apartments of the Houfe.
Will you admit me, liheron^ into thofe fliady Apartments ? May I hope to obtain this Fa- vour ?
'Hher, Hope to obtain ! Afpafio ! 1 am fur-
prifed at your Queftion. I thought You had known me better ; and am forry, it fliould be needful to alFure You, that my Houfe is as much your own, as it is mine. The more freely You command it, the more highly you will oblige me.
Afp. May I believe You, I'heron ? Do you fpeak from your Heart ? Or muft I conclude, that You plaufibly profefs, what You have no
Intention to perform ? Would you be
pleafed, if I fliould obflinatelv peififl; m tb'ele
Vol. III. X ' dilho-
3o6 D I A L O G U E XV.
difhonoura])le Sufpicions, notwithflanding all your friendly Proteftations ?
I'hcr. My dear Affafio, I fee your Defign. I fee, and am afliapaed. Afhamcd to think, that I fhould fanfy myfelf more pun6lual in my ProfelTions, than G O D is true to his Word,
LO RDy I believe. Help T^hou mine Un^
belief!
D I A-
DIALOGUE XVI.
H^^S^^^UR Friends had agreed upon t^ ^^ makins: a Vifit to P/6/7£7?5r. They ^^ SC ^'^^^ through a fine, open, fruit- J0~9^f^ ful Country. Which was covered i^#^^J^ with Crops of ripened Corn ; and
occupied by feveral Parties of Ruftics, gather- ing in the copious HarveJI.
The Rye, white and hoary as it were with Age, waved its bearded Billows, and gave a
dry bulky Ruftle before the Breeze. The
Wheat, laden with Plenty, and beautifully brown, hung the heavy Head j and invited, by its bending Pofture, the Reaper's Hand. Piatts oi Barky, and Acres oiOats, flood white or whitening in the Sun. Upright, and per- feftly even, as though the Gardener's Shears had clipped them at the Top, they gratified the Spedator's Eye, but gladdened the Farmer's
X 2 Heart,
3o8 DIALOGUE XVI.
Heart. Beans, partly clad in native Green,
partly transformed and tawny with the parch- ing Ray, were preparing "the laft Employ for
the crooked Weapon. Some of the Grain
lay flat, in regular Rows, on the new-made Stubble. Some was ere6led, in graceful Shocks, along the briftly Ridges. Some, conveyed home- wards on the loaded Waggon, nodded over the groaning Axle.
The Villages feemed tobeem.pty, and all their Inhabitants poured into the Plains. Here were
Perfons of each Sex, and of every Age.
The lufly Toufhs, {looping to their Work, plied the Sickle -, or fwept, with their Scythes, the
falling Ranks. The buxom LaJ/es followed,
binding the Handfuls into Sheaves, or piling the Swarths into hafly Cocks. — Difpcrfed up and down were the Children of the Needy, glean- ing the fcattered Ears, and picking their fcanty Harveft. — Nor were the o/^ People abfent 5 but crawling into the Sun, or fitting on a fhady Eminence, they beheld the Toils — the pleafing Toils they once fultained.
This is the mofl joyful Period of the Coun- tiyman's Life ; the long expe6ted Crown of all his Labours. For this. He broke the ftub- born Glebe, and manured the impoveriflied Soil. For tliis. He bore the fultry Beams of Summer, and fhrunk not from the pinching Blafts of V/inter. For tl^js, He toiled ;iway
the
DIALOGUE XVI. 309
the Year, in a Round of ceafelefs but willing A6livity. Knowing, that the Hiipandman mnjl
hbour^ before He partakes of the Fruits *. .
And will not the bleffed Hope of everlafling Life ; will not the bright Expe6lation of con- fummate Blifs, animate Us with an equally chearful Refolution, both to refift the Tempta- tions, and difcharge the Duties of our pre- fent State ?
Short feemed the Way, and quick pafTed the Time, as they traveled through fuch Scenes of rural Abundance, and rural Delight. Be- fore they were aware, the Horfes flopped at Philenors Seat. Where they found, to their no fmall Difappointment, that the Mafter was gone abroad. They alighted however, and took a Walk in the Gardens.
The Gardens, at proper Intervals, and in well-chofen Situations, w^ere interlperfed with Pieces of Statnarw At the Turn of a Corner, You are — not fhocked with a naked Gladia- tor, or a beaftly Friatus — but agreeably fur- prifed with the Image of TLdly, He feems to
be
* 2 T'nn. ii. 6. Be%a thinks, that in fettling the Conftruc- tion of this Verfe, the Adverb urpwlou fliould be connected with the Participle xoTs-iajvla. If fo, the Tranflaticn cxhibitcJ above, may bid fair for Acceptance ; and, one of the moft celebrated Hiftorians, may have the Honour of commenting on the greateft of the Apoftles ; l^cc ill'i falfi funt^ qui dh'er- JiJJtmas Res expeclant^ Ignaz'ia: Volupititrm^ (nf Pravnia Vir- tutis. Saluft. They are, beyond all Difpute, moft egrcgiou fly miftalccn, who hope to unite thofe incompatible 'i hings, the PJcalurcs of Indolence, and the Rewards of Indudrv.
X3
3IO DIALOGUE XVI.
be juil rifen from his Seat, and upon the Point of addreffing Himfelf to fome important Ora- tion. A reverential Awe appears in his Coun- tenance ; hke one fenfible, that he is to plead before the Rulers of the World. Sedate, at the fame time, and collected in Himfelf ; like one confcious of fuperior Eloquence, and embold- ened by the Jullice of his Caufe. His thought- ful Afpect, and gracefully expanded Arm, fpeak to the Eye, before the Tongue has uttered a Syllable.
You enter an Alley, lined on either Side with a verdant Fan ; and having no Variety of Ob- jecls to diverfify the intermediate Space, your View is conduced to a magnificent Building at the End. As You walk along, contemplat- ing the maflerly Performance in Architeft ure, an unexpeded Opening diverts your Attention ; and prefents You with fome fine Imitation of virtuous or heroic Life. — Not the Macedonian Madman -, nor Sivcdens royal Knight-errant ; nor Ccefar^ infamoully renowned for his flaugh- tered Millions j but the truly gallant Czar. A drawn Sword in his Hand, and a command- ing majeftic Sternnefs on his Brow. The Wea- pon is held in the moft menacing Poflure ; and many a Spe6fator has been obferved to Itart back, with Apprehenfions of Fear. It is that glorioufly fevere Attitude, in which the grateful Citizens of Narva beheld Him, and
in
DIALOGUE XVL 311
in which all Pofterity will admire Him j when He turned upon his own viftorious, hut un- governable Troops, and threatened to drench the Dagger in their Hearts, if they did not im- mediately defifl from Rapine * and Slaughter; immediately allow Quarter to their vanquilhed Foes.
Under a circular Dome, fupported by Pillars of the Doric Order, and in a Spot where fc- veral Walks center, ftands — not the Ve?ws a Medlcis'y corrupting, while it captivates, the World — but a Spartan Mother. Her Habit decent and venerable 3 fomewhat like the 'JiinQ Matrona of the Romans, as She is finely depic- tured in Mr. Spences Polymetis. Her Air ftately andrefolved; expreffive of Dignity, yet mingled with Softnefs. She holds a Shield : is in the very A61 of delivering it to her Son -, a Youth, fetting out for the Army, and going to hazard his Life, in the Defence of his Country. She is fuppofed to add that fpirited and magna- nimous Exhortation, which is engraven on the Protuberance of the Buckler — ^ tocv, tj stti rxg — Bring it back, my Son^ as thy T^7'ophy ; or, be brought back upon it, as thy Bier.
I
* " As foon as the Soldiers were Maftcrs of the Town, *' (Narva) they fell to Plurider, and a;ave themfelvcs up to *' the moft enormous Barbarities. 'T\\c Czar tau from Place *' to Place, to put a ftop to the Diforderand Mafiacre He *' was even obliged to kill with his own Hand feveral Jl'IuJ- ** covltesy who d;d not hearken to his Orders."
Vdialrc"^ KA\. Ckul XII. X4
312 DIALOGUE XVI.
I am particularly pleafed, faid T^heron^ witli the Contrivance of this lafl Ornament. It is regulated by one of the moft refined Rules of Art i not to lavifh away all the Beauty at a fmele View, but to make a Ikilful Referve for
fome future Occafion. The Dome and the
Columns afford Pleafure, when beheld at a confiderable Diflance. The fine Figure in the midft difplays its Graces, on a nearer Approach. By which means, the Attention is kept awake, and the Entertainment continues new.
But what I principally admire, is the S>pirtt or ^tyle of the Decorations in general. They put me in mind of a very jufl Remark, which Mr. Fope has fomewhere made. It is, if I re- member right, to this Effect. " A Man not
*' only fhews his Tafte, but his Virtue, in the ^* Choice of his Ornaments. A proper Piece of " Hiftory, reprefented in Painting on a rich *' Man's Walls, (or exhibited in Imagery amidji " his Gardens) is very often a better Leffon, " than any He could teach by his Converfa- *' tion. In this Senfe, the Stones may be faid *' to fpeak, when Men cannot, or will not." — All but the comparati^ce or fatyrical Part of the Obfervation, I would apply to the Profpe6l before Us, and its worthy Owner.
Afp. Philenors Gardens, I think, are more chaite and delicate in their Ornaments, than a certain collegiate Church. In the latter Place,
Wc
■ DIALOGUE XVI. 313
We might reafonably expect a Purity and a Decorum, if We fliould not meet with the Symbols of Piety and Incitements to Religion. — What would a judicious Obferver fay, if, in one of thofe folemn and venerable Edifices, He (hould fee a huge brawny Fellow fluck up againft the Wall j with his Pofteriors half barej his whole Body more than half naked 3 and in
an Attitude none of the mofl decent * ?
Excufe me, ^heron. I confefs myfelf afhamcd of the Defcription, How then can the Spec- tacle become the Houfe of Divine Worfhip ?
T^her. But perhaps this fame brawny Fellow may reprefent a Heathen Demigod j one of the Idols worfliipped by Antiquity; the tutelary Deity oi Valour,
* Referring to the Monument, lately erecSled for AIa jor General Flemming, in IVeJiinlnjlcr- Abbey. Where, un- der the General's Buft, are placed Hercules and Pallas. Her- cules., with his Club and Lyon's Skin, in the Manner related above. Pallas., with a Mirrour and a Serpent at her Side. — • As this Church has been the Burial Place of the moil illuf- trious Perfonages, for many Centuries ; as it is the Place, where <?// our Kings receive their Crowns, and ;«rt»y of them depofit their Afhes ; as it is fingularly eminent for its Anti- quities and Monuments ; there is a large Refort both of Na- tives and Foreigners, to view its grand and awful Curioiities. Whatever, therefore, is erctffcd in an Edifice fo diftinguifhcd, fhould not only have an Air oi Elegance in the Execution, but a Beauty of Holme js in the Defign. — It was thought, by a very fine and a very candid Writer, that mere Imfroj>ricty of Tafte, in ornamenting one of the Monuments, called for his Cenfure. Surely then a Violation of Decency., and an Approach to Pagantjm., call more loudly for public Ajiiiuad- vcffion, and proper Reforiraiation. Set- ^e6t. Vol. I. jN*-' 26,
314 DIALOGUE XVL
Jfp, And will this juftify the Praftice ? Does not this add Profanenefs to Immodcfty? Arc We Chrifiiam to thank Hercules for the Valour of our Warriors, and make our Acknowledg- ments to Pallas for the Condu6l of our Gene- rals ? Shall We Chrijlians behold with Admira- tion, or recognize as our Benefactors, what the Apoftle has fligmatized under the Charac- ter of Devils * f
If H E, who overthrew the Tables of the Money-changers, had taken a Walk in thefe famous Cloyilers, I am apt to fufpe61:, He would have paid no very agreeable Compli- ment to this fine Piece of Statuary. T'ake thefe 'things hence ^ would probably have been his Command -, and, make not the FrecinBs of your 'temple a Chamber o/' Pagan Imagery ^ his Re- buke -[-. — Neither is it at all unlikely, that the Image itfelf, notwithftanding its inimitable Workmanfliip, might have fhared the Fate of its Kinfman D^^gon;
'When the captive Ark
Maim'd his brute Image , Head and Hands
lopfd off In his oivn I'emple^ on the Groiindfell Edge When He fell fat J a?id fanid his Worfippers J.
'Ther. But how Ihould the Artifl reprefent the great Atchievements and the fhining Qua- lities
* I Car. X. 20. ijolm ii. i6. % Milton, ^. I. 458.
DIALOGUE XVI. 315
lities of his Hero, if You will not allow Him to make ufe of thQ^JignificajiJ Emblems ?
Afp. I queflion, whether they are fo very fignificant. The Mirrour feems to charac- terize a Fop, rather than a Soldier. It leads Us to think of a foft NarciJJiis, admiring Him- felf; rather than a fagacious General, planning
the Operations of the Campaign. Befuies ;
is facred Literature fo deftitute of proper Em- blems, that We muft borrow the Decorations of our Churches and the Trophies of our Con- querors, from the Dreams of Superftition or the Delufions of Idolatry ? How juft and ex- preffive are thofe emblematical Reprefentatlons, exhibited in EzekieFs Vifion ! Where A6livity and Speed are fignified by Hands in Conjunc- tion with Wifigs ; and the deep, the compli- cated, yet ever harmonious Schemes of Pro- vidence, by a Wheel in the Middle of a Wheel. With what Propriety and Force are the noblefl Endowments pidured, in the Revelations of St. John, and their grand Machinery ! Superior Wifdom and Benevolence of Heart, are de- fcribed by the Face of a Man-, Strength of Mind and Intrepidity of Spirit, by the Vifage of a Lion ; Calmnefs of Temper and indefa- tigable Application, by the Features of an Ox; a penetrating Difcernment, and an expedi- tious Habit of adling, by the Form of a fil-
ing Eagle *.
Thefe
* Kev. iv. 7.
3i6 D I A L O G-U E XVI.
Thefc Hieroglyphics are graceful, are perti- nent, and fuch as every Spe6lator will under- fland. Whereas, the Devices of our new mo- numental Encomium are, I fear, to the Un- learned hardly inteUigible j to the Serious, little better than profane ; and to every Be- holder, indelicate if not immodeft. — Philenor, I imagine, would blufh to admit them into his Walks or Avenues. And I am forry to find them received into the mofl antient *, mofi: renowned, and mofl frequented Church in the Kingdom.
Talking in this Manner, they come to a curious Grove, formed on that uncommon Plan, propofed by Mr. Addifin^ in one of his SpeBa-
tors. It confifled wholly of Rvergrcens. Firs,
clad in verdant Silver, pointed their refmous Leaves, and fhot aloft their towering Canes. Laurels arrayed in glolTy Green, fpread their ample Foliage, and threw abroad their ramb- ling Boughs. — Bay-trees were expanded into a Fan, that no Weather could tarnifli , or round- ed into a Column, that knew not how to moul- der. While the Laiiriifiinus ran out into a beau- tiful
* Some Antiquarians trace back the Origin of this Church, even to the Reign of Lucius. Which is more than the Space of 1500 Years, Others fuppofe, that iS't-Z'^rf, King of the Eaji-Saxons^ about the Year of our LORD 605, built the firft religious Structure on this Spot. All agree, that it was re-edified and inlargcd by Edward the Confejfor ; and that the prefent (lately and magnificent Fabric, was founded by Herny the third.
DIALOGUE XVI. 31-
tlful Irregularity of Shape j and compa6led her reddening Gems, in order to unfold her whiten- ing Bloom. — In one Place lay a Dale, gently finking, and coated with the Cha?nomiles natural Frieze ; which never changes its Colour, never lofes its Glofs. Near it, and fcooped. You would imagine, from the fame Hollow, arofe a Mount, foftly fwelling, and fhagged with Furze; gay with perennial Verdure, and ge- nerally decked with golden Bloflbms. — Here, You are led through a ferpentine Walk, and Hedges of jBox J and find, perhaps, a folitary Pyramid or a capacious Urn, each compofed of unfading Tew. There You look through a ftrait Alley, fenced on either Side, and arch- ed over Head, with mantling FhiUrea-, and fee, at the Extremity, an Obelilk fneathed in A;)', and ornamented with fable Clufters, as with Wreaths of living Sculpture.-— Scattered up and down, were feveral Sorts of Holly; fome flriped with White i fome fpotted v/ith Yellow J fome preparing to brighten and beau- tify the Scene, with Berries of glowing Scar- let.
The Heads of the Trees, arifing one above another, in a gradual Slope, from the diminu- tive Mazerean to the lofty Cyprefs ; the feve- ral Shadings of their green Attire, greatly di- verfified, and judicioufly intermixed j afford, efpecially in the Winter-feafon, a moll hi-
Ihcned
3i8 DIALOGUE XVI.
livened and lovely Profpe6l. — As the Sun-fhine is, by tlie Frequenters of this Grove, ufually more coveted than the Shade 3 it is fo difpofed, as to admit, in one Part or another, every Gleam of fine Weather, which exhilarates the Winter.
Afp, There miift be fomething unfpeakably pleafnig in a Plantation, w^hich appears lively and fruitful, v^hen all its Neighbours of the Woodland Race, are barren, bleak, or dead. But, how much more chearing and delightful mull: it be 5 when decrepit Age, or bodily In- firmities, have impaired the Vigour, and laid wafte the Gratifications of our youthful Prime ; to find a folid iindecaying Pleafure, in the Fa- vour of GOD, and the Hope of Glory ! — Now indeed the feathered Tribes refort to the more flowing Umbrage of the Poplar and the Afh. But amidft Decembers Cold, You fhall obferve them forfaking the leajlcfi Woods, and flock- ing to this friendly Receptacle ; hopping acrofs the funny Walks, or fheltering themfelves, in the wet and flormy Day, under thefe trufty Boughs. So, the many thoughtlefs Creatures, that turn their Back upon Religion, amidH the foft and foo thing Careffes of Profperity ; will want, extremely want, its Jovereign Supports, under the fharp and diflrelling AfTaults of Ad- verfity, Sicknefs, and Death. This Collec- tion, it is true, may not equal the Groves of
annual
D I A L O Q U E XVI. 319
annual Verdure, in Floridity of Drefs 5 but it far exceeds them, in the Duration of its Or- naments. Ere long, yonder fhewy Branches will be ftript of their Holiday Clothes : where- as, thefe will retain their Honours, when thofe are all Rags or Nakednefs. Thus will it be with every Refuge for our poor, imperfecl:, fmful Souls ; excepting only the Righteoufnefs of our XOi^D JESUS CHRIST, Every Thing elfe will fade as a Leaf^, This, my ^heron, and this alone is an Kvergreen : always free for our Acceptance, and always efFe6lual to fave.
^ber. An Evergreen it is. But, like the ruddy and golden Fruits, which hang on the upper- moft Boughs of thofe lofty Trees in the Orchard, it feems to be quite out of my Reach.
^Jp. Are You fenfible. That You neeJ this immaculate and perfe£l Righteoufnefs of our SAVIOUR?
J'her. Was Jonab fenfible, how much He needed the cooling Shelter of his Gourd > when the Sun fmote fiercely upon his Temples, and all the Fervours of the fiery Eafi: were glowing around Him ? — So is your I'beron fenfible, that, without a far better Righteouf- nefs than his own. He mufi: inevitably be con- demned by the Sentence of the Law, and can- , not fland before the high and holy GOD.
320 DIALOGUE XVI.
Afp. Remember then what our LORD fays io fiich Perfons j Come unto me, all ye that are 'weary and heavy laden, and I will give you Rejl * . — How gracious is the Invitation ! Cojjie unto me, the Giver of every good Gift, and the overflowing Source of Happinefs. — How extenfive is the Of- fer ! All that are weary under the Servitude of Sin, ajid heavy laden WiXh the Burden of Guilt. ALL thefe are called, and Tou, my Friend, in the Number. They have, not a Ticket, a Bond, or fome inferior Pledge of Affurancej but they have a Fromife, from Faithfulnefs and Truth itfelf. / will give them Reft, fays the Strength of Ifrael ; whofe Will is Fate, and his Word the Bafis of the Univerfe.— And if CHRIST will give You Reft ; He will wafli You in that Blood, which atones -, and inveil You with that Righteoufnefs, which juftifies. Since no- thins: fliort of thefe Mercies, can afford true Satisfa(5lion to the awakened Confcience.
Permit me to aik farther — Do you earneflly defire this Righteoufnefs ?
T^her. Will yonder Hirelings, when fatigued vv^ith the Heat and Burden of a long, labori- ous, fultryDay, defire the Shades of the Even- ing, and the Repofe of the Night ? — I can truly, on this Occafion, adopt the Words of the Prophet) 'T^he Defire of my Soul is to thy Name f , blefled JESUS, and to the Remem- brance of thy Righteoufnefs. The very Men- tion * Matt, xi. 28. t ^<?^ xxvi, 8.
DIALOGUE XVI. 321
tion of this fpotlefs Righteoufnefs is Mufic to
my Ears. Every frefli, though diflant Dif-
covery of it, gleams Pleafure upon my Mind.
And that would be a blefTed Day, a Day
greatly to be diftinguifhed, which fliould bring
it near to my View, and home to my Soul.
Afp, Behold I fays the SAVIOUR of the
World, I fi and at the Door ^ arid knock. If any
Man hear my Voice^ and open the Door, I will
cofue in unto Him, and will fiip with Him, and
He with me *. — Have you not fometimes, ^he-
ron, been overtaken by the dark and tempef-
tuous Night ? When, chilled with Cold, and
almoft drowned in the Rain, You arrived late
at the Houfe of fome valued Friend, was You
not willing to gain Admittance ? Perhaps,
You thought every Moment an Hour, till the
hofpitable Door opened : till you exchanged the
difmal Gloom, and the driving Storm, for the
chearful Light and the amiable Company
within. The. adored IM MANUEL pro-
feffes Himfelf equally willing to come unto
You, who hearken to his Voice, and confent
to his Overtures. Equally willing to make
his Abode with You 3 to manifeft his Glories
in You i and communicate his Merits to You.
All which will be refrefiing to the finful
Soul, as the moil famptuous Jianquet to the
famiflied Stomach and craving A})petite.
Tier, * Rev, iii. 20,
■'■ Vol. III. _ Y
322 DIALOGUE XVI.
I'her. I cannot open my Heart.
Jfp. CHR IS r has the Key of David, He cpenethj and none can jhut \ He Jhutteth, and none can open *. And what fays this all-power- ful REDEEMER ? Who does whatfie'ver pleafeth Him, in Heaven and Earth, in the Sea, and in all deep Places, even in the Dej)ths of the hu- man Heart. Bleffed are they, that hunger and thirji after Right eoiijnefs, for they Jhall be filed -f,
' Since You hunger after the Righteoufnefs,
and thirfl for the Spirit, of the crucified holy JESUS, Hehimfelf has pronounced You ^/^t'^. He himfelf has engaged. You fliall enjoy the Defire of your Soul > and not barely enjoy, but enjoy it abundantly, You fliall be filed, filled "with the Fruits of the everlafling Goipel ; be enriched with your REDEEMER'S Obedience, and adorned with his Image. — Then be not, my dear T^heron,. be not faithlefs, but believ- ing.
^her. This I believe, Afpafo — That I am a loft Sinner; under the Curfe of the Law> and hable to the Wrath of GOD. That there is no Relief for my Diftrefs, but in CHRIST and his tranfcendent Merits. HE, and He alofie, is able to fave me from my Guilt, and all its difmal Train of Miferies. He is a SAVIOUR fully proportioned to my V^ants; exadly fuited to my feveral NecefTities. 1
' believe,
* Riv.iiu 7. t Matt, V. 6,
DIALOGUE XVI. 52J
believe, and am perfuaded, That, if I was interelled in the Divine JESUS, my Soul fhould live.
^Jp. Be perfuaded likewife. That there is no clogging Qualification, no Worth to be pof- fefled, no Duty to be performed, in order to your full Participation of CHRIST and his Riches. Only believe, and they are all your own. CHRIST" dweUcth in our Hearts — How? By legal Works, and laborious Pre- requifites ? No ; but by Faith *. He that be^
lieveth on the SON, hath a chimerical ? far
from it i a real- and a fubftantial Happinefs ; even everlajiijtg Life -j*.
'Ther, Ah ! my Afpajio ! I cannot believe. I feel my Impotency. My Mind is, as You for- merly hinted, like the withered Arm.
Afp. It is no fmall Advantage, Iheron, to be convinced of our Inability in this Refpe(5V. This is, if not the Beginning of Faith, the Sign of its Approach j and ihews it to be, if not in the Soul, yet at the v^ery Door. — Fear not, my Friend, He that bids You llretch out, will ftrengthen the withered Arm. He firft makes Us fenfible of our Weaknefs, and t\itr\ fulfils all the good Pleafire of his Will, and the Work of Faith with Power X-
Can You doubt of his WlUingnefs ? Then go to Mount Calvary. 7'here liftcn to the Sound- ing
* E^h.m. 17. t John iii. 36. % 2Tbe{f.\. II.
Y 2
324 DIALOGUE XVI.
ing of his Bowelsy and of his Mercies towards I^ou *. Has not every Drop of Blood a Tongue ? Cannot You read a Language in each ftreaming Wound, and hear a Voice in
e\'ery dying Pang ? Do they not all fpeak
his infinite Love even to wretched Sinners ? Do they not all addrefs You with that tender Remonftrance, O T^hou of little Faith, where-
o fore dofi thou doubt -f? Nay ; do they not all
declare, with an Energy fuperior to the Force of Words, That He will deny You no Man- ner of Thing that is good ?
Who gave his Bloody what Gift will he with-hold !
Ther. I am afhamed to recoUedl, what mif- taken Notions I once entertained, concerning the Eafmefs of Believing. As though it were to be performed, like the A6t of rifing from our Seat, or flepping into a Coach, by our own Strength, and at our own Time. What a Stranger was I then to the Hardnefs of my Heart, and my Bondage under Sin !
Afp. Since you are fenfible of your Impo- tence, beware of the contrary Extreme. Becaufe You cannot, by your own Strength, exercife Faith, let not this occafion a tame Refignation of Yourfelf to Infidelity. You mufl endea- vour, diligently endeavour, to believe ; and wait, and pray, for the Divine SPIRIT.
Though
* ljai,\-^\xi. 15. t Matt.tCis. 31.
DIALOGUE XVI. 325
Though it is his Office to teftify of CHRJsr, and brmg near th^REDEE ME Rs Righteouf- nefs * : Yet his Influences are not to fuperfede, but to encourage our own Efforts. — ^JVork out your own Salvation with Fear and Trembling ; here is our Duty. For it is GOD that work- eth in you both to will and to do -f -j .here is our Encouragement. And O ! what a glorious Encouragement, to have the Arm of Omni- potence flretched out, for our Support and ®ur Succour !
You was once, Theron, a zealous Advocate for good Works. Now You feem to have abandoned your Clients. Remember, my dear Friend, what our LORD JESUS CHRIST faysi Th's is the Work of GOD, of all Works mofl acceptable and moft ho- nourable to the Divine Majefly, that Tou be- lieve on Hinty whom He hath fcnt J.
Ther. The true Belief, according to your Notion, Afpafwj is fo refined and exalted a Virtue, that I very much quellion, whether I fhall ever be able to attain it.
Afp. If you are unable to attain it, is the LORD unable to give it ? Our Sufficiency for this and every good Work, is not in Ourfelves, but in G O D. And to Him Difficulties are eafy. Before Him Mountains are a Plain. —
You
* IJai. xl. 13. t Phil. ii. 12, 13, J Johnvl. 21.
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326 DIALOGUE XVL
You will pleafe to remember, that Sinners are faid to believe, not through their own Ability, but through the Aids of Grace *. And You will permit me to alk, How you became ac- quainted with my Notion of Faith ?
Tber. I am not fo inattentive a Reader of your Letters, as to forget your Definition of this momentous Article. Faith, you fay, is « A real Perfuafion, that the bleffed JESUS " has fhed his Blood ^cr ?ne, and fulfilled all *' Righteoufnefs in my Stead: that, through *' this great Atonement and glorious Obedi- •^ ence, He has purchafed even for my finful " Soul, Reconciliation with GOD, fan6lify- " ing Grace, and all fpiritual Blefllngs -f-."
J[Jp. I am obliged to you, l'hero?i, for the Honour You do my Letter j and I hope. You will pay an equal Regard to the Determina- tion of our Church. You once apprehended, that my Attachment to the Church of Efig- land was unfettled and wavering. Judge now, who has moft thoroughly imbibed her Doc- trines, and is mofl invariably tenacious of her true Interefts. — In the firfl Fart of the Homily concerning the Sacrament, We have this De- finition of Faith 5 " It is a Belief, not only " that the Death of CiJi? 7^ 'T is available " for the Remiflion of Sins, and Rcconcilia- *' tion with GOD, but alfo that He made a
« full
* ASii xviii. 27. t See Letter X.
DIALOGUE XVI. 327
" full and fufficient Sacrifice for Thee, a per- " fe6l Cleanfing for thy Sim *. So that thou " mayil fay with the Apoftle, That he loved " Thee, and gave Himfelf for Thee."
My Notion of Faith, You fee, is evidently the Voice of the Eflablifiiment ; and, I think, it gives Us a clear intelligible Senfe, fulted to the moft common Acceptation of the Word. Such as would naturally arife in the Mind of a Stranger, who, without any Biafs on his Judgment, fhould inquire into the Purport of our Religion, or confider the Language of our Bible.
Ther, How fuited to the mofi: common Ac- ceptation of the Word ?
Afp. When You fent a MefTage to your Tenant — who, in his laft Sicknefs, exprefled fo much Uneafinefs oil account of his numer- ous Family, and embarraffed Circumflrances
afluring Him, that you had cancelled the
Bond, and forgiven his Debt. When You
told the poor Woman whofe Hulband fell
from the loaded Waggon, and broke both his Legs — that you would order a Surgeon to at- tend Him, and would continue his weekly Pay. How did they regard, how receive your promifed Kindnefs ? So let Us credit the gra- cious Declarations of our GOD; y^ accept his
bcne-
* Anfwerable to this, was the Do6^rine of the primitive Church j n Ztr^jj i^io-nwuixi tov Qsov. Chryfo/i.
Y4
328 DIALOGUE XVI.
beneficent Offers ; and then we fhall anfwer the Import of the Word — then we fliall truly believe,
T^her. I named the Obje6l of my Compaffion in one of the Inftances, and made a perfonal Apphcation in the other. Neither of which is done in the Scriptures.
Afp. Though We are not particularly nam- ed, yet We are very exadly defcribed, by our FaJTiily^ our Inclination^ our PraBice. — What fays eternal Wifdom, when fhe makes a Ten- der of her ineftimable Bleffings ? To Touy O Men, not to fallen Angels, I call ; and my Voice, is to the Sons of Men *. — What fays the holy Apo^ file, when He publiflies the Counfels of Heaven ? 'This is a faithfid Saying, and worthy of all Accep- tation, that CHRIST JESUS came into the World tofave — the Upright ? the Unblameable ? Was this the Cafe, our Hopes would be covered with a Cloud J or rather, totally and finally eclipfed. But fee ! they are clear as the Light, and con- Ipicuous as the Noon-Day. For He came to fave
Sinners -f-. Confonant to all which, is the
Declaration of another facred Envoy. He, the PRINCE of Peace, the KING of Saints, the
MONARCH of the Univerfe, fuffered for
whom ? They, in whofe Behalf this matchlefs Ranfom was paid, mull have an undeniable Right, to look upon Redemption as their own. And blefled, for ever blelTed be GOD, it is molt peremptorily faid, He fuffered for the
* Prov. viii. 4. -f i Tim. i. 15,
DIALOGUE XVI. 329
XJnjuJi J for the Tranfgrelfors *.j — Are We not of the human Family ? Are we not Sinners by Inclination ? Are We not T'ranfgreffors by Practice ? If we are (and upon thefe Quefti- ons Incredulity itfelf will fcarcely demur) let Us not frowardly rejeft, rather let us thankfully receive, thofe fpiritual Treafures, which, by virtue of the afore-cited Conveyance, devolve Xofuch Perfons.
Hher. What ! Can that be an Inducement, that an Encouragement to a firm afTured Truft, which I fhould think more likely to overthrow and deflroy all our Pretenfions ?
AJp. This may probably feem flrange, but it is true, It is alfo a mofl precious and in- valuable Truth. Such as I would hold fafl, and never, never let go. When I fearch for my own Endowments, I find nothing that I dare venture to plead. Being, in my beft Mo- ments, and amidfl my choicefl Duties, a Sin- ner. As this is, at all times, my undoubted Character -, I have, at all times, an undoubted Warrant to fay. The uncreated WISDOM calleth me: the blelied JESUS came to fave
me:
* I Pet.rn. 18, For the Tranfgreffors. This feems to be the Meaning of a^moov. It fignifies, not thofe only who have defrauded, or over-reached their Neighbour, but Thofe glfo who have tranfgrejfed the Commands of GOD ; who have violated the Precepts, of either or both the Tables. It is oppofed to (Jixat©^. Which, We are fure, denotes a Perfon who has fulfilled, not barely fecial Duties, but all Ifind of Rjghteoufnefs.
330 DIALOGUE XVI.
me: the great MESSIAH fufFered Death for me.
Let me illuflrate the Point. Romulus^ You know, the Founder of the Roman Empire, was a poor Prince : had but a Handful of Subjefts, and very fcanty Territories. What Expedient could He devife, to inlarge the Boun- daries of the one, and augment the Number of the other ? He iflued a Proclamation, ad- dreffed to Outlaws and Criminals; all that were involved in Debt, or obnoxious to Pu- nifliment. Promifing, that as many as would come and fettle under his Dominion, iliould be fecured from Profecution, and vefled with confiderable Privileges. — A Perfon in thefe Cir- cumftances, upon hearing the welcome Invi- tation, hangs down his Head, and with a deje6led Air, cries -, " I am a Debtor^ I am a " Criminal and therefore unworthy of the " royal Prote6lion." What Anfwer fhould be made to fuch a difpirited Complainer ? Make the fame to Yourfelf, whenever You are
inclined to renew the prefent Objeclions.
Remembering, that the infinite and eternal SOVEREIGN, to difplay the Magnificence of his Majefly, and manifeft the Riches of his Goodnefs, has commiffioned his AmbalTadors
to publifh in eveiy Nation under Heaven
" That all unhappy Sinners, who are opprejjed " by the Devil and liabk to Damnation, may
" come
DIALOGUE XVI. 331
« come to CHRIST, and rely on CHRIST. ** May, in this Manner, obtain Pardon, Righ- " teoufnefs, and all the Privileges of Children." Tber, At this Rate, the viieji Mifcrea?its have as clear, nay have the very fame Offer of CHRIST and his Salvation, as the highefl Saint. And if they accept that Offer, have the fame Title to both.
j4/p. The highefl Saints a6lually receive CHR IS T and his Salvation: The vileft Mif- creants are gracioujly invited to enjoy the Blefl^ ings. The former have gathered the Manna^ and ufe it to their imfpeakable Comfort. It lies round about the Tents of the latter j and whoever w^ill, may take, may eat, and his Soul Ihall live.
In refpea to the Offer of CHRIST, there is no Difference. All have fmned, and muft fue for fpiritual BlefTings, under the Charac- ter of guilty Creatures ; muft receive them, as the IfTues of infinite Mercy. — Ifaiah was a Saint of no inferior Rank j yet He breathes the Spi- rit I am defcribing, and a(5ls the Part I am vindicating. Turn to that Epitome of the Gofpel, his fifty-third Chapter. There You find Him claiming a Share in the greatefl of all Privileges, Pardon through the Blood of CHRIST. How does He advance and main- tain his Claim ? Not in the Capacity of a /^;zr- tifiedy but under the Character of ^fir/ful Per-
fon.
332 DIALOGUE XVI.
ion. Thefe arc his Words, The LORD hath laid on Him, that is, on CHRIST JESUS, the Iniquity of Us all. Of Me and my Brethren in Piety, does He mean ? Rather, of me and my Fellow-Tranfgreflbrs. In the preceding Verfe, He explains Himfelf, and refolves our Quefli- on. ^// We, like Sheep, have gone ajlray -, yet cur Mifcarriages, our Dement, our Guilt, the GOD of tranfcendently rich Grace has charged on his own Son.
Should You afk the higheft Saints, On what their Hopes are grounded? This, or fomething
to this EfFe6l, would be their Reply " On
" the full Grant and free Exhibition oi CHRIST, *^ recorded in the Word of Truth. There We " find it written, To You is preached the Re- «* mijjion of Sifts *. Tfje Promife is to You and *^ to your Children -]-. We hefecch You in « CHRIST'S Stead, be ye reconciled to GODt <« — We remember, Theron, though You feem " to have forgotten, the wretched Outcafl, " polluted in its Blood, yet accepted by the " Holy One of Ifrael; We remember the «' heavenly Gifts, received by the triumphant *^ Redeemer, for E?iefnies and for the Rebel- " lipus ; nor can We eafily forget the Promife " of Forgivenefs which was made, and the ** BlcfTing of Forgivenefs which was vouch- " fafed, even to the Murtherers of the LORD *' of Glory ||."
The
* ASis xiii. 38. t ^^'^^ 5«i' 39- X 2 Cor,\. 20, )| hWxxA'mg X.Q Dialogiie XN >
DIALOGUE XVI. 333
The free Exhibition of CHRIST in the Word of Truth, is their Foundation, and in- deed is the only Foundation of Faith. An Apoftle, after all the Labours of his exem- plary Life, can have no better. And a re- claimed Harlot or a penitent Thief, in the firft Moments of their Converfion, may have the fame. — You remind me of a valuable Perfon, v^hom I once numbered among my Acquaint- ance, and whofe Way of Thinking was fome- what fimilar to your own. Will You give me Leave to relate his Cafe ?
Ther. Moft gladly. It will be fome kind of Confolation to hear, that Others have labour- ed under the fame Difficulties with myfelf, and been fubje6l to the fame Diftrefles. If I am informed of their Deliverance from thefe Diftrefiss, it will be like (hewing me an open- ed Door, for efFeding my own Efcape. If I am likewife acquainted with the Manner of their Deliverance, this will furnifli me wdth a Clue to guide my Steps, and with a Pattern to dire6l my Efforts.
Afp, This Perfon was roufed from a Habit of Indolence and Supinenefs, into a ferious Concern for his eternal Welfare. Convinced of his depraved Nature and aggravated Guilt, He had Recourfe to the Scriptures, and to fre- quent Prayer. He attended the Ordinances of Chriflianity, and fought earneflly for an
cfjured
334 DIALOGUE XVL
ajfured Intereft in CHRIST. But found no Iteadfaft Faith, and tafted very little Comfort. At length, He applied to an eminent Divine, and laid open the State of his Heart. Short, but weighty, w^as the Anfwer he received. " I " perceive. Sir, the Caufe of all your Diftrefs. " You do not, you will not, come to CHRIST " as a Sinner. This Mi/take flands between " your Soul and the Joy of Religion. This " detains you in the Gall of Bitternefs ; and " take heed, O ! take heed, left it confign you " over to the Bond of Iniquity." — This Ad- monition never departed from the Gentleman's Mind J and it became a happy Means of re- moving the Obftruclions to his Peace. Remem- ber this little Hiftory, Theron ; and may it prove as efficacious for your Good, as it is pertinent to your Circumftances !
But we digrefs from our grand Subje6l. Since you difapprove my Account of Faith, I muft defire you to favour me with a Defcrip- tion of your own. For, as you rightly ob- ferve, this is a n:ery i7iome?itous Articlt. It is the Channel of Conveyance for all fpiritual Goodj therefore fliould be made and kept as clear as poffible. It is the main Arch in the Stru6lure of prac^tical Godlinefs ; therefore fliould be raifed and turned with the utmoft Care.
Ther. To truft in CHRIST as an all-fuffi- cient SAVIOUR, and rely on Him for 'wbok Salvation, is not this real Faith ?
DIALOGUE XVI. 335
Afp. If you truft in the All-Sufficiency of his IVilly as well as of his Power, You piac- tife tlie very Thing I recommend. This is what the Prophet teaches. Let the convinced Sin- ner, ai>d the doubting Soul, truft in the Name of the LORD, 2i\\AJiay upon his GOD *. Let Him not only reverence CHRIST', as the in- carnate GOD, and therefore mighty to fave ; but alfo receive CHRIST as his GOD, and therefore willing to fave.
I^her. Palamons iVccount is this — Faith, He fays, is a firm Perfuafion, that JESUS CHRIST has filed his Blood, and fulfilled all Righte- oufnefs J has fuflained the Punifhment due to Sin, and obtained full Reconciliation with GOD. That all this Grace, and each of thefe Benefits, are free, perfe6lly free for You, for me, for others. That, in confequence of this Perfuafion, the Sinner having fled to CHRIST, and trufled in CHRIST, is fometimes enabled to look upon all this as his own.
AJp. I have the highefl Regard for Pala- mons Judgment -, and I cannot but think, my Opinion is, in fome meafure, confirmed even by his._The Aa offying to CHRIST, im- plies a Perfuafion, that He fuffered in my Stead, and that his Death is my Safeguard. Would the Manflayer of old have betaken Himfelf to
the
* Ifai, 1. 10,
336 DIALOGUE XVI.
the City of Refuge, if He had not firfl been perfuaded, that it was intended for his Pro- teaion ? — The Adl of trujii?ig in CHRISl', is much of the fame Nature -, and either pre- fuppofes or includes a Perfuafion, that his Righteoufnefs is mine, and the Caufe of my Juftification. Would any Perfon, of the leall Prudence, erect his Houfe upon a Piece of Ground, without a previous Convidtion, that the Spot was his own ?
So that I am ftill inclined to abide by the good old Frotejlant Doctrine, which has been fo fignally inftrumental in demolifhing the Su- perftitions of Popery^ and is fo eminently con- ducive to the Holinefs and the Happinefs of Chriftians. Efpecially, as I apprehend, the Determinations of Scripture, and the Experi- ence of fcriptural Saints, are all on my Side.
T'her. Where has Scripture determined on your Side ?
AJp. In the noblefl Defcription of Faith, that Language itfelf can form. The Writer to the Hebrews^ having mentioned the Life of Faith *, the Perfeverance of Faith -f*, and the End or Reward of Faith -f*, proceeds to a De- finition of this leading Grace. Now Faith is the Subjiance of T'hitigs hoped for, the Evide?ice of Takings not feen %, — The Evidence ||, exhibiting
not
* Ueb. X. 38. It tfeb' x- 39- X ^^^' ''i' i*
DIALOGUE XVI. 337
hot a faint Surmife, but a clear Demon ftra- tion, both of invifible Bleflings, and of our Right to enjoy them. — 7'be Subjlance'^^ realiz- ing what is promifed ; and giving Us, as it were, a Pojfeffioji of good Things that are re- mote, a prefent PofTeflion of good Things that are future.
l'her» One would conclude, Afpajio^ from your Explanation of the Text, that no Perfons have true Faith, but thofe only who have a full Affurance. Yet this fcems to be quite in- eonfiflent with fuch FafTages of Scripture, as make mention of little Faith and great Faith ; of fome Chriftians, that w^x^firong^ of others that were weak in the Faith.
Afp. This is undoubtedly contrary to the Scriptures, You quote. It is what I never af-» firm J neither can it be deduced from any of my Aflertions. I would only maintain, that an Appropriation of CHRIST is elTential to Faith : that None have the proper fcriptural Faith, but thofe who are taught by the in- lightening SPIRIT to fliy. He fie d his Bleed for me : though many have the proper fcrip- tural Faith, who cannot fay this without fome Mixture of Fluctuation and Doubt.
fFe he/ie'vej afid are fure -j-, was the Language of the Difciples. The former is true, the lat- ter is iriumpha?it Faith. Some receive CHRIS'T^
it * TTTOfac*?. t Jo^^ VI. 6g.
Vol. III. Z
33^ DIALOGUE XVI.
if I may fo fpeak, only with one of their Fin- gers, others with both their Arms. Yet Each receiving Him really, each is faved by Him
eternally. There are, in the Houfliold of
■'GOD, Babes, Toiing Men^ and Fathers: There is, in the Subjecl We are confidering, Faith, Af- furance of Faith, 2.^^ full AiTurance of Faith. To have the firft, is neceflary y to have the fecond, is delightful ; to poflefs the laft, is Hea- ven begun in the Heart.
T'her. I am glad to find, that true Faith may confifl with fome Remainders of Doubt. That a Perfon may be fubje6l to the one, without being deprived of the other. But I interrupt your Difcourfe.
Afp, Faith is %led, A looking unto JESUS*. But if we do not look unto JESUS as our own, as the Propitiation for our Sins, what Comfort, or what Benefit can We derive from the Sight? — AReceiving ofCHRISTf. But can I have any Pretence to receive Him, or take poileffion of his Merits, unlefs I am con- vinced, that they are intended for me ? This is what neither the Dilates of Confcience will allov/, nor the Laws of Reafon authorize. — A Reding iip7i CHRIST %, But how can We red: on a Surety, if He has not interpofed in our Behalf ? Or how confide in a Payment, which We believe to be made for Others, not for Ourfelves ?
Let
* Hsh. xii. 2. t John i. 12. :|: PJaU xxxvii. 7.
DIALOGUE XVI. 339
Let Us change our Situation, and view the Point in another Light. Confider the blefled and glorious Objea: of our Faith. CHR IS T' is reprefented by the Similitude of Bread, heavenly Breads for the hungry Soul. Faith is characterized by eatwg the Food *. And can this be done without a perfonal AppHcation ? — CHRIS I' is held forth under the Image of living Wafers -ff ever running, and always free for the thirfly Appetite. But let them run ever fo copioufly, let them be prefented ever fo freely, all this will neither quench the Thirfb, nor refrefh the Spirits, unlefs they are drank. To do this is the Bufmefs of F^kh.— CHRIST is defcribed as a Garme?it1^y to accommodate and beautify deftitute and defiled Creatures. Faith is exprefTed by wearing this commodious Garment, and being adorned with this beauti- ful Clothing. And can any Idea, or any Ex- preffion, more llrongly denote an a6lual Ap- propriation ?
I'her. It is evident, that many holy People in former Ages, were not poiTelfed of Affur- ance. It is no lefs certain, that many excel- lent Peifons in our own Times, fall fliort of this exalted Pitch. What is the Language ot' David? It is all Defpohdency. / a?n cajl out of the Sight of thine Eyes. To the fame melan- choly Tune is the Harp of Afaph ilrung s Is
his
* John vi. 58. t John iv. lO. % Ifa, Ixi. 10.
340 DIALOGUE XVI.
kis Mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his Promife fail for evermore f The fame jealous and dif- truftful Air breathes in the Complaint of the Church ; T'he LORD hath for fakcn me^ and my LORD hath forgotten me *. — Why then (hould Afpafio fet up a Rule, ftrifter and higher, than thofe eminent Saints attained ?
Afp. My dear Friend, I fet it not up as a ftri6l Rule, but I fet it forth as a diflinguiih- ed Bleiling. This Bleffing was certainly en- joyed by the holy Men of old ; but, like every other Species of Felicity in this World, it was enjoyed after an imperfeB Manner. — They had*' an allured Perfuafion of G O D's prefent Fa- vour, and of their own final Happinefs. Ne- verthelefs, this AlTurance, like all their other Graces, was liable to the Aflaults of outward Temptation, and inward Corruption. Which might, for a while, impair the Vigour of their Faith, though not dejiroy its Being. As, un- der a tranfient Swoon, the Spirits fail, the Colour departs, but the vital Principle fub- lifls.
You may farther obferve, concerning thofe pious Perfons, that, when they ceafe to exer- cife this chearful Faith, they confefs and la- ment the Failure ; I faidy 'This is my Infirmity -f. They chide themfelves for it s Why art Thou cajl doissn^ O my Sold? They encourage them- felves * Ifal.xXvi. 14. t Pfal, \xxy\u 10.
DIALOGUE XVI. 34V
felvcs againft it; Hope in GOD* : it is thy Privilege, and thy Duty. — Nay, the Churcli, even under her darkeft Apprehenfions, ftill {peaks the Sentiment, ftill retains the Grace, for which I am pleading. My LORD, ut- tered by her Lips, argues an applicatory Faith in her Heart. — So copious and pregnant are the Evidences of this precious Do61rine ! It is confirmed by that very PalTage, v\/'hich was produced for its Confutation.
^her. If this be the Sentiment of tlie Church in general, is it alfo the Temper of her particular Members ? Were they animated by this firm and lively Faith ?
Afp. Hear the Declaration of the Pfalmifl ; Blefs the LORD, O my Soul; and all that is within me, blefs his holy Name. What is the Caufe of this holy Exultation, and devout Praife ? Is it, becaufe GOD polTibly may, be- caufe He probably will^ No j but becaufe He a6tually ^(7^^ forgive : Who forgiveth all thine Ini- quities-f. — Take Notice oi Job's Belief, andy^^^'s Support, amidft all his unexampled Sufferings: / k?iow, that my RE DEE ME R livefh J ; not only that there is a Redeemer, but that He is, together with all his faving Benefits, mine. Which, being a Truth fo fweet and delightful, is expreffed a fecond Time ; whom I fiall fee for myfelf, to my own Advantage, and ^ov my
own
* Pfal. xUi. 5. t Pf^<^- ciii. 3. X Jol xix. ^r^.
342 DIALOGUE XVI.
own Comfort : fee Him exerting his Almighty Power and infinite Mercy, to refcue my Body from the Grave, and to deUver my Soul from Hell. — What was Danjids Security againft the malicious Attempts of his Enemies, both tem- poral and fpiritual r T^be LORD is my Light and my Sahation, whom then JJ:all I fear ^^ The LORD is the Strength of my Life, of whom thenjhalllbe afraid^ '^ He fays not, I wif:, I fray, for the divine Favour and the divine Suc- cour ', but I am perfuaded, they both are mine : my ineflimable Portion, and my inviolable Safe- guard.
Ther. Is this the Language of Believers un- der the new Teftament Difpenfation ?
Afp. "Their Faith, You may depend upon it, could not be weaker or lower, whofe Light was much ftronger, and whofe Advantages were much higher. — You hear St. Thomas mak- ing a Profefiion, which intirely excludes Doubt- ing J My LORD, and my GOD f . St. Paul anfwers in the fame heroic Strain i / know Whom I have belie'ved, I am perfuaded X- With both which St. John is exactly confonant ; JESUS CHRIST, who hath loved Us, and wafied Us from our Sins in his own Blood,
We will fuppofe P^/f/^^c^/s Faith, to be found and genuine i yet, compared with this, it is certainly of tlie enfeebled and infantile Kind,
Whereas,
* ?/<z/. xxvii. I. t J<^^^i XX. 28. t 2 Tm, i. I2,
DIALOGUE XVI. 343
Whereas, I would have my T'heron poflefs the manly, the geiierous, the triumphant Faith. Not fuch as hangs in Sufpence, like a hover- ing Meteor * j but fuch as abides fixed and liable, like the Stars cf Heaven. Which, if they are obfcured for a little Moment, by fome palling Cloud, are fure to furmount the Ob- flru(5lion, and will fliine forth again with un- diminiflied Luftre.
T^her. Was not this a Privilege pccuJiar to the Apoftles ?
Afp, By no Means. All Believers are Bre- thren, and have like precious Faith-f, CHRIST died for Us, fays the Apoftle : not barely for me his Ambaliador, but for 7lu who are his Followers, and to whom I addrefs this Epiftle, ——Why fliould I multiply Proofs ? Since the beloved Difciple declares j Thefe Takings have I ^written unto Ton that belie^je on the Name cf the SONof GOD, that Te may knov/ that Tehwce eternal Life %,
T^her. True, 'Afpafo. This coincides with my Apprehenfions, and corroborates my Caufe.
The Scriptures are v^'ritten tiril, that We
may belie'-ce, and be intitled to eternal Life — next, that We may have the Knowledge of our
Belief,
* This Situation of Mind is moft appcfitely defcribed by St. Luke^ Mn //,£Tfwoj^£(r9£* Be not like the Meteor, which is tieither fixed in the Sky, nor fallen to the Earth : bin pen- dulous and flu£luatirg between them both. Cl^>p, xii. 29.
t 2jPc/. i. I. t 1 J'^hu'J. 13.
Z d
344 DIALOGUE XVI.
Belief, and a Confcioufnefs of our Title. The infpired Divine fuppofes his Correfpondents to pofTefs the former, yet not to have attained the latter.
Afp. I query, whether He makes fuch a Sup- pofition. He feems to write, not with a View of leading them to either, but of confirming them in both. — He intimates, that the Privi- lege and the Comfort fhould go together. And why fliould We fludy to feparate them ? Will this turn to our Advantage ? Mufl it not ifTue in our Lofs ? — Befides ; according to your own Interpretation, whoever falls fhort of this chearing Knowledge, falls fhort of one great End, for which the Scriptures were written. He receives not his full Reward. He only gleans^ where He might reap.
If I am not miftaken, this enters into the very Eflence of the Gofpel. Is the Honey in the evangelical Hive. What fays the Apoflle of the Gentiles ? I preached unto Ton the Gofpel"^. And what is the Subflance of this evangehcal Difpenfation ? T:hat CHRIS'f died for our Sim -f. — That fo exalted a Perfon, as the SON of GOD, and LORD of Glory, fliould ^/>,
is wonderful That He fhould die for Sins^
the moft abominable Obje6ls, and for Sinners, the moft deteflable Creatures, is abundantly more wonderful — That He fliould die, not for
Sins
* 1 Cor. XV. I. t I ^0^'- XV, 3.
DIALOGUE XVI. 345
Sins in general, but for oitr Sins in paiticular, this is inexpreflibly wonderful, and at the fame time infinitely comfortable. And indeed till this is preached, thfe Do6lrine is not Gof- pel : till this is believed, the Convi6lion is not Faith. At leaft, not fiich Faith, as I wifh for my ^heron.
Ther. Will not this difcourage Some, and- offend Others, who are not arrived at fuch a firm Perfuafion ?
Afp» I would not offend the meanefl, nor difcourage the weakeft of my REDEEMER'S Servants. — As for Offence j that cannot be given, and ought not to be taken, when all We ad- vance, is ftri6lly conformable to the unerring Rule of Truth. — With regard to Difcourage- ment 5 this furely cannot enfue, from inform- ing the Sinner, that He has a Right to apply CHRIST, and ^WCHRISt's Merits to Him- felf. In this Cafe, to douk is to be difcouraged. All Sufpence is .uneafy. But when it relates to our fpiritual Interefls and our immortal State, I think, it muft be little lefs than in- fupportably affli61ive. — This can never be the Will of our moft gracious CREATOR and merciful REDEEMER.— This is abfolutely in^ confiftent with that Peace and Joy, which are
the Birth-right of the Believer. There are
alfo feveral Duties which can hardly be per- formed, feveral Graces which can fcarcely be
exer^
346 DIALOGUE XVI.
cxercifed, fo long as this Spirit of Diffidence prevails.
I'her, Name them, Afpafio.
AJp. I am afraid, left I fhould feem to ar- rogate the Office of a Treacher ; which neither becomes my Chara6ler, nor is agreeable to my Temper.
T!her. Pray, my dear Friend, let Us wave Ceremony, and have nothing to do with Com- pliments. My Soul is in Jeopardy. My pre- fent Comfort, and my everlafting Happinefj, are at ftake. And fhall We fuffer any little Pun6tilios to overbear fuch weighty Confide-
rations ? Suppofe, You are a Teacher ; I
have great Need, and am very delirous, to be- come your Scholar. For I freely confefs, that, knowing as I may feem in fome other Inftances, 1 am very ignorant in the great Peculiarities of the Gofpel. Nay, though I have read the Scriptures in a critical View, I have been an utter Stranger to their fpiritual Meaning. Here, I am uninftru(5led as a Babe ; here therefore, I ought to be teachable as a Babe. Yes ; in this Refpe6l I v/ould become as a little Child^^ that I may enter into the Knowledge, and pof- fefs the Privileges of the Kingdom of Heaven,
Afp. Your Anfwer, T.%eron, lliall be a Law. — What think You of Delight in GOD? This is a Chriftian Grace. But how can two walk
toge^
* Luke xviii. 17.
DIALOGUE XVI. 347
together y except they be agreed ? We never covet an Intimacy v^ith the Perfon, who declares Himfelf our Enemy. Nay ; if We do but fufpeft, that He bears Us a fecret Ill-will, We fhall be jealous of trufting Him, and averfe to approach him. This was the Cafe of our firft Parents, immediately after the Fall. Inftead of drawing near to their CREATOR, with Pleafure and Gratitude ; they fled from Him, with Anxiety and Terror. And why ? Becaufe they were under the alarming Apprehenfions of his Difpleafure. — Whereas, let Us once be- lieve, what the Apoftle affirms ; When We were 'Enemies y W^e were reconciled to GOD by the Death of his SON^. Let Us cordially credit, what the Prophet repeatedly declares j 7'here- fore will the LORD wait, that He may be gra- cious unto Toil J and therefore will He be exalted^ that He may have Mercy upon Tou -f*. Then We fhall feek his Face with Alacrity. Our Affec- tions will be on the Wing to falute their Al- mighty BENEFACTOR. We fhall joy in QOD through our LORD JESUS CHRISTX.
Prayer is one of the Duties, I would fpecify, I wifh my dear Theron the Spirit of Grace and Supplication. This will be better, incompa- rably better and more advantageous, than a Key to hidden Treafures. But how can you pray with humble Boldnefs, or with lively
Hope, * Rom. V. 10. t Ifai. xxx. 18, % Rom. v. 11.
348 DIALOGUE XVI.
Hope, unlefs You believe ? Believe, that CHRIST has expiated your Guilt, and is your Interceiror v^dth the FATHER. Then, and then only, can You have, v^^hat the Apoftle calls, Boldnefs and Accefs with Confidence *. Mark thefe vigorous Expreffions •■, and at your Lei- fure confider, whether they countenance the timid and mifgiving Temper. At prefent ob- fcrve, how yonder Lark foars in the Sky, as if She would carry her Song to the very Gates of Heaven. An Image this, of believing Prayer. Should a Fowler fhoot her through the Wing, how would fhe fall, impotent and fluttering, to the Ground ! An Emblem that^ of diftrufting Prayer.
Once again ; A true Chriflian, inftead of dreading, /<?wi the Day of CHRIST'S final and glorious Appearing'^. St. Peter tells Us, He looks for it, with pleafing Expectations, as Siferas Mother for the triumphant Return of her Son. He hajlens to it in ardent Defires, as
the
* Eph. iii. 1 2. Ufotyxyuyv), Accefs with a chearing and grace- fill A[Juronce ; fuch as thofe Petitioners enjoy, who are in- troduced to the royal Prefence by fome diftinguiflied Fa- vourite.—flapprxna, A Boldnefs or unrcflrained Liberty of Speech ; fuch as Children ufe, when they prefent their Ad- dreffes, and make known their Requefts, to an indulgent Father. — Ev -srfTroiSjKrfj, JFith a well-grounded and /ieady Con- fidence, that We fhall obtain both a favourable Acceptance, and a gracious Audience. — And all this, through the Faith of CHRIST; by the Worthincfs of his Perfon, by the Me- fit of his Blood, and the Prevalence of his Interccflion, f 2 Tim. iv. 8,
DIALOGUE XVI. 349
the enamoured Bridegroom to the wifhed for Hour of his Nuptials *. Which, I think, can neither be a rational nor a pra6licable Thing, unlefs We have fome chearing and eftablifhed Hope-f-, that, when He jJmll appear^ WeJJoall be like Hiniy and fee Him as He is.
'Ther. If this is the Cafe, what can be the Reafon, why fo many People are totally defti- tute of all Aflurance ? Have no Notion of it, and never afpire after it ? Nay, would be much furprifed, perhaps highly difgufted, at the very Mention of fuch a Do6lrine ?
jifp. If People never afpire after it, I very much queftion, whether they are truly awakened, or really in earned. They are like the Men of Ephraimy whom the Prophet flyles a Cake not turned X', neither Bread, nor yet Dough. Or, as our LORD explains the Proverb, in his Charge againft the Church of Laodicea, They are neither hot nor cold\\ 3 but, content with the Form, are unconcerned about the Power of
Godlinefs Was I to declare myfelf more
plainly upon this Inquiry, it fhould be in the calm and moderate Words of a judicious Di- vine i " I do not affirm that, without a full
" Affur-
* 2 Pet. iii. 12. t John iii. 2. The Apoftle's ExprelTion, which compre- hends both Himfelf and his Fellow-chriftians, is oi^x[/.iJ^ IFt know. This, in the very loweft Acceptation, muft imply Vhat Af pa/to calls an ejiablifljecl Hope. ' X Bo/.YilB, II iSrv, iii, 15.
350 DIALOGUE XVI.
" Afiurance, there is no Faith. But this I " maintain, that, where-ever the latter exifls, " there will be a fincere Purfuit of the for- " mer."
Among the Reafons, why fo few Perfons attain this eminent Bleffing, We may reckon the following. — They underfland not the per- fe6l Freenefs of Grace, nor the immenfe Merits of CHRIST'. — They never confider the un- fpeakable Value of an afTured Faith j neither are they aware, that it is intended for the En- joyment of Sinners. — Either they feek it not at all i or elfe they feek it, where it is not to be found 3 from fome Works of Righteoufnefs in themfelves, rather than from the gracious Promife of GOD in his Word. Which is al- together as ill-judged, and as fure to iffue in Difappointment, as if a Perfon fhould look for Ice amidft the torrid Zone, or expe6l to find fpicy Illands under the northern Pole.
But whether People confider it or no, the Value of an allured Faith is indeed unfpeak- able. When this is wrought in the Heart, Peace will fland firm, and Afflidlions drop their Sting. Prayer will return laden with Trea- fures, and Death will approach ftript of its Terrors. — When this takes place in the Soul, all the fweet PafTages of Scripture, all the ten- der Love of CHRIST', all the precious Pro- mifes of the Gofpel, will appear with new
Charms.
DIALOGUE XVL 351
-Charms. You will then, as You perufe each facred Page, tajle that tJoe LORD is gracious^. You will reap a Benefit, and enjoy a Delight, as much fuperior to thofe of the doubting Rea- der, as the Pleafure of eating this delicious Peach is fuperior to the mere Defcription of its agreeable Relifli.
Bear with me a Moment longer, T^heron, For You can hardly imagine, what an Im- provement and Exaltation this will give, to every T^ruth You contemplate, and every Ob- jeSi You behold. — When You contemplate the renowned and aftonifliing Events, recorded in the Hiflory of Nations, how highly delightful mufl it be to fay ; " All thefe paffed under " the Superintendency of that Haiid^ which " was pierced with Nails, and faftened to the " Crofs for Me." — When You behold the Mag- nificence of Creation, and the Richnefs of its Furniture j the Grandeur of Nature, and the Variety of her Works j what a heightened Pleafure mufl they impart, if your Thoughts make Anfwer to your Eyes ; " All hefe were " brought into ^yA^^nzzh-^ that adorable PER- " SONy who fuflained my Guilt, and wrought " out my juftifying Righteoufnefs."
Ther. If We feel an Averfion to Sin, and prize the bleffed JESUS above all Things 3 if the prevailing Bias of our AfFedions be to
the
* I Pet, ii, 3,,
352 DIALOGUE XVI.
the divine REDEEMER, and the habitual Breathinc^ of our Souls after a Conformity to his Image j may We not fuppofe Ourfelves pof- fefled of the I'ruth and Reality^ though We have not the Confidence and Rejoicing of Faith ? — I fay We -, becaufe 1 apprehend, this is not my peculiar Cafe, but common to myfelf and many Others. I afk, therefore, in their Name and in my owq. May We not fuppofe our Condition fafe, though We dare not prefume to ufe the Language of the Spoufe, My Be- loved is Mine J and I am his f
Afp. For You and your Aflbciates to ufe fuch Language, is neither more nor lefs than to declare i " I am perfuaded, that Cffl^ZST " is faithful : that He fays what He thinks, " and will do what He fays." And is there any Prefumption, or any Indecency Here ? Surely the Prefumption, at leaft the Indecency lies, in queflioning his Fidelity, or fufpecling his Veracity. — You afk, Whether fuch a State is fafe^ and fuch a Faith reaH I would anfwer. Why fliould not fuch a State be happy ^ as well as fafe ? And fuch a Faith be ajfured, as well as real ? Why fhould You, or Any One, plead the Caufe of Unbelief, and veil it with the fpe- cious Pretext of Humility ? Let thefe Perfons know, whatever their Names or their Circum- flances are, that they have as good a Right to adopt the Words You mention, as Phiknor
has
DIALOGUE XVI. 353
lias to call thefe Gardens his own. — Yet they will do well to remember, that thefe Qualifi- cations, however amiable, are by no means- the Gi'oiind of their Right. They are to ad- vance their Claim, and hold fafi: the BlefTmg, not as Men ornamented with fine Endowments, but as poor, indigent, guilty Sinners. For fuch the SAVIOUR is provided j to fuch his Benefits are propofed 5 and on fuch his Grace will be magnified.
But fee, Theron ! Yonder black and low- hung Cloud points this Way. It feems big with a Shower j it marches on apace j and will foon be over our Heads. We mufl inftantly fly to Shelter.
T^her. It is w^ell We have this Summer-houfe for our Shelter. The thickeft Boughs would be infufficicnt to fcreen Us. I think, I never faw a more impetuous Burfl of Rain. A Shower ! No, 'tis a defcending Deluge. The large, ropy, reeking Drops, come down like a Torrent *. How the Roof refounds, and
the
* Comedown like a Torrent. — This is the Import of that ftronge pidurefque Word "|,'^1? P/aL Ixxvli. 17. la this Manner, The Clouds poured out Water ; the Jir thundered ; and thitie Jrrows went abroad. — Mr. Jddifjfi, iflremennber right, admires the Pfahnift's Defcription of a Storm (tt Sea-, becaufe, it dwells only upon the grand and moj't firiking Circumftances ; without defcending, \\V^ Vhgil^% enervated Reprefentation, to fuch /////.,■ Particulars, as the Cries of Men, and theNoife of Oars. Clamor que Vtr Cm., Si-idorque Rudentum. — This Defcription oia Teinpejt is, I think, equal- ly admirable on the fame Account, 1 he three g^re^iteft and
Vol, III. A a jiioit
j54 DIALOGUE XVI.
the Channels begin to roar ! Surprifing !
What a dreadful Fla/h. was there ! A Sheet of fulphureous Fire, launched from the difmal Gloom, and wrapping the whole Skies in a Blaze i — Not a Moment's Interval, between the Lightning's Rage, and the Thunders Roar. How fudden and vafl the Explofion ! V/hat a deep, prolonged, tremendous Peal enfues ! It feems as if the Poles of Earth, and the Pillars of Nature cracked ; or as though the Arch of Heaven was dafhed to Pieces, and mingling with the Ruins of the World.
See, my dear jifpafio I See the direful Ha- vockj the horrid EfFefts of this elementary
Tumult. Yonder Oak, -which reared its
towering Head aloft, and fpread wide its grace- ful Branches, is, in the Twinkling of an Eye, turned into a 77^/t^/ '^runk. There it ftands, fmged and tore j flripped of its verdant Ho- nours,
moft terrible Peculiarities are felefted ; and exprefled with all the Concifenefs, yet with all the Vigour, that Langyage caii anite.
I have not met with any Commentator, that enters into the Spirit of the next Verfc. And in our Liturgy-Tranf- lation, its Majefty finks into Meannefs, its Propriety dege- nerates irtto Tautology. Whereas, it is by no means a vain Repetition, but moft fignificantly difplays the Effc6is of what was defcribed, in the foregoing Lines. The Voice of thy Thunder Tvas in the Heaz'en ; it not only, refounded, but re- foundcd from Pole to Pole, and filled S^jS.l^ the vaft Cir- cumference of the Skies. The Lightnings lightened the World -y ihey not only flione, but fhone far and near, and illumi- nated the whole World with their Blaze, The Earth trcmhhd to i:s Center, and Its Inhabitants /z^?;?/^ with H«nor.
DIALOGUE XVI. ^SS
noiirs *, and furrounded with its own fliatter- td Fragments. How fearful is the Artillery of Heaven * !
.^. And why — why did not the Blow fall on this guilty Breafl ? Why was not the fiery Bolt, which flewfo near, commiflioned to pierce
our Hearts? If our heavenly FATHER
Jias been fo tenderly careful of thefe Bodies^ vvill He not be much more gracious to our im- mortal Souk ^ Will he not clothe them with that immaculate Robe, which is the only Se-^ curlty from the Stroke of eternal Vengeance } — And let me alk. Can this be a Security to Us, unlefs We are veiled with it ! Could this Building, though very fubflantial, have fecured Us from the rufhing Rains, if We had not be- taken Ourfelves to its friendly Covert !
CHRIST is reprefented, in the Prophecy of Ifaiab, by this very Image ; as a Place of Refuge y a}id as a Covert from the Storm and from Ram -f-. That is, His Merits and Death are a fure Prote6lion, from the Curfe of the Law, and the Damnation of Hell. No Fury of the Elements fb terrible as thefe y no Bulwark of Stone fo impregnable as thofe, — If this is a pro- per
* * Does not this give Us the moft awful and grand Scnfe of Vfalm xxix. 9 ? The Voice of the LO RD, when uttered in Thunder, and accompanied with Lightning, nily' ?jU*n' not, difcovereth the thick BuJJ)eSy hut /trips the Fot\Jts ; lays bare the branching Woods ; reduces the moft magnificent and flourifliino; Cedars to n:.ked- and withered Trunks.
t Ifai. \v. 6.
Aa 2
356 DIALOGUE XVI.
per Emblem of CHRIS'T, to what fliall We liken Fai/b ? To a Pcrfnafion, that the Shelter of the Summer-houfe is free for our Ufe ? That we are welcome to avail Ourfelves of the com- modious Retreat ? Would this defend Us from the Inclemencies of the Weather ? Would this keep Us dry, amidft (what You call) the de- Icending Deluge ? Would this bare Perfuafion, unlefs reduced to Pra6lice, be any Manner of Advantage to our Perfons ? — No. We muft actually^ to the Shelter, and We muft a6lu- 2i\\y apply the SAVIOUR; otherwife, I fee not what Comfort or Benefit can be derived from either.
T'/jer. May I then, from this Inftant, look upon CHRIST', his glorious Perfon, his per- fect Righteoufnefs, and his precious Death, as my certain Inheritance ? May I firmly believe, that, through this grand and immenfely meri- torious Caufe, I Ihall have Pardon and Ac- ceptance, true Holinefs and endlefs Salva- tion ?
Afp. Why fliould You not believe all this firmly ? You have the fame Reafon to believe with a fteady Confidence, as to believe witli any Degree of Affiance. It is the free Promife of the Gofpel, addrefTed to Shiners, that war- rants the latter; and the very fame Promife, under the fame Circumftances of tmmen'ted Munificence^ authorizes the former.
Yott
DIALOGUE XVI. 357
You have heard my Opinion, hear now what our LORD Himfelf fays ; Let Him that is athirji^ come J and who fo ever will^ let Him take the Water of Life freely *. He may partake of my fpiri- tual and unfpeakable Bleffings, as freely as He makes ufe of the moft common Refrefliments ; as freely as He drinks of the running Stream. This is his royal Proclamation. — Hear his gra- cious Invitation. Look unto Me ^ and be ye fav- ed -j; 'y faved from^ your difquieting Fears, by Juflification j faved from your dominee^^ing Corruptions, by Sandification ; faved from every Evil, by complete and eternal Redemp- tion. To whom is this moft afFc6tionate Call dire6led ? Not to a few diflinguifhed Favourites, but to all the Ends of the Earth. None are ex- cepted J none are prohibited j and can my T^beron imagine, that He is excluded ? — Nay farther j Hear his earnefi: Intreaty, his tender and repeated Importunity ; As, though GOD did befeech Ton by-Us-y We pray Ton, in CHRIST' s Stead J be ye reconciled to G O D t: accept his great Salvation : and enjoy the Comforts of his Grace.
Should not this three-fold Cord be ftrong enough to draw my dear Friend ; let me add, what muft abfolutely fuperfede all Objections, the plain, exprefs, peremptory Command of the ALMIGHTY : This is his Cc?mnandy that
We
* ^ev^ xxii. I 7. t Jf"- '^^'''' 2^2' X 2 Cor, v, 20, A a 3
333 DIALOGUE XVI.
We fioiild beliroe on the Name of bis Son JESUS CHRIST''^. Pray, examine the Language j "Not He allows only ; or barely advifes j but He commands. We are not only permitted, but ftri6lly required. It is not only our PrivilegCj but GOD's pofitive Injunction. — Upon the Difcovery of fuch a SAVIOUR, methinks, every Heart Ihould cry ; " O ! that I might be *' permitted to approach Him ! To folicit an *' Interefl in Him ! How gladly would I wait, *' ever fo long a Time, in ever fo mean a " Pofcure, if I might at the lafl: receive Him
*' as my Portion ?" The fuperabundant
Goodnefs of GOD, prevents ourWiflies, and exceeds our Hopes. " I freely give my SON, '^ faith the LORD, and all his Riches to You. " I befeech You, as a companionate Friend^ " not to refufe Him. I injoin You, as an un- '' controulable Sovereign, to believe on Him."
How gracious! fupremely and amazingly
gracious is this Command ! And give me leave to hint, it is the greatcft and mofl important Command, that ever ifllied from the Throne of Glory. If this be negle6led, no other can be kept j if this be obferved, all others will be eafy. Now, 'Tkeron, will You not look up- on CHRIST and his all-fufRcient Merits, as your cvv'n ? Is not your Warrant clear and un- exceptionable ? Is not your Obligation flrong and indifpenfible ?
Thv\
J'
DIALOGUE XVI. 359
Ther. Truly, AJpnfio^ this puts all my mif- truftful Apprehenfions to the Stand. Here is
a Proclamation from the blefTed G O D
feconded by his Invitation accompanied by
his Intreaty and all inforced by his Com- mand. I know not what can be a fuller Proof of your Point, or a ilronger Inducement to believe.
Afp, Yes, 1'he?'onj I can produce (if fuch a Thing be poffible) ftronger Proof Hill. Such as, I hope, will totally rout Unbelief, and drive all her Forces from the Field.
GOD has not only commanded You, to live under the fweet Perfuafion, that his SON is your S AV I O U R ^ but he has given you the grandefl RafiJicatio?i of this precious Truth„ — He has pafled his V/ord ; He has made you a firm Promife -, nay, He has given you 7na?iy and -u/^nWi Promifes, of this ineflimable Blef^ fing. And GOD is not a Man^ that He fiould lie ', or the So?i of Man^ that he Jljould repent. Heaven and Earth may drop into Nothing, fooner than one Promife, or indeed one Jot or Tittle of his Promife, fhould fall to the Ground.
Befides this, He has given You, if I may ^o fpeak, a Note under his own Hand. He has recorded his Promifes in the Bible, and ivritten them with an evcrlafting Pen. So that they will fland confpicuous and indelible, like a
A a 4 Bill
360 DIALOGUE XVI.
Bill drawn upon Heaven, and a Bafis laid for Faith, fo long as the Sun and Moon endure. Nay, He has confirmed all, by the moft folemn San6lion imaginable ^ by his Oath ; by his c'wn Oath j by the Oath of a GOD, Though his Word is fure, and his Promife immutable. He adds (afloniihing Condefcention ! adorable Benignity 1) He adds his Oath to all. He not only fpeaks, but fwears 5 fwears by Himfelf ; fwears by his own eternal Exigence -, that his Promifes belong to whom ? Mark this Parti- cular with the mofl exa6l Attention. To whom do thefe Promifes belong, which are ratified in this unequaled and inviolable Man- ner ? To the Holy, the Upright, the Accom- pliflied ? To thofe, fays the Scripture, who fly for Refuge to the Hope fet before them *. The Hope fet before them in the Propitiation, the Righteoufnefs, the ineffable Merits, of CHRIST,
This You do, Theron.: I know You do. Therefore, as furely^as GOD is true, as cer- tainly as G O D exifts, they are all your own. I would humbly, yet boldly apply to my Friend, what the great JEHOVAH fpeaks by the Pro- phet s " As I live, faith the LORD, thou Jhalt " furcly clothe Thee with them all, as with an " Ornament, and bind them on Thee as a Bride *' doth -f. I appeal to all my Perfeftions, for
" th,e * Heh, vi. 173 18, t -^tf/*. xlix, 18.
DIALOGUE XVI. 361
" the Truth of this facred Engagement ; *« and let every one of my fubhme Attii- ** butes witnefs againft me, if I violate my " Word."
Ther. May I then believe, firmly believe, af- furedly believe, that JESUS the Mediator, and all the glorious Benefits of his Mediation, are mine ? Pardon me, Afpafio, for reiterating the Queftion. I am really, with refpeft to the Obedience of Faith, too much like that Saxon Monarch, who, for his Remifliiefs and Inac- tivity, was firnamed T'he Unready *.
Afp. I do more than pardon you, Theron. I feel for you, and I fympathize with you. If there isfome of the Saxon Prince's Difeafe run- jiing in your Religion -, \ am fure, there is too much of it in mine -, and I fear, it is an epU demical Diilemper. But let Us refle6l a Mo- ment— Suppofe any Neighbour of Subflance and Credit, fliould bind himfelf by a deliberate Promife, to do you fome particular Piece of Service — if he fhould add to his Promife a Note under his own Hand — if he fhould cor- roborate both by fome authentic Pledge — if he fliould eftablifh all by a moil awful and folemii Oath — Could you fufped: the Sincerity of his Engagement, or harbour any Doubt with re- gard to its Execution ? This would be moft unreafonable in any One ; and to your gener- ous * Ethkgd.
362 DIALOGUE XVI.
oLis Temper, I am very certain, it would be
impoflible. Let us remember, that GOD
has given us all this Caufe for an AlTurance of Faith, and more. Nay \ I will defy the mod timorous and fufpicious Temper, to demand from the mofi treacherous Perfon on Earth, a greater, ftronger, fuller Security, than the GOD of infinite Fidelity has granted to you and me.
. After all this, one would think, Diffidence
itfelf could not hefitate, nor the moft jealous Incredulity demur. Shall we, can we with- hold that Affiance from the unchangeable CREATOR, which we could not but repofe on a falUble Creature ?
^her. You roufe and animate me, AJpaJio, O ! that I may arife, and with the divine Af- fillance, fhake off this Stupor of Unbehef ! Certainly, it can never be honourable to GOD, nor pleafmg to CHRIS'T, nor profitable to Ourfelves.
Jfp. If it be, then cherifli it, indulge it, and never relinquifh it. — But how can it be honour- able to GOD ^ It depreciates his Goodnefs; it is a Reproach to his Veracity ; nay, the Apoflle fcruples not to affirm, that it 77iakes him a Liar *. Whereas, they who be- lieve his Teflimony, glorify his Faithfuhiefs ; glorify his Beneficence; and, as John the Baptifl fpeaks, Jet to their Sealy that GOD
is
* I John V, 10,
DIALOGUE XVI. 363
is true *.- — I have been informed, that, when the late EleSlor of Hanover was declared, by the ParUament of Great-Britain^ Succeflbr .to the vacant Throne; feveral Perfons of Diftinflion waited upon his Highnefs, in order to make timely Application for the mofl va- luable Preferments. Several Requefts of this Nature were granted, and each was confirmed by a kind of promifTory Note. Among the reft, one Gentleman folicited for the Majlerjlnp of the Rolls. Being indulged in his Defire, he was offered the fame Confirmation, which had been vouchfafed to other fuccefsful PetitionerSo Upon which, he feemed to be under a grace- ful Confufion and Surprize 3 begged that be might not put the royal Donor to fuch unne- ceffary Trouble; at the fame time declaring, that he looked upon his Highnefs 's Word^ as
the very beft Ratification of his Suit. With
this Condu61:, and this CompUment, the Elec- tor was not a little pleafed. " This is the *' Gentleman, he faid, who does me a real " Honour; treats me like a King; and who- " ever is difappointed. He fhall certainly be " gratified." So, We are aflured by the Word of Revelation, that He, who Jlaggere J ?2ot through Unbelief, gave, and in the moft fignal, the mofl acceptable Manner, Glo?y to GOD -f-.
h
* John'yi\. 3 J. f Rom, iv, 20j
364 DIALOGUE XVI.
Is It pkafmg to CHRIST? — Qiiite the re- verfe. It difhonours his Merit; it detra6ls from the Dignity of his Righteoufnefs ; it would enervate the Power of his Interceffion. Accordingly you may obferve, there is nothing which our LORD fo frequently reproved in
his Followers, as this Spirit of Unbelief.
What fays He to his Difciples, when He came down from the Mount of Transfiguration ? O faithlefs and perverfe * Generation ! They were
perverfe, becaufe faithlefs. What fays He to
the Travelers, whom He overtook in their Journey to E?nmaiis ? O Fools, andjlow of Heart to belieye -f- / They were Fools, becaufe (low to believe. What fays He to the Apoflles, af- ter his Refurreftion ? JESUS upbraided them with their Unbelief %. He took no notice of their
cowardly
* A»frp^a|t/-£u)i. Malt. xvii. 17. A believing State of Mind, is like fome well arranged and beautiful Syftem of. Limbs. Unbelief SJJocates the Parts, dijhrts the harmoni-^ ous Frame, and disfigures its comely Proportion.
t Avonloi. Luke xxiv, 25. Not thoughtlefs, hut Jlupid Cresi- tures ; void of Underftanding ; as we fay in Engli/h, without common Senfe ; or, as Horace would have faid in Latin,
O tribus Anticyris Caput itifanabile ! ' X Mark xvi. 14. The Word is not £7r£7»_«>io-£V, as in Luke xvii. 3. not iXty^i^t as in Tit. i. 13. but ccvsi^nrsi which fignifies, not barely a Rebuke, but a Rebuke accompanied with keen and Jlingmg Reflexions ; fuch as may cover the Face with Bluflbcs, and wound the Heart w^ith Anguifh.— It is ufed, by the Evangelift Luke, and by the ApofHe Peter^ to defcribe thofe Calumnies, Invectives, and Reproaches, with which the Perfecutors of Chriftianity endeavoured to ri///and affile the Chri/iians, Luke vi. 22. i P^t- 'v- 14- "^ — Though
DIALOGUE XVI. 365 cowardly and perfidious Behaviour; He in- veighed acrainft none of their other Follies and Infirmities ; but He upbraided them with their Unbelief. Not gently rebuked. No ; this was a Fault, fo unreafonable in itfelf, fo reproach- ful to their MASTER, fo pernicious to them- felves, that Ht fever ely reprimanded them for it -, with an Air of Vehemence, and with a Mix- ture of Invedlive.
Is it prof table to Ow fives 1 — Nothing lefs. It damps our Love, and diminiflies our Comfort, It fubje6ts Us to that Fear, which hath Tor- ment ; and difqualifies Us for that Obedience, which is filial. In a Word ; this difiruftful and unbelieving Temper weakens every Prin- ciple of Piety, and impoverifhes the whole Soul. Whence come fpiritual Ofcitancy and Remiflfnefs ? Whence proceed Sterility and Un- fruitfulnefs in the Knowledge of CHRIS Tf St. Peter afcribes them all to an habitual Un- belief. Such Perfons, he fays, have forgotten that they were purged from their former Sins *. — In the Regenerate, where it remains, it is very detrimental ; for they that will ?20t believe, fiall not be efiablified -f- .- In the Unregenerate,
where
"—Though our LORD JESUS was moft amiably len- der and gentle ; yet, when Seventy was neceffary and whole- fome, Heknew howto be fevere. Our all-wife PHYSI- CIAN could apply the Cfl«/?/V, as well as adminifter ths Cordial.
* 2 Pet. i. 8,9, t -^^^ vii. 9,
366 D'I A L O G U E XVI.
where it prevails, it is abfolutely deftruclive > and though it may not kill like an Apoplexy, it wafles like a Confumption. They could not enter in^ becaufe of Unbelief *.
Let Us then, my dear Friend, cafl away this Sin J which y3 eafily befets Us both. It clogs our Feet ; it hampers all our Powers j and hinders Us from runnings with Alacrity and Speed, the Race that isfet before Us. — What fays David^- GOD hath fpoken in his Holinefs -^ -^ hath made an exprefs and inviolable Promife, that I fhall be Ruler of his People Ifrael. I will rejoice therefore \ Away with every alarming Appre- henfion -, I will even exult and triumph. Nay more -, I will divide Shechem, and f?iete out the Valley of Succoth ; I wdll look upon the whole Land as my own. I will divide it, and dif- pofe of it, juft as if it was already in my Pof- feflion. — Why fliould not you and I alfo fay ? GOD hath fpoken in his IMinefs\ hath exprefly and folemnly declared, T^he Promife of an all- fufficient SAVIOUR is to Ton, We will rejoice therefore -, confiding in this mofl faithful Word, We will bid adieu to ail difquieting Fears, and make our Boaft of this glorious REDEEMER. Yes > notwithilanding all our Unworthinefs, CHRIST and his Atonement, CHRIST and his Righteoufnefs, are ours. Amidft all
our
* Htb. iii. 19. t PM 5x. 6,
DIALOGUE XVI. 367
our Temptations, this is' our Anchor j its Hold is firm, and its Ground immoveable *.
I'her. I have heard fome People diftinguifh, betvi^een the Faith of Relia?ice^ and the Faith of AJfurance j between the reflex and the diredi A(5l of Faith. Methinks, I approve thefe Senti- ments, though I diflike the Terms. The Senti- ments are finely adapted to the Relief of human Infirmity, though the Terms are rather too ab- ftrufe for ordinary Capacities to underfland.
Afp. I cannot fay, that I am vejy fond, either of the one, or of the other. In my Opinion, they both partake too much of the Subtilty of the Schools j and are more likely to create Perplexity, than to adminifter godly Edifying. For which Reafon, I fhould choofe to drop the difficult Phrafes, and not to dwell on the nice Diftin6tions. — Yet, if We muft not dif- mifs them, without fome Notice, I would juft remark
That, what they call Faith of Reliance^ in- cludes or prefuppofes a Degree of Allurance. Who would rely upon a Satisfaftion made,
without
* This very important Dodrine is more copioufly difplay- ed, in a Sermon of Mr. Erjkinis on the AJfurance of Faiih^ Vol. III. p. 201. — Was I to read, in order to refine my Tafte, or improve my Style ; I would prefer Bp. Atterburfs Sermons, Dr. Bates's Works, or Mr. Seed's Difcourfes. But was I to read, with a fingle View to the Edification of my Heart, in true Faith, folid Comfort, and evangelical Holi- nefs ; I would have Recourfe t9 ^U, Er/kine, ajjd take his Volumes for my Tutor,
368 DIALOGUE XVI.
without being firft perfuaded, that the Satis- faction is for Him and his Iniquities ? Reli- ance, feparated from this Perfuafion, feems to be neither comfortable, nor reafonable. — As to thofe, who are zealous Advocates for the reflex Acl of Faith ; who advife Us, to prove our Title to Comfort, by genuine Marks of Con- veriion ; and teach Us, on this Column to fix the Capital of AfTurance -, I would rather prb- pofe a Queftion, than advance Objedlions. — Is not this fomewhat like placing the Dome of a Cathedral upon the Stalk of a Tulip ?
'T'he?\ No, fay They j it was the Pra6lice of the Apoftle Himfelf i and He has left it upon Record, as a Pattern for all Pofterity to copy. JVe know that We are pajjed frofji Death tmto Life, hecaiife JVe love the Brethren.
Afp. Obferve, T'heron, the Procefs of the Apoflle's Reafoning. It is like the Form of an inverted Cone ; where You have firfl the Point, and from thence proceed to the Bafe. So the facred Writer begins with the lefs, and afcends to the greater Proof. He fays, in one of the following Verfes j Hereby perceive We the Love of GOD *, becaife He laid down his Life, not
merely
* I John iii, i6. The Word GOD is not In the Original. It was omitted by the Apoftle, juft as the particular Name is omitted by Mary, when She ipeaks to the Gardener ; Sh', if thou haft home Him hence; and by the Church, when She addrcfles the facred Obje6t of her AfFeflion ; Let Him kfsme with the Kjjjcs of his Mouth : John xx. 15. Cmtic, i. i. —
In
DIALOGUE XVr. 369
merely for Sinners, hut for Us in particular. — Here, You fee, is Aflurance by the direcl Act of Faith. From this Truth believed, from this Bleffing receivedj^the Love of the Brethren takes its Rife. Which may very juftly be ad- mitted as an Evidence, that our Faith is real, and our Aflurance no Delufion. As yonder Leaves may ferve to diftinguifli the particular Species, and afcertain the 'healthy State, of the Trees on which they grow.
When your Tenants bring in their Rent, this affords no contemptible Evidence, that the Lands, which they refpe6i:ively occupy, are yours. But this is a Proof which does not occur, either every Day or every Week ; it is occafional only, and of the fubordinate Kind.
The grand Demonllration, that which is
always at hand, and always forcible, is, your Poffeffion of the Deeds of Conveyance. Thus, the Promife of GOD in his divine Word is our Charter, or the authentic Conveyance of our Right to Pardon and Salvation. Make juft the fame Difference between this Promife and
your
In all which Places, there is a Langunge, a very emphatical Language, even in the Silence. It declares, how deeply the Heart was pe/ietrated, how totally the Thoughts were pof- feiled, by the beloved and illuftrious SubjeiSi:. It exprefles alfo the fuperlative Dignity and Amiablenefs of the Perfon meant : as though He^ and He alone^ either was, or deferved to be, known and admired by j^ll. For which Reafon, to mention his Name, or difplay his Excellencies, feemcd as needlefsy as to fhew Light to the opened Eye.
Vol. III. - B b
370 DIALOGUE XVI.
your own Holinefs, as You make between the Writings of your Eftate and the Receival of the Revenues, You will then judge aright, becaufe your Judgment wiU -coincide with the Apoftle's.
Befides j this Method of feeking Peace and Affurance, I fear, will embarrafs the fimple- minded -, and cherilli, rather than fupprefs, the Flu6luations of Doubt. For, let the Marks be what You pleafe, a Love of the Bre- thren or a Love of all Righteoufnefs, a Change of Heart or an Alteration of Life j thefe good Qualifications are fometimes like the Stars at Noon-Day, not eafily^ if at all, difcernable ; or clfe they are like a Glow-worm in the Night, glimmering, rather than fliining. Confequent- ly will yield, at the beft, but a feeble, at the- worfl, a very precarious Evidence. — If, in fuch a manner. We fhould acquire fome little Af- furance, how foon may it be unfettled by the Incurfions of Temptation, or deftroyed by the Prevalence of Sin ! At fuch a Jun6lure, how will it keep its Standing ! How retain its Be- ing ! It will be as a tottering Wall, before the Tempefl ; or as the RuJJj witlwut Mire, and the Flag without Water*.
Inflead therefore of poring on our ownHearts, to difcover, by inherent Qualities, our Intereft in CHRIST', I fliould rather renew my Appli-
catioix
* Jab viii. il.
DIALOGUE XVI. 371
cation to the free and faithful Promife of the LORDi afTert and maintain my Title, on
this unalterable Ground. " Pardon is mine,
" I would fayj Grace is mine, CHRIST' and " all his fpiritual Bleffings are mine. Why ? " becaufe I am confcious of fanftifying Ope- " rations in my own Breafl ? Rather becaufe " GOD hathfpoken in his Holinefs ; becaufe all ** thefe precious Privileges are configned over " to me in the everlafting Gofpel, with a Clear ^ *' nefi unqueflionable as the Truth, v/ith a " Certainty inviolable as the Oath of GOD."
Caft your Eye into yonder Meadow. Take notice of that induflrious Fifhei-man-, how in- tent He is upon the Purfuit of his Bufinefs. He has jufl thrown his Net, and taken a con- fiderable Booty. You do not fee Him fpend- ing his Time in idle Triumphs, on Account of his Succefs. He does not fland to meafure the Dimenlions of the Fidi, or compute the Value of his Prize. But having, without De- lay, fecured the Captives ; He prepares for am- ther Cail, and hopes for another Draught.-— So let Us, inflead of exulting in any pali Ac- quifitions, feek afrefli to the inexhauif ible Ful- nefs of our SAVIOUR, for renewed Com- munications. That, having Life and having Peace from Him, We may have them tnore abundantly *. Then will be fullilled the Say- ing that is written j T^he Jufi, the righteous in B b 2 JESUS
373 DIALOGUE XVI.
JESUS CHRIST— fiall live, fhall be deli- vered from Condemnation and Death ; fhall perfevere and advance in the Life of Comfcit and Holinefs — how ? By refle6lLng on his own Attainments? No; but by the Exercife of Faith *. By cleaving infeparably to CHRIST, and by depending inceflantly on CHRIST.
This, I verily think, nay this, the Apoftle teftifies, is the moft effectual Way of feeding that Lamp, and quickening that Flame ; which, having cheared Us in our earthly Pilgrimage, will be brightened up into immortal Glory in die Heavens.
Here they went in ; and, after a flight Re- frefhment, took Coach. — As they were return- ing Home, Theron obferved, with Concern, the changed and melancholy Afpe6l of Things, in the Territories of the Hulbandman. The Fields of Corn, which a little while ago, were gracefully erecl, or foftly inclining to the Breeze, lay funk and flatted under the impe- tuous Rains. — Such, added Afpafio, fuch I ap- prehend will be our Faith, if it afpires not after AiTurance, or if its Alfurance is erected on any Endowments of our own. O ! that it might be rooted, like thofe full-grown Oaks, under which We lately walked ! ^nd grotmcied-f,
like
* P.c?r.. i. 17. t E-ootcd and grounded, £^pj(^w,a£vot Jca» Ts^ey-iXiuiy-svot. T'hefe are the Apoftle's beautiful Ideas, or rather expreflive Similitudes, each compreheiidcU in a fniirlc W^'d. E^h, j.iiviS,
DIALOGUE XVI. 373
like that well-built Edifice, which is ftill in
our View ! 1 join with my Afpafio in this^
Wifh ', and mufl beg of Him to inform me,
how I may attain fo defirable a Bleffing.
You have cured me, 'Therorij of making Apo- logies : O ! that I might be as fuccefsfully in- ftrumental, in delivering my Fiiend from his Doubts ! That the Gofpel might come to Us, as it came to the 'Thejfahnians^ not in Word only^ but in Power^ and in the HOLT GHOST j mid in much AJfurance * /
Prayer is the firfl Expedient. Every good Gift is from above, and cometh dov/n from the FATHER of Lights. CHRIST is not only the Objeft, but the Author and Finifher of our Faith. LORD, incrcafe our Faith, was the Requeft of the Difciples, and (liould be the prevailing Language of our Hearts.
Seek the blejfed SPIRIT. That He may teftify of GOD, teftify of CHRIST, and bear witnefs with our Spirit. — Teftify of GOD, that He hath given unto Us eternal Life. — Teftify of
CHRIST, that this Life is in his SONf.
Bear witnefs with our Spirit, that TFe are the Children of GOD X- — By doing this, He is an Earneji § of our eternal Happinefs and Glory : He is a Seal \\ of our Security and Perfeverance unto the Day of Redemption.
Lay
* I Theff. i. 5. t I John v. 1 1. % Rom. viii. i6. § 2 Cor, i. 22. il Eph. i. 13.
' B b 3
374 DIALOGUE XVI.
Lay up many of the divine Promifes in your Memory. Stock that noble Cabinet with this invaluable Treafure. Faith cometh by Joearing*, by meditating on, and praying over, this
Word of Life, and Word of Grace. And
never, never forget the Freenefs, with which the Promife is made, and its good Things are beftowed. You are to receive the one, and apply the other, not with a full, but with an empty Hand ; not as a righteous Perfon, but as an unworthy Sinner.
^ Rom. X. 17. On which Account the Scriptures are flyled, The Wordi of Faith, i Tim. iv. 6.
D I A-
DIALOGUE XVIL
HE next Morning, 'Theroiz ovditv- ed a cold Collation to be prepar- ed, and his Pleafure-Boat to hold
itfelf in Readinefs. Breakfaft
being difpatched, and fome neceffary Orders, relating to the Family, given — Now, fays He to Afpafio^ let me fulfil my Promife ; or rather let us execute our mutual Engagement ; and confign the Remainder of this mild and charm- ing Day, to a rural Excurfion.
We will take our Rout along one of the firteji Roads in the World. A Road, incom- parably more curious and durable, than the famous Caufeys raifed by thofe puiilant Hands which conquered the Globe. A Road, that has fubfifted from the Beginning of Time ; and, though frequented by innumerable Car- riages, laden with the heavieft Burdens, has B b 4 never
376 DIALOGUE XVII.
never been gulled, never wanted Repair, to
this very Hour. Upon this, they ftep into
the Chariot, and are conveyed to a large navi- gable River^ about three Quarters of a Mile
diftant from the Houfe. Here they launch
upon a new Element, attended by two or three Servants, expert at handling the Oar, and managing the Nets.
Is this the Road, replied AJpajio^ on which my Friend beflows his Panegyric ? It is indeed more curious in its Structure, and more dur- able in its Subftance, than the celebrated Ro- man Caufeys. Though I muft afTure you, that the latter are very high in my Efleem. I admire them far beyond Trajan% Pillar, or Caracallds Baths -, far beyond the idle Pomp of the Rantheon^ or the worfe than idle Magnifi- cence of the Amphitheatre, They do the truefl Honour to the Empire ; becaufe, while they were the Glory of Rome^ they were a general Good * J and not only a Monument of her Grandeur, but a Benefit to Mankind.
"But more than all thefe Works, I admire that excellent and divinely gracious Purpofe,
to
* Thcfe Roads ran through all Italy, and flretched thom- felves into the Territories of France. They were carried acrofs the Alps^ the Pyrenean Mountains, and through the whole Kingdom of Spain. Some of them, towards the South, reached even to ^Ethiopia ; and fome of them, to- wards the North, extended as far as Scotland. The Remains of feveral of them continue in England to this Day ; though they were made, it may be, above 1500 Years ago.
DIALOGUE XVII. 377
to which Providence made the Empire itfelf ilibfervient. It was a kind of Road or Cau- ky, for the e'verlafting Go/pel-, and afforded the Word of Life a free PaflagCj to the very Ends of the Earth. The evangelical Dove mounted the Wings of the Roman Eagle j and flew, with furprifmg Expedition, through all
Nations. Who would have tliought, that
infatiable Ambition and the moft bloody Wars, fhould be paving a Way for the PRINCE of Humility and Peace t How remote from all human Apprehenfion, was fuch a Defign ; and how contrary to the natural Refult of Things, was fuch an Event ! How remarkably therefore was that Obfervation of the Pfalmill verified ; His Ways are in the Sea, and his Paths in the great Waters^ and his Footjieps are mt known * .'
Converflng on fuch agreeable Subje6ls, they were carried by the Stream, through no lefs agreeable Scenes. They pafs by Hills, clothed with hanging Woods; and Woods, arrayed in varying Green. Here, excluded from a Sight of the out-flretched Plains, they are en- tertained with a Group of luifub/Iantiallm^gQSy and the Wonders of a j?iimic Creation. — An- other Sun fhines, but flript of his blazing Beams, in the watery Concave : while Clouds fail along the downward Skies, and fometimes
dif-
* Pfal. l.xxvii. icj.
378 DIALOGUE XVII.
difclofe, fometimes draw a Veil over, the radiant Orb. Trees, with their inverted Tops, either flourifli in the fair Serene below j or elfe paint, with a pleafing Delufion, the pellucid Flood. Even the Mountains are there, but in a head- long Poflure J and, notwithflanding their pro- digious Bulk, they quiver in this floating Mir- ror, like the poplar Leaves which adorn their Sides.
Soon as the Boat advances, and diflurbs the placid Surface ; the Waves, pufhed haflily to the Bank, bear off^, in broken Fragments, the liquid handfchape. The fpreading Circles feem- ed to prophecy, as they rolled j and pronounced the Pleafures of this prefent State — the Pomp of Power, the Charm of Beauty, and the Echo of Fame — pronounced them tranfient, as their fpeedy Paflage j empty ^ as their unreal Freight. — Seemed to prophecy ? It was more. Ima- gination heard them utter, as they ran ;
Thus pafi the Jljadowy Scenes of Life away!
Anon, they emerge from tliis fluid Alley, and dart amidfl: the Level of a fpacious Mea- dow. The Eye, lately immured^ though in pleafurable Confinement, now expands her de- lighted View, into a Space almofl: boundlefs, and amidfl: Obje6ls little fliiort of innumerable. . — Tranfported for a while, at the numberlefs Variety of beauteous Images, poured in fweet
Con-
DIALOGUE XVII. 379
Confufion all around, flie hardly knows, where to fix, or which to purfue. Recovering, at length, from the pleafmg Perplexity 3 flie glances, quick and inflantaneous, acrofs all the inter- mediate Plain, and marks the dii^ant Moimfams, How Clifts climb over Clifts, till the huge Ridges gain upon the Sky : how their dimi- nifhed Tops are drefled in Blue, or wrapped in Clouds ; while all their leafy Stru6lures, and all their fleecy Tenants, are loft in Air,
Soon fhe quits thefe aerial Summits, and ranges the rulTet Heatb : here, fliagged with Brakes, or tufted with Rufhes: there, inter- fperfed with flraggling Thickets, or folitary Trees i that feem, like difaffeaed Partifans, to fhun each other's Shade. — A Spire, placed in a remote Valley, peeps over the Hills. Senfe is furprifed at the amufive Appearance ^ is ready to fufpedl, that the Column rifes, like fome in- chanted Edifice, from the rifted Earth. But Reafon looks upon it, as the Earnefl of a hid- den Vale, and the fure Indication of an adja^ cent Town, Performing, in this Refpe6l, much the fame Oliice to the Eye, as Faitb exe- cutes with regard to the Soul, when it is tbe Evidefice ofl'hmgs not feen^.
Next, fhe roves, with increafmg Pleafure, over fpacious Tradts of fertile Glebe, and cul- tured Fields. Where Cattle, of eveiy graceful
Form^
* Heb. xi. I.
386 DIALOGUE XVII.
Form, and every valuable Quality, crop the tender Herb, or drink the cryftal Rills. — Pre- fently, fhe dwells with the higheft Compla- cency, on T^oivns of Opulence and Splendor ; which fpread the facred Dome, and lift the fo- cial Roof. Towns, no longer furrounded with the flcrn forbidding Majefty, of unpaffable Entrenchments, and impregnable Ramparts j but incircled with the delicate, the inviting Appendages of Gardens and Orchards : thofe, decked with all the foft Graces of Art and Ele- gance 5 thefe^ blufliing and pregnant 'with the more fnbftantial Treafures of fruitful Nature. — -Wreaths of afcending Smoke, intermingled with Turrets and lofty Pinnacles, feem to con- tend which fliall get farthejl from the Earth, and ncareji to the Skies. Happy for the Inha- bitants ! If fuch was the habitual Tendency of their Defires * ; if no other Contention was known in their Streets.
Villas,
* This Comparifon, I think, cannot appear vulgar to thofe PerfonSj who have read, and who reverence, 'The Book of Canticles. There, the Church, afcending continually in her AfFe£tions, to her beloved JESUS, and to her heavenly Home, is characterized by this very Similitude. IFho is this that Cometh out of the Wilder nejs like Pillars of Smoke ? Cantic. iii. 6. — Though it muft be confefled, that this Similitude, like many of thellluftrations ufed in Scripture, might have a Sort of local Propriety ; peculiar to the People of that Age, Country, and Religion. It might probably refer to thofe Colunms of Smoke, which arofe from the Biiryit -Offerings or fumed from th? Altar of hunfe. If fp, this Circum-
ftancc
DIALOGUE XVIL 381
Plllasy elegant and magnificent, feated in thi Center of an ample Park, or removed to the Extremity of a lengthened Lawn : not far frorn a beautiful Refervoir of Handing Waters, or the more falutary Lapfe of a limpid Stream.
Villages, clad in homely Thatch, and
lodged in the Bofom of cluflering Trees. Ruf- tics, fmging at their Work ; Shepherds, tun- ing their Pipes, as they tend their Flocks } Travelers, purfuing each his refpective Way,, in eafy and joyous Security.
Hov^ pleahng, faid Afpafio, is our Situation \ Hov^ delightful is the Afped" of all Things ! One would almo ft imagine, that nothing could exceed it, and that nothing can increafe ih Yet there is a Method of increafing even this
copious
fiance muft give a Solemnity and Dignity to the Idea, of which many Readers are not at all aware, and which in- deed no modern Reader can fully conceive.
May I take leave to mention another Comparifon of this Kind ? The Enemies of the LO RD /ball confume as the Fat of Lo?nbs ; yea, even as the Smoke Jhall they unfume away. Pfal. xxxvii. 20. — As the Fat of Lambs, is not to Us zjirik^ ing Reprefentation. But to thofe who attended the Altar, who faw the unctuous and moft combuftible Parts of the Vi6lim blazing in the facred Fire, it prefented a very lively Image. Which was ftill more appofite and fignificant, if the Pfaltn was fung, while the Sacrifice was burning. — None I believe, in fuch a Cafe, could forbear either obferving or ad- miring the beautiful Gradation : *' They fhall perifh as yon- ** der Fat, which is fo eafily feton fire ; and, when once in " a Flame, is fo fpeedily confumed. Nav, they fhall be as *' \ht Smoke, which is- ftill -more tranfient. Whofe light *' unfubllantial Wreaths, but juft make their Appearance ^' to the Eye 3 _and, in a Moment, vanifti into empty Air."
382 DIALOGUE XVir.
copious Delight, and of heightening even this exquifite Pleafure. — Let me defire my Friend, anfwered Theron, to explain his Remark -, and not only to explain, but to exemplify. — If We view, refumed Afpafw, our own profperoiis^ and compare it with the ajiicl edCow^it^ion of Others, the Method I propofe, will be reduced to Praclice. Such a dark and mournful Contrafl, mufi: throw additional Brightnefs, even upon the brightefl Scene.
Above Us, the Skies fmile with Serenity ; below Us, the Fields look gay with Plenty j • all around Us, the fportive Gales
Fanfting their odoriferous Wings difpenfe Native Perfumes ; and'whifper, whence theyjiok ^hofe bahny Spoils.
With Us all Circumftances are as eajy^ as the Wafture of the Boat j 2iSfmooth^ as the Flow of the Stream. — But let Us not forget thofe griev- ous Calamities, which befal our Brethren, in fome remote Tracts of the Earth, or dillant Parts of the Ocean. How many Sailors are flruggling, vainly flruggling, with all the Fury of rending Winds, and dafliing Waves ! While their Veiiel, flung to and fro by tempeftuous Billows, is mounted into the Clouds, or plunged into the Abyfs. Poflibly, the miferable Crew hear their Knell founded, in the fliattered Mall J and fee Defb'U(^ion entering; at the
buril-
DIALOGUE XVII. 383 burfting Planks. Perhaps, this very Moment, they pour the laft, difmal, dying Shriek ; and fmk, irrecoverably fink, in the all-overwhelm- ing Surge. — The Traveler, in African barren Waftes, pale even amidfl thofe glowing Regi- ons, pale with prodigious Conilernation, fees fudden and furprifmg Mountains rife. Sees the fultry Defart, afcending the Sky, and fweep- ing before the Whirlwind. What can He do ? Whither fly ? How efcape the approaching Ruin ? Alas ! while He attempts to rally his Thoughts ; attempts to devife fome feeble Ex- pedient; He is overtaken by the choking Storm, and fuffocated amidfl the fandy Immdatiofi. The driving Heaps are, now, his Executioner ; as the drifted Heaps will, foon, be his Tomb.
While TVe poflefs the valuable Privileges, and tafte the delicious Sweets of Liberty^ how many Partakers of our common Nature, are condemned to perpetual Exile, or hammered to the Oar for Life ! How many are immured in the Gloom of Dungeons, or buried in the Caverns of the Mines; never to behold the
all-inlivening Sun again! While Refped
waits upon our Perfons, and Reputation at- tends our Chara6lers : are there not fome un- happy Creatures, led_ forth by the Hand of 'uindiSti've Jujiice, to be Spectacles of Horror, and Monuments of Vengeance? Sentenced, for their enormous Crimes, to be broke Limb
by
384 DIALOGUE XVII.
by Limb on the Wheel, or to be impaled alive on the lingering Stake. To thefe, the flrang- ling Cord, or the deadly Stab, would be a moft welcome Favour. But they muft feel a thoiifand Deaths, in undergoing one. And this, too probably, is but the Beginning of their Sorrows ; will only confign them over to infi- nitely more terrible Torment. While Eafe
and Pleafure, in fweet Conjun61ion, fmooth our Paths, and foften our Couch : how many are toiling on the Fever's fiery Bed, or toiling along Affli6lion's thorny Road ! Some, under the excruciating^ but necefTary Operations of Surgery r their Bodies ripped open, with a dreadful Incifion, to fearch for the torturing Stone ; or their Limbs lopped off by the bloody Knife, to prevent the Mortification's fatal Spread. Some emaciated by pining Sick- nefs, are deprived of all their animal Vigour 5 and transformed into Speclres, even before their Dilfolution *. Thefe are ready to adopt the Complaint of the Pfalmiji -, I am ivithcred like Grafs 5 my Bojies are burjit up, as it were a Firebrand', I go hence like the Shadow that de- part eth. While Health, that ftaple Blefling ; ' which gives every other Entertainment its Fla- vour and its Beauty ^ adds the Glofs to all We
fee,
* A very little Excurfion of Thought will eafily convince the Reader, that there is no Period ot Time, in which fome of thefe Calamities do not befal our Fellow- creatures, in one Pait of the World ox another.
DIALOGUE XVII. 38^
fee, and the Gout to all We tafte; Health plays at our Hearts -, dances in our Spirits -, and mantles in our Cheeks, as the generous Champain lately fparkled in our Glafs.
We are bleft wath a calm Poiieffion of Our- felves J with Tranquility in our Confciences, and an habitual Harmony in our Temper. Whereas Many, in the doleful Cells of Lima- cy\ are gnafliing their Teeth, or wringing their Hands ; rending the Air with Voilies of horrid Execrations, or burdening it with Peals of dif- confolate Sighs. And O ! what iMultitudes are held in fpkndid VaffalagCy by their own domi* neering Paffions, or the Vanities of a bev/itch- ing World. Far lefs innocently, far more de- plorably difordered *, than the fettered Mad- man, they are gnawed by the invenomed Tooth of Envy ; they are agitated by the wild Sallies of Ambition ^ or feel the malignant Ulcer of
Jealoufy,
* Give me any Plague^ fays an apocryphal Writer, lid the Plague of the. Heart. Ecclus. xxv. 13. Upon which judi- cious and weighty Apothegm, Mafmiffh's Speech in Mr. Thomfon'^ Sophonijla^ is a very pertinent and aiFecting Para- phrafe.
O ! fave me from the Tumult of the Soul !
From the wild Beajl within / — For^ circling Sands,
JVhen the fwift U'hirlwind whelms them o'er the Lands \
The roaring Deeps, that to the Clouds arife,
JVhile thwarting thick the mingled Lightning fies ;
The Monjier-hraod, to which this Land gives Birth,
The blazing City, and the gaping Earth ;
Jll Deaths^ all Tortures^ in one Pang ccmbln'df
Are gentle to the Tempejl of the Mini.
Vol. III. ' C c
1^%6 DIALOGUE XVII.
Jealoufy, rankling in their Breads. In Some, Avarice, like a ravening Harpy, gripes. In Some, Revenge, like an implacable Fury, rages. While Others are goaded by lordly and imperious Lufrs, through th& loathfome Se^iV- ers of impure Delight j and left, at laft, in thofe hated and execrable Dens, where Re- morfe rears her fneaky Crefl, and Infamy fharpens her hiffing Tongue.
Why this long Paufe ? replied Theron. Your Obfervations are as ufeful, as they are juH. We fhould all be acquainted, at leaft in Spe- culation acquainted, with Grief , and fend our Thoughts, if not our Feet, to vifit the Abodes
of Sorrow. That, in this School, We may
learn a fympathizing Pity, for our diftrefled Fellow-creatures J and fee, in this Glafs, our inexpreffible Obligations to the Goodnefs of Providence. Which has crowned our Table with Abundance, and repleniflied our Cup with Delicacies ; permitting neither Penury to flint the Draught, nor Adverfity to mingle her Gall. — Go on, I muft Intreat You, \\\\.\\ your Dcfcription of comparative Felicity. We have a large Circuit ftill to make, before We arrive at our intended Port. And I could wifli, that your Difcourfe might keep Pace with the Cur- rent.
Since
DIALOGUE XVIi. 387
Since You approve the Subjeft, anfwered Afpafw, I will piirfue it a little farther. — We, the Inhabitants of this favoured Ifle, breaths an Air of the moil ^^rf^<3^/? Temperature, and moft wholfome Qualities. But how many Na- tions languifh under brazen Skies, vaulted as it were v/ith Fire ? They welter amidft thofe Furnaces of the Sun, till their " Vifage is
" burnt, and black as a Coal *." What is
far more difaftrous, Beds of Sulphur and com- buftible Materials, lie in fubterraneous Am- bufli, ready to fpring the irrefijiible Mine. Ere long — perhaps, on fome Day of univerfal Fe- flivity -f-, or in fome Night of deep Repofe— to be touched by Heaven's avenging Hand. Then, with what outrageous Violence will they
burft'!
* Lam. iv. 8.
t There is a remarkable Paffage in Pfal. Iviii. lo. which feems to denote fome fuch unexpeiffed^ hut fpeedy and bievit- able Doom. Jt is cbfcured, not a little, by the Verllon ad- mitted into our Liturgy. I believe, the true Tranllation may be feen in the following Italics^ and the true Senfe learnt
from the inlerwo'ven Paraphrafe. Speedily, or before your
Pots can perceive the Warmth of blazing Thorns, Jl}all HE that ruleth over all, fweep away the Wicked : fwetrp him away by a Stroke of jrightcous Indignation, as by a fierce and mighty Tempeft ; fo that, even from the Fulnefs of his Suf- ficiency, and the Height of his Profperity, He ihall be plunged into utter Deftrudlion, — The Word 'n> which is very unhappily rendered raiv, fignifies a Scate of Profperity ox pkafwable Enjoyment. I Sam. xxv. 6. — The whole Verfe, in a Gradation of flriking Images, gives Us a mod awful Difplay of divine Vengeance. V^engeance, quite fuddcn, utterly irrefiftible, and overtaking the I'ecure Sinner, aniidft all the Carelles of, what tlie World calls, Fc-)tune.
C C 2
|88 DIALOGUE XVIL
burfi: ! Rock the Foundations of Nature f Wrench open the ponderous Jaws of Earth I And fwallow up aftonifhed Cities, in the dark, tremendous, clofing Chafm !
Thefe Earthquakes, it may be, both precede and portend, the Pejiilence that walketh in Dark- nejs, and the Sicknefs that deflroyeth at Noo?i- day *. They are, at once, a fearful Omen, and a ruinous Blow. The flagnating Atmofphere, rank with malignant Vapours, becomes a Source of deadly Infeftion : or, replete with poifonous Animalcules, is one vaft incumbent Cloud of living Ba?ie. If the a6live Gales arife, they arife only to ftir the Seeds of Difeafe, and dif- fufe the fatal Contagion far and near. Un- happy People I The Plague, that fevere Mi- nifter of divine Indignation, fixes her Head- quarters in their blafted Provinces j and fends Death abroad, on his pale Horfe -f-, to enipty their Houfes, depopulate their Towns, and croud their Graves.
Our Ifland is feldom vifited with either of thefe dreadful Judgments j and has never fuf- tained any very confiderable Calamity from the former. However, let Us not be prefump- tuoufly fecure. We have, not long ago, re- ceived an awful Warning. The Rod has been ihaken, or rather the Sword has been bran- diihed, over our Territories. Who can for- get * Fj'al. xci. 6. t Rev. vi. 8.
DIALOGUE XVII. 3^9 get the general Confternation, that felzed our Metropolis, on Occafion of the late Earthquake ? And not without Reafon. For, of all divine Vifitations, this is the mofl terribly vindictive. The Whirlwind \sJlow in its Progrefs ; War is gentle in its Aflaults ; even the raging Pefli- lence is a mild Rebuke; compared with tlic inevitable, the all-over-'whehjiing Fury of an Earthquake. When it begins, it alfo makes an End *. Puts a Period, in a few Minutes, to the Work of Ages. Ruins all, without Di- ftinftion 3 and there is no Defence from the deflruclive Stroke.
Should almighty Vengeance ftlr up again thofe fierce fubterranean Commotions : fhould the moft high GOD bid ftrong Convuhions tear the Bowels of Nature, and make the Foun- dations of the W^orld tremble like a Leaf: What, O ye carelefs ones f , What will You do ?
Whither will You fly ? See ! the Pavement
fmks under your Feet. Your Houfes are tot- tering over your Heads. The Ground, on every Side, cracks and opens like a gapin^^ Grave ; or heaves and fwells like a roHing Sea. A Noife of CraJJding % is heard from without, occafioned by the rending Streets, and failing ■Stru6lures. Thunders, infernal Thunders ||,
bellow
, * I Sam. iii. 12. f Ifa'i. xxxii. 11. % Zeph. i. 10.
II Before the Overthrow of Catania by an Earthquake, a Noife was heard, vaft and horrid, as if all the Artillery in the World wai; difcharged at once.
C c ^
^00 DIALOGUE XVII. bellow from beneath ; mingled with defpairing Shrieks, and dying Groans from thofe wretch- ed Creatures, who are jammed between the clofmg Earth, or going down alive into the horrible Pit *. — Where now will You fly ? To
your
* Very memorable, and equally tremendous, is the Ac- cojjnt of the Earthquake, that vifited Sici/y, in the Year 1693.
■ Ii fuook the v/hole liland. The Adifchief it caufed, is
amazing. Fifty-four Cities and Towns, befide an incre- dible Number of Villages, were either demolifh^d, or greatly damaged. Catania, one of the moft famous and 'flourifhing Cities in the Kingdom, was intirely deftroyed. Of 18,914 Inhabitants, 18000 pcrilhed.
Another Earthquake almoft as dreadful, and in the fame Year, fpreadDefolation through the Colony oi Jamaica. In two Minutes Tim.c, it fhook down, and laid under Water, nine Tenths of the Town of Port-royal. In lefs than a Minute, three Quarters of the Houfes, and the Ground they ftood on, together with the Inhabitants, were quite funk : and the little Part left behind, was no better than Heaps of Rubbifli.
The Shake was fo violent, that it threw People down
upon their Knees, or their Faces, as they were running about for Shelter. The Ciround heaved and fwellcd, like a rolling Sea ; and feveral Houfes, rtiil fianding, were fliuffled fome Yards out of their Places. The Earth would crack and yawn ; would open and fhut, quick and fafi. Of which hor- rid Openings, two or three hundred might be (ecn at once. In fome whereof, the People went down, and were fecn no more. In fome they dcfcended, and rofe again in other Streets, or in the Middle of the Hirbour, Some fwiftly clofing, feized the miferable Creatures, and preli'ed them to Death ; leaving their Pleads, or half tjaeir Bodies above Ground, to be a Spe£^acle of Terror, and a Prey to Dogs. Out ofothers would illue whole Rivers of Water, fpouted to a great Height in the Air, and threatening a Deluge to th;it Part, which the Earthquake fpared. — Scarce a Plant- jng-houfe or Sugar-work was left llanding in all the Ifland., Two thoufand Lives were loft, and a thoufand Acres of Land funk. The whole was attcnucd with frightful Noifes,
with
DIALOGUE XVII. 391
yonr flrong Towers ? The}^ are Ihattered in
Pieces. I'o the flronger Rocks ? They are
thrown out of their Place. To the open
Fields? They are a frightful Gulph, yawning to devour You. — Where-ever You iiv ; in the Wildnefs of your Diftratlion, where-ever you feek for Shelter ; It fhali he, as if a Man fed from a Lion^ and a Bear met Him ; or went i?ito the Houfe, a?id leaned his Hand upon the Wall, and a Serpent bit Him *.
Yet, there is one Place of Refuge, which will prove an inviolable Sanftuary, and a per- fect Security. I mean, the great, the gracious, the adorable REDEEMER'S Rij^hteoufnefs. Hither let Us betake ourfelves. Now, beiX)re the Day of Defolation cometh, let us betake Ourfelves to this Strong-hold. Then, fnall We have no Reafon to fear, though the Earth be moved, and though the Elills be carried into the Midil of the Sea. For thus faith G O D, the omnipotent and faithful GOD; 'The Sun and the Moon Jhall be darkened^ ajid the SUzrs fljall withdraw their Shining. The LORD alfo fdall roar out of Sion, 'and utter his Voice from Jertifalem. The 'Heavens and the Earth fall Jhake; but the LORD JESUS CHRIST, will
- be with brimftone Blafts, and ofFenfive Smells. The noifome Vapours belched forth, corrupted the Air, and brought on a general Sicknefs ; which fwept away more than three thou- land of thofe, who efcaped the Fury of the Earthquake, bee Chamb. Di5f. on the Word Earthquake. * dmij V. icj.
C c 4
392 DIALOGUE XVII.
be the Hope of his People y and the Strength of the
Children oj Ifrael *. Or, if the true Believer
is involved, in the fame undiftinguiflied Ruin with the Ungodly -, even this fhaJl turn to his "Gain. It fhall exempt Him from the linger- ing Pains, and the melancholy Solemnities of a dying Bed. Like Elijah's fiery Chariot, it fhall fpccdily waft his Soul to the Bofom of his SAVIOUR. V^hile the hideous Cavern, that vi^helms his Body in the Center, fliall be its Chamber of Reft, till the beloved BRIDE- GROOM comes, and the Day of Refurre6lion dawns.
We lift up our Eyes, and behold the radiant Colours, which flufli the Forehead of the Morning: We turn, and gaze upon the no lefs beautiful Tinges, which impurple the Cheek of Evening. Wc throw around our View, and are delighted with numberlefs Forms of Fertility, that both decorate and in- rich our Plains. Whereas, other Countries
are over-run with immenfe Swarms of Locujis : which intercept, where-ever they fly, the fair Face of Day^ and deftroy, where-ever they alight, the green Treafures of the Ground.
Ah ! what avails it, that the laborious Hind fows his Acres J or the Ikilful Hulbandman prunes his Vineyard ? That Spring, with her
prolific
* Jcer\\\, i6, 17,
DIALOGUE XVII. 393
prolific Moifture, fwells the Budj or, with her delicate Pencil, paints the BlofTom ? Nor Grain, nor Fruit, can hope for Maturity ; while thefe rapacious and baleful Creatures in- feft the Neighbourhood. They ravage the Gardens. They ftrip the Trees, and Ihave the Meadows. Scarce a fnigle Leaf remains on the Boughs, or fo much as a fingle Stalk in the Furrows. A Fire devoureth before them^ and behind them a Flame burneth : the Laiid is as the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them a defolate Wildernefs : yea, and nothing can efcape them *.
Now, let the dreadful Artillery roar from all its iron Throats, and difgoi-ge the heaviefl Glut of mortal Hail. Now, Ye Sons of Slaughter ; M.tnfkilfulto deftroy -f ; now hurl the fulphureous Globes, which kindle into a Hur- ricane of Fire, and burft in ragged Inflruments of Ruin. — To no Purpofe. The linked Thun- derbolts are turned into Stubbie; the burilinof
o
Bombs are accounted as Straw. Thefe Armies
of
* A Fire devoureth before them^ and behind them a Flame hurneth. Joel ii. 3. This is one of thofe bold and exprejjive Metaphors, in which the Hebrew Language delights, and by which it is eminently diftinguifhed. It fignifies a total De- vajlation of the vegetable Produce. Such as muft enfue, if a raging and refifllefs Fire attended the Progrefs of thefe per- nicious Animals : burning with fuch vehement Impetuofitv, that None could quench itj fpreading fuch extenfive Havock, that nothing could efcape it.
-j- Ezd.'iLyA, 31,
394 DIALOGUE XVII.
of the Air, laugh at all tlie formidable Prepa- rations of Vv^ar ; and when they fall on the Sword^ they fcall not be wounded^- — Surprifing and awfal Deflinaticn of the everlafting GOD \ At once, to ftain the Pride, and chaftife the Guilt of Man ! Thefe are a defpicable and puny Race J clad in no Coat of Mail, but cruflicd by the flighteft Touch. They wear neither Sword, nor Scymeter, nor any ofFen- iive Weapon. Yet, in fpite of oppofmg Le- gions, they carry on their Depredations, and pufh their Conquefts. Terfor marches in their Front, and Famine brings up the Rear. They fpread univerfal Devaftation, asrthey advance ; and frequently give the Signal, for the Pefli- lence to follow. Potent Armies lofe their Hands, and haughty Tyrants tremble for their Dominions.
O!
* The Prophet 'Joel^ foretclHng the Plague of Locujis, gives, under the Image of an embattled Hoji, a moft awful Difplay, of their terrible Appearance ; their impetuous Fro- grefs J the horrible Dread they raife, as they advance ; and the irreparable Mifchief they leave, as they depart. Adding, amonsrft other amazing Circumftances, IVheii they fall upon the Sword, theyjhall not be wounded. Which implies, I ap- prehend, that no Method of Slaughter fhould prove deftruc- tive lo their Troops ; or, that every Expedient, contrived lor their Suppreflion, fhould be utterly baffled. Being, through their immenfe Numbers as invincible, as if every one was abfolutely invulnerable. For, though Millions and Millions iJiould perifh, by the Weapons of War j even fuch a Blow, in reference to their whole collective Body, fhould fcarce be perceived as a Lofs, fcarce be felt as a Wound j neither di- miriilhing their Strength, nor retarding their March. Jod ii. ^»
DIALOGUE XVII. 395
0 1 that the Natives of Great-Britaijt would bethink themfelves ! Would break off their Sins by Righteoufnefs, and their Iniquities by cherifhing the Influences of the Divine SPI- RIT! Left this o'uerjlounng Scourge *, under which fome neighbouring Kingdoms have feverely fmarted, fhould be commifTioned to vifit our Borders, and avenge the Quarrel of
its MAKE R's Honour. Diftant as thofe
countlefs Legions are, with interpofing Seas between ; yet, if GOD lift up a Standard from far, or but hifs -f- unto them from the Ends of
the
* Overflowing Scourge^ Ifai. xxviii. 15. It is the Property of a Scourge to lajhy of a River to oversow. Tiie facred Writer, by an elegant 7rapovo/A«<ria which He often ufes, has connected thefe different Ideas and different Effe<5ls. The vindid:ive Vifitation, with which He threatens the difobedi- ent JewSy ftiall pierce deep as a Scourge, znd fpread wide as an Inundation. They fhall feel it to their very Souls ; and it fhall involve the whole Nation in Mifery, Anguifh, and Ruin.
- There feems to be fuch a Form of Expreffion in the Ser- vice of our Church. When We pray, in behalf of our Fel- low-chriftians ; " pour upon them the continual Dew of thy ** Bleffing." That which may be refrefhing and falutary as the Dew, yet copious and abundant as the Shower.
t Hi/s unto them. Ifai. v. 26. With great Significancy, and peculiar Grandeur, the Prophet applies this Expreffion to the LORD GOD of Hefts, influencing the moft power- ful Armies, q. d. " They come, without a Moment's " Delay, and, from the remoteft Regions of the Earth, to " execute all his Pleafure. Formidable and innumerable as
" they are, they come 1 fay not, upon his repeated In-
" jundions, or at \i\^Jiri£l Command — but at the firj}^ the " VQVf Jrnalleji Intimation of his Will."— Such as the Shep- herds ufed to their Flocks ; fuch as the Bee-men, of old,
to
396 DIALOGUE XVII.
the Earth ; they come with Speed Jhviftly. — Who will convey this Wifh to the Ears, who will tranfmit it to the Hearts, of my Countrymen ? That our Land may always appear, as it does at prefent, like the Darling of Providence. May always refound with the Voice of Joy, and be filled with the Fruits of Plenty. May always wear the Robe of Beauty, and be adorn- ed with the Smile of Peace.
How great are the Advantages of Peace! faid T^beron. Peace at her Leifure plans, and leads out Induftry to execute, all the noble and commodious Improvements, which We behold on every Side. Peace fets the Mark of Pro- perty on our PofiefTions, and bids Juflice gua- rantee them to our Enjoyment. Peace fpreads over Us the Banner of the Laws, while We tafte, free from Outrage, and fecure from In- jury, the Milk and Honey of our honefl Toil*.
Amidfl
to their Swarms ; or fuch as We, in thefe Days, to fome 0*^
our domeftic Animals. The Hebrew plJi^ I would not
tranflate. At his IVh'ijUe ; bccaufe this Phrafe, in our Lan- guage, creates a vulgar Sound, and conveys a low Idea : but fuch is the Import of the Original. Which denotes all that unconcerned Eafe of A£tion, without any of the offenfive Familiarity of Diftion.
* Pax optima Rerum^ fays the Latin Poet. — But the Ori- entals^ I think, difcovcr the moft fuperlative Eftecm for this BleHing, by making it the conftant Form of their.Salutations, and the Subjcft of their moft cordial Wiflics for their Friends j PEACE BE UNl'O THEE !— In this ^r/ Sentence, they feem to have comprifed.a whole Volume of Mercies : mean- ing, by their fingle CDl^t^S all that the Greeks expreflcd by
their
DIALOGUE XVII. 397
— Amidft the tumultuous Confufions of fVar, who could have a Heart to contrive, or a Hand to accomplifli, any fuch Works of Dig- nity and Ufc ? In thofe Days of Darknefs and Diflraclion, how languid to the Sight are all the dewy Landfchapes of Spring ? How infipid to the Tafle are all the delicious Flavours of
Autumn ? When the Nation is over-run
with Armies, and embroiled in Slaughter, a trembling Hearty and Failing of Eyes, and Sor- row of Mind*, are the difmal Diftin^lion of the Times. Inilead of a calm Acquiefcence in our Portion, our very Life hangs in continual Sufpence.
But what are all the Benefits of external Peace, though difplayed in the faireft Light,
and inlivened by the flrongeft Contrails
What are they all, compared with the BlefT- ings of the Gofpel? By which Sinners may have Peace with GOD through JESUS CHRIST' our LORD. ' .
This»
their p/aiptiu, vyiocivsiv, svzrpuTlnv ; i. e. A Confluence of that Joy of Mind, that Health of Body, that Pro/per ity of out- ward Circumftances, which complete the Kappinefs of Man- kind.
We have a fine Defcription of Peace, and its various BlefT- ings, I Maccab, xiv. 8, 9, &c. The Pidure is very exadl, though perfedtly artlefs. Nothing fhould liinder me from tranlcribing the Paflage, but a Fear of being too diffufive in my Notes. Left the Reader, vi^ho expedts a Treat, Ihouldl" complain of a Glutt : or have Reafon to object, that tha Side-board is more copioufly furnifhed than the Table. * Deut, xxviii. 65.
39^ DIALOGUE XVII.
This, refiimed AJpafio, fuggefls a frefli In- ftance of Happinefs, which IVe poflefs, and Others want ; never to be omitted in our Ca- talogue of pecuhar Mercies. I might add, ne- ver to be forgotten, by any Chrijiian, on any
Occafion. While many Kingdoms of the
Earth, are ignorant of the true GOD, and know neither the Principles of Piety, nor the Paths of Happinefs j the Day-fpring from on High hath vifited Us, to give the Kfiou^ledge of Sal- vation^ and to guide our Feet into the Way of
Peace. While Millions of rebellious Angelsy
caft from their native Thrones, are referved in Chains of Darknefs, unto the Judgment of the great Dayj We, though rebellious and apo- flate Sinners of Mankind, are delivered from the Wrath to come. The holy JESUS (blcf- fed be his redeeming Goodnefs!) has endured the Crofs, and defpifed the Shame, on purpofe to refcue Us from thofe doleful and ignomi- nious Dungeons J where the 'Prifoners of Al- mighty Vengeance
. CoJiverfe ivith Groans^
Unrefpitedy impitied, tinreprievd, Ages of hopelefs End.
Yes, my dear T'heron; let me repeat your own important Words ; " What are all the " Benefits of external Peace, though difplayed ** in the faireft Light, and inlivencd by the
*' flrongefl
DIALOGUE XVII. 399
'* ftrongefl Contrafcs What are they all,
" compared with the Blejjings of the GcfpelT' — This brings the Olive-branch fi'om Heaven, and glad Tidings of ReconciUation vv'ith our offended GOD. This compofes the Tumult of the Mind J difarms the warring Paffions; and regulates the extravagant Defires. This intro- duces fuch an Integrity of Heart, and Benevo- lence of Temper, as conflitute the Health of the Soul. This fpreads fuch an uniform Beau- ty of Holinefs through the Conduct, as is far more amiable, than the mofl: engaging Forms of material Nature.
O ! that Thou wouldefl bow the Heavens ! That Thou wouldefl come down, celellial Vi- fitantj and make thy flated, thy favourite Abode in our Ifle ! That every Breafl might be animated with thy Power 5 and every Com- munity, every Individual, might wear thy re- fplendent Badge ! — Then fhould it be the leafl Ingredient of our public Felicity, That the Sword of Slaughter is beaten into a Plough- fhare, and the once bloody Spear bent into a Pruning-hook. It fhall be the loweft upon the Lifl of our common Bleffings, That Violence ii no more heard in our Land^ Wafiing and Dejiriic- tion ^within our Borders. Our very Officers ivill be Peaccy and our ExaBors * Righteoujhefs. We
* Ifa'iAx. 17. Officers and ^.v<7J7<;r5 fignify Pcrfons, vefted with public Authority : who have it in their Powf, to rule
wi h
40O DIALOGUE XVII.
Jhall call (and the Event will correfpond with the Name) our Walls Salvation, and our Gates Praife. Then fhall every Harp be taken down from the Willows, and every Voice burft into a Song. — *' Let other Climes — will be the ge- *' neral Acclamation —
" Let other Climes fupport Myriads of " thofe curious LifeSlsy which draw the de- " licate Thread, that foftens into Velvet, llif- " fens into Brocade, or flows in gloffy Satten -, " that rellefts a lovelier Glow on the Cheek of " Beauty, and renders Royalty itfelf more ma- " jeftic. We are prefented with infinitely ^w^r " RobeSy in the imputed Righteoufnefs of our "REDEEMER, and the inherent Sanc- " tification of his SPIRIT. Which beautify <* the very Soul, and prepare it for the illu-
" flrious Aflembly — of Saints in Light-^ of
" Angels in Glory.
" Let
with Rigour. But thefe, inftead of abufing their Power, fhall conduit the Adminiftration, with all poflible Equity and Gentlenefs ; with a parental Tendernefs, rather than a magijierial huHcnty. So that, though the Title and Office of an Exadtor may remain ; nothing of the domineering In- folence, or oppreflive Severity, fhall continue. — The Pro- phet, who always delivers his Sentiments with the utmoft Emphafis, fays ; They Ihall be, not bearly peaceable and righteous, but pofTefled of thefe Qualities in the higheft De- gree. Or, which Implies more, than any other Words can exprefs. They fhall be Peace and Righteoufnefs itfelf. — The fame beautiful Figure is ufed in the next Claufe, which de- Jcribes the inviolable Security of the City, together with the ynivexfal both Joy and Piety of the Inhabitants.
DIALOGUE XVII. 401
" Let eaftern Rocks fparkle with Diamonds, " and give Birth to Gems of every dazzUng *' Tinfture. We have, hid in the Field of our " Scriptures, the Pea?H of great Price ; the " ivhite and precious Sto72e * of perfect Abfo- " lution 'j a Diadem, which will fliine with " undiminifiied Luftre, when all the brilliant " Wonders of the Mine are faded, extinguiili- " ed, loll.
" Let richer Soils nourifh the nobleft Plants^ " and warmer Suns concoct their exquifite "Juices; the Lemon, pleafmgly poignant ^ " the Citron, more mildly delicious 3 or that " Pride of vegetable Life, and Compendium of " all. the Blandifhments of Tafte, the Pine^ " apple. We enjoy far more exalted Dainties, " in having Accefs to the 'free of Life-, whofe " Leaves are for the Healing of the Nation's -f-'j " whofe Boughs are replenifhed with a never- " failing Abundance of heavenly Fruits ; and " the Nutriment they difpenfe, is BUfs and '^ Immortality.
" Let Iberian Vines fwell the ti'anfiucent " Clufter, and burll into a Flood of generous " Wine : let the Tiifcan Olive extraft the Fat- *' nefs of the Earth, and melt into a foft mel- " lifluous Stream. We ihall neither envy, " nor covet thefe inferior Gifts, fo long as " We may draw Water out of the Wells of
" Salva-
* Rev, ii. 17. \ Rev. xx4i. 2.
Vol, III, " D d
402 DIALOGUE XVIL
" Salvation. So long as We may receive that " Unaionfrcm the HOLT ONE *, thofe In- " fluences of the COMFORTER, which not " only make a chearful Countenance, but " gladden the very Heart. Imparting fuch a " refined Satisfaction, as the whole World can- " not give ; fuch a permanent Satisfa«5lion, as " no Calamities can take away.
" Let EtkiGpian Mountains be ribbed with " Marble, and Peruvian Mines emboweled ^^ with Gold. We want neither the impene- " trable Quarry, nor the glittering Ore ; hav- ®* ing, in our adored MESSIAH, a fure Foun^ ** dation for all our eternal Hopes, and an in- " exhauilible Fund of the divineft Riches.
" Be it fo ; that our Ifis is but a creeping " Drop > and the Thames itfelf, no more than " a fcanty Rivulet 3 compared with the mag- *' nificent Sweep of the Ga?2gesy or the flupen- *' dous Amplitude of Rio de la Plata -f. The
*' wretched
* I John ii. 20; t This River is near two hundred Miles broad, where it difcharges itfelf into the Sea. It pours fuch an immenfe Qiiantity of the liquid Element into the Atlantic Ocean, that in fli Water may be taken up for the Space of many a League, Jt continues thus o7na%ingly vaji through a Courfe of fix hun- «lred Miles : when it divides into two mighty Branches, the Parana and the Paraguay. Which, having run in fcparate Channels, fcvcral thoufand Miles along the Country, unite at laft ; and form, by their Conflux, this magnificent and fpacious ^trc;^nl. Which is fuppofed to be the largeft Ri- ver in the World. — To frame a proper Idea of this prodi- gious Torrent, We ihouU imagine a River, taking its Rife
bcvoiid
DIALOGUE XVII. 40J
" wretched Natives, even on the Banks of " thofe (lately Rivers, are at a Dillance from " all the Springs of true Confolation. Where- " as, We have a Fountain, We have a River, " that ililies from the Ocean of eternal Love. ** With incomparable Dignity, and with equal " Propriety, it is ftyled l^heRroer of Life ^\ It " vifits the Houfe of the Mourner, and re- *' vives the Spirit of the Sorrowful. It makes *' glad the City, and makes happy the Ser- *■* vants of our GOD. It quickens even the " Dead; and every human Creature, that drinks *' of its Water, lives for ever.
" Let Afiatic Iflands boafl their Mountain^ ** of Myrrh, and Hills of Frankincenfe. Let " Arabian Groves, with a fuperior Liberality, " diflil their healing Gums 3 and ripen, foi* *' vigorous Operation, their vital Drugs. We '^ have a more fiver eign Remedy, than their *' mofi: powerful Reftoratives, in the great '' MEDIATOR'S atoning Blood. We have " a more, refrejhing Banquet, than all their ** mingled Sweets, in commemorating his Paf- '-'- fion, and participating his Merits.
*^ In fliort^ We have an Equivalent, far *' more than an Equivalent, for all thofe choice
" Pro^
beyond Jerufahm ; and, after having received all the Wa- ters of Europe into its capacious Bed, making its Entry on the Britifi) Ocean, by a Mouth extended from Doviv to
* Re^.^y^u I.
D d 2
404 DIALOGUE XVIL
" Produ6tions, which bloom in the Gardensr, *^' or bafk in the Orchards of the Sun, We " have a Gofpel, rich in precious Privileges^, " and abounding with ineftimable Promifes : " We have a SAVIOUR, full oi forgiving *' Goodnefsj and liberal of reneisoing Gi-ace. At " whofe aufpicious Approach, Fountains fpout " amidft the burning Defart j under whofe " welcome Footfleps, the fandy Wafte fmiles *' with Herbage ; and beneath his potent Touch, ** Tihe Wildemefs buds and bhjform as a Rofe *. *' Or, to fpeak more plainly, the defolate and " barren Soul brings forth thofe Fruits of the " SPIRIT, which are infinitely more orna- **^ mental, than the filken Gems of Spring j in- " finitely more beneficial, than the falubrious '* Stores of Autumn.
"We have a SAVIOUR— Tell it out •^ among the Heathen j that all the Nations " on Earth, may partake of the Gift, and " join in the Song — A SAVIOUR We have, " whofe radiant Eye brightens the gloomy " Paths of Afiii6tion. Whofe efficacious ** Blefling makes all Tubings work together, for " the Gocd-f of his People. Death gilded by " his propitious Smile, even Death itfelf looks " gay. Nor is the Grave, under his benign *' A(lminiil:ration, any longer a Den of De- " ilrudion -, but a fliort and ihady Avenue to
" thofe
J/al. XXXV. I. ^^ t R^fi', viii. 28,^^
*
DIALOGUE XVIL 405
^^ thofe immortal Manfions 3 whofe Foiindatiom " are laid with Sapphires ; whofe Windows are " of Agate; the Gates of Carbuncle ; aiid all the " Borders of pie af ant Stones *."
Pardon my Rhapfody, dear T^hcron. Your own Remark, added to the grand and lovely Views, have warmed, have animated, have almoft tranfported me. — T'heron anfwered not
a Word : but feemed fixed in Thought.
While He is indulging his Contemplation, We may jufl: obferve fome other Peculiarities of the Profpe(^.
Here and there, a lonely Cottage fcarcely lifts its humble Head. No pompous Swell of proje6ling Steps, farrounds the Door : no ap- pendent Wings of inferior Offices, fkirt the Edifice : no ftately Plall, flabbed with Marble, and roofed with Sculpture, receives the gaz- ing Stranger. But young-eyed Health, and white-robed Innocence, with fweet-featured Contentment, adorn the Habitation. While Virtue lends her Graces, and Religion com- municates her Honours, to dignify the Abode : rendering the blamelefs Hutt fuperior, in 7^eal Majefty, to a diflblute Court.
At fome Dillance, appear the hoary Re- mains of an antient Monaftery. Sunk beneath the Weight of revolving Years, the once ve- nerable
* Jfai, Hv. 12.
^ ' D d ij
4o6 DIALOGUE XVII.
nerable Fabric is levelled with the Dufl. The lofty and ornamented Temple, lies rudely over- grown with Mofs, or flill more ignobly co- vered with Weeds. The Walls, where faint- ed Imagery flood, or idolized Painting flione, are clapfed with twining Ivy, or fhagged with horrid Thorn. — Through Illes,th at once echoed to the Chantor s Voice, mingled with the Or- gan's majeftic Sound, the hollow Winds roar, and the dafning Storm drives. Where are, now, the filent Cells, the vocal Choirs, the dufky Groves ? In which the romantic Saints prolonged their lonely Vigils, by the midnight Taper; or poured their united Prayers, before the Lark had waked the Morn ; or ftrolled, in ever-mufin^ Melancholy, along the Moonlight Glade. — Surely, thofe mouldering Fragments teach, and with a much better Grace, with a much ftronger Emphafis, what formerly their nnfocial and gloomy Refidentiaries profefled. They teach the Vanity of the World, and the iranfitcry Duration of all that is moft flable, in this -Region of Shadows.
Behold, on yonder Eminence, the rueful Memorials of a magnificent Caftk. All dif- manlled, and quite demoliihed, it gives a Shad- ing of Solemnity to the more lively Parts of Nature's Picture ; and attempers the rural De- light, with fome Touches of alarming Dread.
' IVor^ deihudive Wat\ has fnatched the
{jcythe
DIALOGUE XVIL 407
Scythe from the Hand of Time, and hurried on the Steps of Deftlny. Thofe broken Co- lumns, and battered Walls i thofe proflrate Towers, and Battlements daflaed to the Ground; carry evident Marks of an immature Down- fal. They were built for Ages, and for Ages might have floods a Defence and Accommo- dation to Generations yet unborn ; if haply they had efcaped the dire Aflaults of holfile P.age. — But, what Vigilance of Man, can pre- vent the Miner's dark xApproach ? Or what So- lidity of Bulwark, can withftand the bellow- ing Engine's impetuous Shock?
Thofe, perhaps, were the Rooms, in which licentious Mirth crowned with Rofes the fpark- ling Bowl, and tuned to the Silver- founding Lute the Syren's inchanting Song. Thofe, the Scenes of voluptuous Indulgence, where Luxury poured her Delicacies : where Beauty, mfidious Beauty, pra6lifed her Wiles ; and Ipread, vvith bewitching Art, her w^anton Snares. — Now, inftead of the riotous Banquet, and Intrigues of lawlefs Love, the Owl utters lier hated Screams by Night, and the Raven flaps her ominous Wing by Day, — Where are the Violet-couches, and the Woodbine-bowers -, that fanned, with their breathing Sweets, the polluted Flame ? The Soil feems to fuller for the Abufes of the Owner. Blafted and dif- honoured, it produces nothing but ragged . D d 4 BriarSj
4o8 DIALOGUE XVII.
Briars, and noifome Nettles; under whofe odious Covert, the hiffing Snake glides, or the
croaking Toad crawls. Fearful Intimation
of that ignGminioiis and doleful Cataflrophe, ■which awaits the Sons of Riot ! When their momentary Gratifications will drop like the faded Leaf 5 and leave nothing behind, but Pangs of Remorfe, keener far than the pointed Thorn, and more invenomed than the Viper's Tooth.
Perhaps, they were the beauteous and ho- noured Abodes, where Grandeur and Folitenefs walked their daily Round, attended with a Train of guiltlefs Delights. Where amiable and refined Friendjkip was wont to fit and fmile 'j looking Love, and talking the very Soul. Where Hofpitality, with Oeconomy al- ways at her Side, flood beckoning to the di- JireJJed^ but indiijlriom * Poor 3 and fhowered
Bleff-
* I fay diftrefTed, but indujirious Poor— Becaufe, I would not be underftood, as encouraging, in any Degree, the Relief of our common Beggars. — Towards the former, I would cultivate a tender and ever-yearning CompafTion j I would anticipate their Complaints ; and, as a facred Wri- ter dircdts, would even seek /<? do them Good. — But as to the latter, I frankly own, that T look upon it as my Duty, to difcourage fuch Cumberers of the Ground. They are, generally fpeaking, lufty Drones ; and their habitual Beg- ging., is no better than a fpecious Robbing of the public Hive. For {uchjiindy Supplicants, who are able to undergo the Fatigue of Traveling ; able to endure the Inclemencies of the Weather ; and confequently much more able, were they ft^ually willing, to exercil'c them.^elves in fome Species of
laudably
DIALOGUE XVII. 409
Bleflings from her liberal Hand. But War,
detefted War, has ftretched over the focial and
inviting
laudable Induftry — For thefe, the Houfe o^CorrcPAon would be a far more falutary Provifion, than any Supply from our Table ; and Confinetnent to Labour ^ a much more beneficial Charity, than the Liberality of the Purfe.
JVe {hould remember, and they fliould be taught, that the Law ordained by the Court of Heaven, is, // a Mayi will not zuork^ neither Jhall He eat. If then We contri- bute to fupport them in Idlenefs, do We not counteraSI and fruftrate this wife Regulation, eftablifhed by the great SOVEREIGN of the Univerfe ?— Is it not alfo a IVrong to the deferving Poor, if We fufter thefe Wens on the Body politic to draw off the Nourifhment, which ought to circu- late amongft the valuable and ufeful Members I — Money or Viftuals beftowed on thefe worthlefs Wretches, is not real Be- neficence, but the Earneji-penny of Sloth. It pays them, for be- ing public Nuifances ; and hires them, to be good for nothing. Let Us then unanimoufly join, to fliake off thefe dead Weights from our Wheels, and diflodge thefe Swarms of Vermin from our State. Let Us be deaf to their moft im- portunate Clamours ; and affure Ourfelves, that, by this'^de- termined Inflexibility, We do GOD, We do our Cofmnu- nity. We do them, the mofl fubftantial Service. — Should they implore by the injured 'Nzme of jfESUS j for the Ho- nour of the LORD JESUS, let Us refolutely with-hold our Alms. Their Meaning is, — *' I cannot go on, in my " prefent (hameful and iniquitous Courfe ; I can no. longer *' continue to a6f the wicked andjlothful Servant ; unlefs You *' will adminifter fome kindly pernicious Affiftance. For *' CHRIST'S fake, therefore, affiff me to diflionour my Chrift- " ianName, and to live more infamoufly than the vileftBeafts. ** For CHRIST'S fake, help me to be a Reproach and Burden ■" to my native Country ; and to perfift in the Way, that <' leads to eternal Deftrudion." — This is the true Import of their Petitions. And, whether the Sanction of that molt venerable Name, added to fuch a Requeft, fhould move our Commiferation, or excite our Abhorrence, let every think- ing Perfon judge.
I truft, the Reader will be fo candid, as to excufc this long fiigreffive Note j and do me the Juftice to believe. That 1
4IO DIALOGUE XVIL
inviting Seat, the Line of Confufion^ and the Stones of Emptinefs^ . Now, alas ! nothing but Delblation and Horror haunt the favage Re- treat. The ample Arches of the Bridge, which fo often tranfmitted the wondering Paflengcr along their penfile Way, lie buried in the dreary
Mote. Thofe Relics of the malfy Portals,
naked and abandoned, feem to bemoan their melancholy Condition. No fplendid Chariots, with their gay Retinue, frequent the folitary Avenues. No needy Steps, with chearful Ex- pectations, beiiege the once bountiful Gate. But all is a miferable, forlorn, hideous Pile of Rubbifh.
Since Riches fo often take to themfelves Wings, and fly away : fince Houfes, great and fair, reel upon their Foundations, and fo foon tum- ble into Duft : how wife, how falutary, is our divine M A S T E R's Advice ! Make to your- fehes Friends with the Mammon of Unrighteouf- nefs } thaty when the World fails around Tou, when the Springs of Nature yj// within Youj
they^
am not pleading againft, but for the real Poor : not to har- den any One's Heart, but rather to diref: every One's Hand. — Give, out of Gratitude to (7//^76'T', out of Compafllon to the Needy, and be for ever blefied. But give not to in- corrigible Vagrants; to maintain Impiety, and pamper Indo- lence ; left it be demanded, one Day, who hath required this at your Hand? Left, by fupporting diflblute Creatures in that abandoned Sloth, which is the Nurfe of all Vice, We become Partakers of their Guilt, and acceffary to their R«iii.
* IJai, xxxiv. II.
DIALOGUE XVII. 411
they, as WitnefTes of your Charity, and Vouchers for the Sincerity of your Faith, 7nay receive Tou hito everlafiing Habitations *. — This is to lay up Treafure for Ourfehes -f : Whereas, whatever elfe We amafs, is for our Heirs, for our Succeffors, for We know not Who. This Wealth is truly and emphatically called our own t ' it is an Advowfon j We have the Per- petuity. Whereas, whatever qlfe We polTefs, is ours only for a T^/r«, or in T'rufi.
See the dreadful, dreadful Ravages of civil Difcord ! Where-ever that infernal Fury ftalks. She marks her Steps in Blood, and leaves opu- lent Cities a ruinous Heap||. — What Thanks.
then,
* Luke xvi. 9. t Matt. vi. 20. % Lukexy\. 12.
II The EfFe6ts of what Virgil calls Bella, horrida Belhy were never difplayed in Colours th^tgJow, and with Figures that alarm, like thofe which are ufed by the Prophet Jere- miah. Chap. iv. 19, &:c. As tliis is perhaps the greateft Mafter-piece of the Kind, the Reader will permit me to inrich the Notes, with a Tranfcript of the PafTage.
Firft We fee, or rather We feel, the EfFeds of War on the human-Mind \ the keeneft Anguifti, and the deepeft Difmay. My Bozvels I My Bowels ! I am pained at }?iy very Heart. My Heart maketh a Noife in me ; / cannot hold my Peace : becaufe Thou haji heard, O my Soul, the Sound of the Trumpet, the Alarm of War. — DeJ1ru£fion upon De/huSJion is cried ; for the Land is fpoiled. Suddenly are my Tents fpoiled^ and my Curtains in a Moment. — How longjhall I fee the Stand- ard, and hear the Sound of the Trumpet ?
Then We fee the difmal Devaftations of War ; and who docs not fhudder at the Sight ? The whole Country laid in Ruins ! Deprived of all its Ornaments, and all its Inhabi- tants ! Reduced, to a Solitude, and a Chaos. I beheld the Marth, and la ! it was vjithqut Form and void: and the Hea- vens^
412 DIALOGUE XVII.
then, what ardent and ceafelefs Thanks, are due to that all-fuperintending, ever-gracious LORD, who has dafhed the Torch from her Hand J has broke her murderous Wea- pons J and driven the baleful Pell f^om our
IJJandl May the fame almighty Goodnefs
Ihortly banilh the accurfed Monlier from all , Lands ! Banilh the Monfter, with her hated AfTociate Rapine, and her infatiable Purveyor Ambition, to the deepeft, deepefl Hell. Brand- ed with everlafting Infamy, and bound in ada- mantine Chains, there let them gnafii their Teeth, and bite the inevitable Curb ! — While Peacey defcending from her native Heaven, bids her Olives fpring amidft the joyful Na- tions : and Plenty^ in League with Commerce, fcatters Blefiings from her copious Horn. While Gladnefs fmiles in every Eye j and Love^ extenfive univerfal Love, leveling the Parti- tion-wall of Bigotry, cements every Heart in brotherly Afre6lion.
Near thofe Heaps of Havock, lies the Spot, ever-memorable and flill revered, on which an
obfti-
vcnSy and they had no Light. — 1 beheld the Mountains, and lo ! they trembled^ and all the Hills moved lightly. — I beheld, and lo ! there was no Man, and all the Birds sf the Heavens were Jied. — I behe'd, and lo ! the fruitful Place was a JVildernefsy and all the Cities thereof were brokeyi down^ at the Prefence of the LOR D, and by his fierce Anger.
If, after all this Profufion of Imagery, bold and animated even to Aftonifhment, We can have any Relifh for the cold Corrednefs of a heathen Genius, We may find fomething of the fame Nature in Horace^ Lib. II. Od, i.
DIALOGUE XVII. 413
obftlnate and fatal Battle was fought. — The Hufbandman, as He breaks his fallow Lands, or rend the grafly Turf, often difcovers the horrid Implements, and the more horrid EfFe6ls, of that bloody Confli6l. He flarts, to hear his Coulter ftrike upon the Boffes of a rufly Buck- ler, or gride over the Edge of a blunted Sword. He turns pale, to fee human Bones thrown up before his Plough ; and itands aghaft to think, that, in cutting his Fwroiv^ He opens a Grave. —The grey-headed Sire often relates to his Grandfons, hanging with eager Attention on the Tale," and trembling for the Event — re- lates the difmal, the glorious Deed of that important Day.— How, the Fields, now co- vered with waving Crops, were then loaded with mangled and ghaftly Corpfes. How the Paftures, now green with Herbage, were then incrimfoned with human Gore. — " On that " extended Common, He fays, where the bufy " Shepherd' is creeling his hurdled Citadel, the " Tents were fpread, and the Banners difplay- " ed 5 the Spears briftled in Air, and the bur- " nifhed Helmets glittered to the Sun. On ^■^ yonder rifmg . Ground, where the frifking " Lambs play their harmlefs Frolics, flood " the martial Files, clad in Mail, and ranged " in Battle-array ; flood War, with all its col- " le6led Horrors, like fome black portentous *' Cloud, ready to burfl: into an immediate
'• Storm
414 DIALOGUE XVII.
" Storm On the i%earer Plain, where the
*' quiet Steed grazes in Safety, and thofe fo- " her Oxen chew the juicy Herb, the fierce " Incounter mixed. There, the Javelins, " launched from nervous Arms, and aimed by " vengeful Eyes, flew and reflew, whizzing " witli Death. The Arrows lightened * from " the Strings ^ and dienclied their keen Points^ " and dipped their feathered Wings in Blood.
*' Soon as this Shower of miilive Steel
" ceafed, inftantly outfprung Thoufands of " flaming Swords. They clafli on the brazen " Shields ; they cut their Way through the " riven Armour ; and flieath their Blades in " many a gallant dauntlefs Heart. — Here, on " this diftinguifhed Level, the proud prefump- " tuous Enemy, confident of Victory, and ** boafting of their Numbers, poured in like *' a Flood, There, a bold determined Batta- " lion, of which myfelf was a Part, planted " themfelves like a Rock, and broke the fierce " Attack.
" Then, adds the brave old Warrior, then *' the coward Herd fled before the Vengeance " of our conquering Arms. Then, thefc Hands
" ilrewed
* Hahah. iii. 1 1, "in^ifl p^l literally tranflated, pre- fents Us with that beautifully bold Figure, The Lightening of thy Spear. — Which, with innumerable other Graces of Speech, that give Dignity and Spirit to our modern Com-' politions, are borrowed from the Language of Si^n ; are tranfplanted from the School of the Prophets, — See the Tame Eleganee of Style, Nabum iii. 3, Heb. Bib,
DIALOGUE XVII. 415
" ftrewed the Plains with a Harveft, different " far from their prefent Produ6lions. Then, " the Fathers J fmitten with inexpreflible Dread, ^^ looked 7iot back on their Childre?i^'y though " fliuddering at the Hfted Spear, or fcreaming " under the brandifhed Sword. T'he Fathers " looked not back on their Children, though they " fell among the Slain, gafhed with deadly
" Wounds;
* For this very ftriking, and mofl: terrific Image, We are obliged to the Prophet Jeremiah. Who, in a few Words, but with all the Pomp of Horror, defcribes the Din of ap- proaching War, and the Confternation of a vanquifhed People. Jt the Noife of the Stampin^^ of the Hoofs of his firong Horfes^ at the Ru/hing of his Chariots^ and at the Rumb- ling of his TVJieels, the Fathers Jhall not look hack unto their Children^ for Feehlenefs of Hands^ Jerem. xlvii. 3.
Not to mention the Thunder-like Sound of the Di(5lIon ; and that in a Lan2;uage much lefs fonorous than the origi- nal ; I appeal to evety Reader, Whether the lafi Circum- ftance does not awaken the Idea of fo tremendous a Scene, and fo horrible a Dread, as no Words can exprefs. Virgil has imitated the Prophet's Manner, in that very delicate defcriptiveTouch ; where, reprefenting the prodigious Alarm, excited by the Yell of the infernal Fury, He fays ;
Et trepida Matres prejfere ad Pe6iora Natos.
That is, Each frighted Mother clafped the Infant to her flit- tering Bofom.
No One, I believe, need be informed, that the Pannic is painted, with a Very fuperior Energ)', by the Poet of Hea- ven. In the Pagan's Draught, the Effect of Fear refuits from the Conftitution, and coincides with the Biafs of Hu- manity. Whereas,, in the Prophet's. Pidlure, it counter-a^Sj It fufpends, it intirely over-hears the tendered Workings and flfongeft Propenfities of Nature ; though inftigared, on one Hand, by the moft importunate Calls of exquihte Diftrefs I and ftimulated, on the other, by all the Soligitationi of the moft yejirHing Compaflion, 1 ^ -
4i6 DIALOGUE XVIL
" Wonnds ; or lay expiring, in Groans of " Agony, under our Feet."
The Eye is pleafed with the elegant Gaiety of the Parterre 3 the Ear is foothed with the warbling Melody of the Grove j but grand Obje6ts, and the Magnificence of Things, charm and tranfport the whole Man. The Mind, on fuch Occafions, feems to expand with the Scene, and fecretly exults in the Confcioufnefs
of her Greatnefs. Intent upon thefe large
and excurfive Views, our Friends fcarce advert to the minuter Beauties, which addrefs them on every Side. The Swan, with her fnowy Plumes, and loftily bending Head ; with all her fuperb Air and lordly State, rows unno- ticed by. — Equally unnoticed is both the Ar- ray and the A6lion of the Duck ; her glolfy Neck and finely chequered Wings ; her Diving into the Deep, or her Darting up into Day. — The Swallow, Ikimming the Air in wanton Circles, or dipping her downy Breaft in the
Flood, courts their Obfervation in vain.
Nor could the fi?i?2y Shoales obtain their Re- gard, though they played before the Boat in. fportive Chacci or, glancing quick to the Sur- face, fliewed their pearly Coats, bedropt with Gold. — Thus they, engaged in fublime, ne- glecl inferior Speculations. And if the Sons of Religion overlook the diminutive, tranfienty
delu"
DIALOGUE XVII. 417
dehifory Forms of Pleafure, that float on the narrow Stream of Time, or flit along the (canty Bounds of Senfe j it is only to contem- plate and enjoy a Happinefs in their GOD, which is elevated^ jiibjiantial^ and immortal. Compared with which, whatever the Eye can furvey, from Pole to Pole, from the rifmg to the fetting Sun, is a Cockle-fliell, a Butterfly, a Bubble.
From this open and inlarged Scene, they enter the Skirts of a vaft, umbrageous, vener- able Foreji. — On either Side, the fl:urdy and gigantic Sons of Earth, rear their aged Trunks, and fpread their branching Arms. Trees, of every hardy Make, and every majeftic Form, in agreeable Diforder, and with a wild kind of Grandeur, fill the aerial Regions. The huge, expanfive, roaming Boughs unite them- felves over the Current, and diffufe " their " Umbrage, broad and brown as Evening." The timorous Dee7- ftart at the Clafliing of the Waves. Alarmed with the unufual Sound, they look up, and gaze for a Moment : then, fly into Covert, by various Ways, and with precipitate Speed ; vanifliing, rather than de- parting, from the Glade.
How awful to refle<^, as they glide along • the fhelving Shores, and the mofs-grown Banks 5 as they fail under the pendent Shades of quiveriqo- -Poplar, of whiO;ling Fir, and
Vol. III. " E e the
4ig DIALOGUE XVII.
the folemn-founding Foliage of the Oak — how awfnl to reflect, " Thefe were the lonely " Haunts of the Z)r«/Vj, two thoufand Years *' ago ! Amidft thefe duiky Mazes, and fym- " pathetic Glooms, the penfive Sages ftrayed. " Here, they fought, they found, and with all " the Solemnity of fuperftitious Devotion, " they gathered their Mijletoe^. Here, the *' vifionary Reclufes fhunned the tumultuous " Ways of Men, and traced the myllerious *' Paths of Providence. Here, they explored " the Secrets of Nature, and invoked their - fabled Gods."
Sometimes wrapt in a fudden Reverie of Thought, fometimes engaged in Converfation on the folemn Appearance of Things, the Voyagers fcarce perceive their Progrefs. Be- fore they are aware, the venerable Scene ifs lofb J and they find themfelves advanced upon
the
* If the Reader pleafes, He may fee thefe pompous So- lemnities defcribed, in Vanierii Prad. Ruji. pag. 125, &^c. Where, the curious Narrative of PHn)\ is embellifhcd with the harmonious A^ww^t? .J oi Virgil. — With regard to the Reflections, occalloned by this Account ; the Comphments laviflied on the French^ their Religion, and their Monarch ; I believe, the judicious Protejlant will agree with me, That, as our charming Author has copied the Language, and en- tered into the Spirit of the Antients j He has alfo catched a TiukStureof their Supcrftiiion. Imbibing, together with all their Elcganciqs and Graces, fome of their fanfiful and legen- dary Levities.
f-'eritm ubi pluro uitcnt in Cartniney non Ego paucis
VjJ'indar Mcu. ula .
DIALOGUE XVII. 419
the Borders of a beautiful Lawn, The Foreft retiring to the Right-hand, in the Shape of a Crefcent, compofed what Milton flyles, " A " verdurous Wall of ftateheftAfpea;" and left, in the Midft, an ample Space for the Flourifli- ing of Herbage.
Here, faid T:heron, if You pleaic, -We will alight J and leave the Bearer of om floating Se- dan, to purfue his ceafelefs Courfe — to enrich the Bofom of other Vallies, and lave the Feet of other Hills — to vifit Cities, and make the
Tour of Counties to refled the Image of
many a fplendid Strufture, which adorn his Banks; and, what is far more amiable, to diftribute, all along his .winding Journey* innumerable Conveniencies both for Man and Beaft: acquiring, the farther He goes, and the more Benefits He confers, a deeper Flow, and a wider Swell; to the remarkable Confir^ mation of that beneficent Maxim, i:bere is that fcatterethy and yet increafeth. ^ "Theron and Afpafio, walking acrofs the fpa^ cious Amphitheatre, feated themfelves at the Extremity of the Bend. Before them, lay a verdant Area, quite even; perfedly handfomc; but far from gay. Green was all the Dreis! without any Mixture of gaudy Flowers, or glittering Colours. Only, now-and-then, a gentle Breeze, Ikimming over the undulating ' Mead, imprelfed a varying wavy Glofs on * E e 2 its'
420 DIALOGUE XVII.
its Surface. The whole feemed to refemble the grave and fober Ornaments of maturer Agey when it has put off tlie Trappings, and bid adieu to the Levities of Youth. — The broad, tranfparent Stream, ran parallel with the Lips * of the Channel -, and drew a Line of Cir- cumvallation, as it were, to guard the calm Retreat. It appeared, v/here fhaded with Boughs, like a Barrier of poUfied Steel; where open to the Sun, like a Mirror oi fiowing Cry^
JhiL The eaflern Edges of the River, were
barricadoed with a kind of mountainous De- clivity j on whofe rude and' rocky Sides, the timorous Rabbit burrowed, and the bearded
Goat browzed. Not far from the Summit,
two or three Fountains guflied : which, unit- ing their Currents as they trickled down the Steep, formed a natural Cafcade : here, it was lofl in the ruihy Dells, or obfcured by the twifting Roots j there, it burft again into View, and playing full in the Eye of Day, looked like a Shett of fpouting Silver.
In this romantic Retirement, faid Tbero;iy We arc quite fequeftered from Society. Ws feem to be in a World of our own -, and fhould almoil be tempted to forget, that We are incompallcd with a kindred Species j did not
the
* Tlic Greek, which is above all Languages happy, in its beautiful Variety of compound Words, \Qry neatly expreiles ihii) Aj-ipcaiancc hy-rtTo^nXrii; ta J'Jj,
DIALOGUE XVII. 421
the Mufic of tliofe filver-tongued Bells^ poured from a diftant Steeple, and gliding along the gentle Stream, bring Us News of human Kind.
Efcaped from Man, and his bufy Walks, methinks, We are come to the Houfe of Tran- quility. Such a deep, undifturbed Compo- dire reigns all around. It is as if fome augull Perfonage was making his Entrance^ or fome majeftic Being was upon the Point to fpeak^ and all Nature ftood fixed in attentive Expec- tation. No Place better fitted to foothe, or to infpire, a contemplative Sedatejiefs.
Obferve the Simplicity and Grandeur of thofe furrounding Trees : the beautiful Plain- nefs of their Verdure, and the prodigious Statelinefs of their Afpeft. What a Speck are our Gardens, and what a mere Divarf are our Groves, compared with thefe vaft Plantations ? Here is none of your nice Exa6tnefs, but all is irregularly and wildly great. Here are no Traces of the Shears, nor any Footfleps of the Spade, but the Handy- work of the DEITY is apparent in all. — Give me the Scenes, which difdain the puny Affillance of Art, and are infinitely fuperior to the low Toils of Man. Give 7?ie the Scenes, which fcorn to bribe our Attention, with a little borrowed Sprucenefs of Shape j but, by their own native Dignity, mimand our Regard. I love the Piofpe^ts, E e 3 * which,
422 DIALOGUE XVII.
which, the Moment they are beheld, ftrike the Soul with Veneration, or tranfport it with Wonder ; and cry aloud, in the Ear of Rea- fon, Afcribe Te Grcatnefs to our GOD. — Such, I think, in a very eminent Degree, is the Forefl ;
High waving der the HillSy
Or to the vaji Horizon wide diffuid^ A boiindlefs deep Inwje?i/ity of Shade,
Afp. Solomons refined Genius feems to have been fond of the fame Situation, and delighted with the fame Objefts. Therefore, at a great Expence, and in the moil curious Tafte, He
built The Houfe of the Foreji. Ifaiah's divine
Imagination was charmed with the fame grand Speclacle. More frequently, than any of the Prophets, He derives his Illuflrations from it. One Comparifon I particularly remember. JSpeaking of the AJJyrian King, and his mili- tary Forces, He likens them to fuch an Affem- blage of Trees: numerous^ as their amazing Multitudes : ftrong^ as their mafTy Trunks. Yet, numerous and potent as they were, they ihould all be brought low, and laid in the Puft. For behold I the LORD, the LORD (f Hojls f:all lop the Bough with T'error, and the High Ones of Stature fiall be hewn down, and the Haughty f:all be humbled-, and he JJ:all cut
down
DIALOGUE XVII. 423
^own the 'thickets of his Foreft with Iron, and Lebanon fiall fall by a tnighty one^.
Then He pafles, by a moft beautiful Tran- fition, to his darling Topic, the Redemption of Sinners. He gives Us, together with one of the finefl Contrails -f imaginable, a View of the MESSIAH and his great Salvation. When thofe lofty Cedars are leveled with the Ground, there Jhall come a Rod, 2l Twig fliall fpring from the Stem of Jeffe, and a Branch fiall grow out of his Roots %. Which, notv/ith- ftanding its mean Original, and unpromifmg Appearance, fhall rear its Head to the Skies, and extend its Shade to the Ends of the Earth.
ther. You do well, Afpafio, to recal my roving Thoughts. This magnificent Solitude had captivated my Imagination, and I was giving a Loofe to the ufual Sallies of my Fancy. But, with a willing Compliance, I turn to a
more excellent Subject. Only I mull afllire
you, that your Remark av/akens a painful Idea in my Mind, though a joyful one in your own. For, my Hopes, which were once high and lifted up, are now too much like that de- voted proflrate Foreft.
Aft.
* -^^^;X. 33'^ 34-
•}■ This fine Contraft, and that artful Tranfitlon are, by the injudicious Divifion of the two Chapters, very much ob- fcured, if not quite loft, to many Readers. The Chapters, I think, fhould by no means be feparated j but, the tenth and the eleventh, as a Continuation of the fame Prophecy, fhould be united, ~ \ Ifai, xi. i.
424 DIALOGUE XVII.
Afp. My dear T^hemi^ give me leave to fay^ they were never rightly founded. They were, what >S/'^^^£'^rf calls, the bajelefs Fabric of a Vifan. Now the fhadowy and tranfient Hopes are demolifliedj that folid and everlafting Joys may fucceed. Let them reft on CHRIS'T, the infinitely glorious REDEEMER, and they Ihall never be overthrown, never be removed any more.
Caft a Look upon yonder Ivy. What can be more feeble ? It has not Strength enough to withftand the flighteft Blaft. Nay, if left to itfelf, its own Weight would crufh it to the Earth. Yet, by twining around the Oak, how high it rifes, and how firm it ftands ! An Em- blem of our State, and a Pattern for our Imi- tation.— Thus let Us, who in ourfelves are no- thing, of ourfelves can do nothing, let us fly to CHRISr-, rely on CHRIST; and, as Barnabas that true Son of Confolation fpeaks, cleave to the LORD JESUS CHRIST, with full Piirpofe of Heart *. Let us determine to know nothing, to defire nothing, to depend on nothing, but JESUS CHRIST and Him crucified. Let this be the Motto for our Faith, this the Language of our Souls, CHRIST is AIL Then fnall our Hopes, though hitherto fmitten with a Blaft, revive as the Corn : Then
iliaU
* A^s xl. 23,
DIALOGUE XVII. 425
(liall our Virtues, though in themfelves weaker than the Ivy, mount like the Cedars.
T'her. You can hardly imagine, kow a Senfe of Guilt and Unvvorthinefs opprefTes my Mind. I am often difcouraged, and cannot bring my- felf to Se fledfaft in Faith, or joyful through Hope.
Afp. You cannot bring yourfelf, bat GOD Almighty's Power and Grace can bring to pafs thefe dehrable Effe6ts. And hear what the Prophet fays fartlier, upon the charming To- pic which introduced our Difcourfe. VVhen- ever the eloquent Ifaiah undertakes to difplay a Truth, He gives it all the Energy, all tl:ie Beauty, and every heightening Touch, that it is capable of receiving. — This humble Shoot, fpringing from the Stem of Jeffe, fliall rife to fuch a Pitch of Elevation ; that it Ihall be confpicuous fai" and near, and Jiand for an Enfign of the People, It fhall be feen, not hke a Beacon upon the Top of an Hill, by the Ifraelites only, or the Natives of a fmgle Ter- ritory y but like the great Luminaries of Hea- ven, fhall be vilible in every Country, and
by the whole inhabited World. To it f:all
the Gentiles feek ; not only from the remotefh, but from the mofl barbarous and idolatrous Climes. Thefe, even thefe Perfons, though favage in their Nature, and deteftable in their xMan- fttrs, Ihall be freely admitted, fliall find Reft
under
426 DIALOGUE XVII.
under his Shadow. Nay, the Refrefliment which He yields, and the Comfort which they receive, fliall be n*\ feafonable only, but of fovereign Efficacy ; his Reji p:>all be glorious *.
From this we leanij that all the Bleffings of CHRISTs Mediation are defigned for Gen- tiles J for the molt abandoned and abominable Sinners. — That they are fo full and confum- mate, as to create a Calm of Tranquility, a glorious ReJi, in the nioft troubled, afflicted, guilty Confciences. — And I dare challenge even my T'hcrons mifgiving Mind, to fpecify any Want which is not fupplied, anjGrievance which is not redrefled by the Righteoufnefs of JESUS CHRIST^, I formerly encountered your 03- jeBions^ let me now combat your Scruples,
Ther. Sometimes, I have a deep and diftrefT- ing Convi6lion of my extreme Sinfulnefs. — 'Tis like a fore Burden, too heavy for me to bear. — 'Tis like the vileft Filth, and renders me odious to mvfelf ; how much more lothe- fome to the All-feeing Eye ? — It appears like a Debt of ten thoufand Talents, and I have nothing, no, not any thing to pay. — Then I experience, what the Ffalmiji fo pathetically laments j My Sins hair taken fuch Hold upon me, that I am not able to look up : yea^ they are more in Number than the Hairs of my Headj and my
Heart
* Jfai, xi. 10.
DIALOGUE XVII. 427 Heart is ready to fail ; my Hopes are upon the Point to expire.
Afp. Then, Therouy fly to that juft and righ- teous ONE, who is the Strength of our Hearts; the Life of our Hopes 3 and our Portion for ever.
If Sin is a fore burden ; look unto CHRIST, who bore it all, in his own Body on the Tree -, and removed, intirely removed that tremend- ous Load, which would otherwife have funk the whole World into the nethermoft Hell. — If Sin renders us filthy ; let Us have Recourfe to that Blood of Sprinkling, which cleanfes, not from a few Stains only, but from all Guilt. By which the moll defiled Tranfgreflbrs be- come fair as the faireft Wool, nay whiter than the virgin Snows *. — If Sin is a Debt -f j fub- je6ling Us to Wrath, and binding Us over to Punifliment ; let Us confide in that gracious Surety, who has taken the Debt upon him-
felf,
* PfaJ. li. 7.
t By thefe three Images, the PfalmiJI difplays the horri- ble and deftrudlive Malignity of Sin, together with the free Nature and invaluable Worth of evangelical Forgivenefs. Blejfed is he whofe Trangrejfion^ as an infupportable Load, (^IDi) ^'-f horc^ or taken away , whofe Shi^ as being the moft abominable Filth, (^"IDD' is covered ; unto whom the LORD imputeth not (nt^'il* ^^) that moft ruinous of all Debts, Ini- quity.— It is pleafing to obferve the Vehemence and Arclouvy ■with which the royal Penitent fpeaks on this favourite To- pic. He breaks out with a Kind of holy Abruptncfs^ and pours his Soul in a Variety of warm Exprefiions. As one who thought, he could not poflibly enter upon the Subjcdt foojoon, or dwell upon it too long, Pfal, xxxii. i, 2.
428 DIALOGUE XVIf.
lelf, and made it all his own. And not only io, but has paid it; paid it to the uttermofl Farthing, to the very lafl Mite : So that Juf- tice itfelf can demand no more.
Let me confirm and illuftrate this comfort- able Truth, by a fcriptural Similitude. No Similitudes are more exacl, and none fo flrik- ing. / have blotted cut as a thick Cloud your I'ranfgrejjions^ and as a Cloud your Sim *. A little while ago, the whole Expanfe of the Sky was covered with Clouds. Nothing could more ftrongly reprefent, a Multitude of Cor- ruptions befieging the Heart, and a Multitude of Iniquities overfpreading the Life. — But where is now that immenfe Arrangement of gloomy Vapours ? The Sun has flione them, and the Wind has fwept them, clean away. There are none, neither great nor irnall, remaining. From one End of the wide extended Hemifphere to the other, we fee no- thing but the clear and beautiful Blue of the Firmament. So, feith the SPIRIT of GOD to the true Believer, Jo totally is your Guilt, hov/ever horrid and enormous, done away through the dying JESUS.
I'her. It is not poffible to conceive, nor will the whole Creation afford, a more exquifitely fine Comparifon. Perhaps, nothing can {o emphatically defcribe the mofl prodigious
Multi- * Jfal, xliv. 22.
dialogue; XVII. 429
Multitude, intirely obliterated, without the Uaft T'race of their former Exiftence. — But I am not only chargeable with pafi Iniquities ; I am alfo liable to daily Mifcarriages. I re- lapfe into Sin. When I have been cleanfed, I defile myfelf afrefli ; and when I would do
Good, Evil is prefent with me. My bed
Hours are not free from fmful Infirmities, nor my beit Duties from finful Imperfeftions. Which, like a Worm at the Core of the Fruit, cat away the Vigour of my Graces, and tar- ' nifli the Beauty of my Services,
Afp. Becaufe You are daily finning, there is a Fount ain opened for Sin and for Uncle aiinefs *. The Blood and Atonement of CHRIST are compared to a heavenly Fountain. In which polluted Sinners may wafli daily, waih hourly; and be confiiantly, perfectly clean. — A Ciftern may fail, may be broke or exhaufted. But it is the Property of a real Fountain, never to be dried up, always to yield its Waters. Such is the Efficacy of CHRISTs Deatli; not to be diminillied by univerfal and in-cefTant Vk. It removes the Iniquity of the Land -f. It takes away the Sin of the TVor^ldX, It is new, for ouf^ Application, every Morning; new, for this blelied Purpofe, every Moment. On which Account, it makes complete Provifion for our Cleanfmg, our Reftoration, and our Comfort,
— Elpe-
* Zech,\\\i, I. t 7cch. iii, 9, J Johni.TX),
430 DIALOGUE XVII.
— Efpecially, as it is not only fovereign in it- felf, and ever free for our Approach, but is ever pleaded by a great HIGH-PRIEST in our behalf. Therefore, the infpired Cafuift directs Us to this Source of Confolation, un- der all the Upbraidings of Confcience, and all the Accufations of Satan. If any Man Jin^ We have an Advocate with the FATHER, JESUS CHRIST the Righteous J and He is the Propitia^ t ion for our Sins *.
We have for our Advocate, not a mean Per- fon, but HIM of v^hom it was faid. This is
my beloved SON Not a guilty Perfon, who
fVands in need of Pardon for Himfelf, but JESUS CHRIST the Righteous — Not a mere Petitioner, who relies purely upon Liberality; but one that has merited, fully merited what- ever He afks ; He is the Propitiation for our Sins, has paid our Ranfom, and purchafed our Peace — In confequence of which. He claims rather than alks our renewed, our irrevocable For- givenefs — This he claims, not from an unre^ lentiiig Judge, but from his FATHER and our FATHER — And can fuch a Plea meet with a Repulfe ? Can fuch an Advocate mifcarry in his Suit ? — If the Prophets of old were reckoned The Chariots of Ifrael atid the Horfemen thereof ^ ;
be-
* I lohn ii. I. * 2 Kingi ii. 12. xiii. 14. There is a peculiar Beauty, and molt appofite Significancy, in tiiis proverbial Saying, as
ufed
DIALOGUE XVII. 431
becaufe, like their Anceflor "Jacobs they had Power with GOD, and prevailed in Prayer: O ! what a Defence ! what a Security, is the divinely excellent, and ever prevailing Inter- ceffion of JESUS CHRIST!
" Your Graces, You complain, are fuUied, " and your Services defe6live." — Then, my dear Friend, renounce them in Point of Con- fidence ; and gladly receive, cordially embrace, the all-perfe6l Righteoufnefs of your LORD. So fhall your Juflilication be complete -j and your Services, though deficient in themfelves, be " accepted in the beloved." — I have fomewhere feen, painted upon a flat Surface, an aukward and difagreeable Countenance : In which was nothing regular, nothing graceful, but every Feature difproportionate. Yet, this very Face, received on and refle6led from a cylindrical Mirror, has put off" its Deformity ; the Linea- ments were well adjufted; Symmetry conne(5t- ed every Part, and Beauty fmiled throughout the whole. — Like the jonner our Virtues ap- pear j when compared with the immaculate
Purity
ufed by the anticnt Ifraelltes. Horfes and' Chariats were deemed, in thofe Ages, the principal Strength of the Bat- tle, the moft formidable Apparatus of War. Of thefc the Ifraelltes were intirely deftitute. Their GOD had exprefly forbidden them to multiply Horfes ; and We never read of their bringing any confiderable Number of Cavalry into the Field. — But, fo long as they enjoyed the Prefence of their Prophets, they wanted not this Arm of Flejh. They had more than an JEquivalent for Chariots and Horfemen, in the fervent J the effa^ual Prayers of thofe holy Men.
432 DIALOGUE XVII.. Pui-ity of GOD, or the fublime Pcrfe6lion of his Law. But they acquire the Amiablenefs of the lathTy when prefented to the FATHER by our divme MEDIATOR, and recommend- ed by his inconceivably precious Oblation *.
Milton, taking his Hint from the Revelations oi St. Jobfiy reprefents our great HIGH-PRIEST, in this glorious and dehghtful Attitude. Re- prefents Him, offering up the Supplications and penitential Duties of our firft Parents , mixing with them the Incenfe of his own Me- rits ', and thus interceding before the Throne.
Seey FATHER! what frji Fruits on Earth
are fprung From thy implanted Grace in Man ! 'Thefe Sighs A?id Prayers^ which in this golden Cenfer jnixd With Incenfe, I thy PRIEST before Thee
bring,
^ Now therefore befid thi?ie Ear
To Supplication -, hear his Sighs though mute !
VnfkiU
* They^ the Perfons and Performances of frail Men, fimll C67ne up with Acceptance on mine Altar^ faith the LORD. Ifai. Jx. 7.— Which is explained by St. Peter's Comment j Te are an holy Prie/ihood, to offer up Jpiritual SacriJiceSy acceptable unto GOD by JESUS CHRIST, i Pa ii. 5. And ftill farther afcertained by St. PauPs Pradtice. Who, when He addreflcs the MAJESTY of Heaven with any Petition, or prefents the Tribute of Praife, prefumes not to do either the one or the other, but in the blclled MEDIATOR'S Name. Bccaufc, i,ecludcd from this grand Recommendation> they would be of en fire, to the awful JEHOVAH, " as Smoke «' in his Noltrils i" accompanied with it, they are acceptably «' as the fwcet fmelling Incenfe,"
DIALOGUE XVII. 433
Unjkilful with what Words to pray, let ME Interpret for Him ; ME his Advocate And Propitiation. All his Works on MEy Goody or not goody ingraft : MT Merit thofe Shall perfedl -y and for thefe MT Death f: all pay *.
The Poet's Words are very emphaticaL Yet Words can no more exprefs the Prevalence of our LORD'S Negotiation, than the Pi6lure of the Sun can difFufe its Splendor, or convey its Warmth.
Ther. My fpiritual Wants are many. I have many Duties to difcharge, and many Temptations to withftand : many Corruptions to mortify, and many Graces to cultivate, or rather to acquire. Yet have I no Stock, and no Strength of my own.
Afp. I rejoice, that my Theron is fenfible of
his own Indigence. The good LORD keep
Us both, in this Refpe6l, as little Children ;
whofe whole Dependence is upon their Nurfe's
Care, or their Parent's Bounty ! Then may
we, having fuch a Senfe of our Poverty, and
having a great HIGH-PRIEST over the
Houfe of GOD, come boldly to the Throne
of Grace. We may apply, through the Righ-
teoufnefs of JESUS CHRISTy for all needful
Succour, and for every defirable Blelfing.
If * PanLoff. B. XI. 1. 22, iffc.
Vol. III. F f <
434 DIALOGUE XVJI.
If Solomon could fay ; LORD, remember David, and all his trouble. If Mofes could fay j LORD, remember Abraham, Ifaac, artd Jacob thy Ser~ rants. How much more confidently may -^rfayj " LORD, remember JESUS, the " Son of thy Love ! Remember JESUS, and " all his Sufferings J JESUS and all hisMe- " rits. Shall , they be fent empty away, who " have their SAVIOUR'S Obedience to plead ?".
No verily. Though they are -altogether
unworthy in themfelves, yet worthy is the LAMB that was flain, for whofe Sake their Petitions fliould be granted, and their every NecelTity fupplied.
Let me repeat to you a mofl beautiful and encouraging Portion of Scripture. Which you may look upon, under all your Wants, as Charte Blanche put into your Hand by GOD all-fufficient. Having therefore. Brethren, Bold" nefs to enter into the Holieji by the Blood of JESUS ; by a new and living Way which he has confccratcdfor Us, through the Veil, that is to fay, his Flejlo ; And having an HIGH-PRIEST over the Hoiife of GOD -, let us draw near with a true Heart, in full Ajjurance of Faith ^.
The Apoftle, in this Place, and throughout this whole Epiftlc, alludes to the Mofaic Or- dinances ; in order to fhew, that the Privileges of the Chrijlian Difpenfation, were typefied by,
yet
* Hch, X. 19, 20, 21, 22.^
DIALOGUE XVII. 43^
yet are greatly fuperior to, thofe of the Je^vijh. — Among the Jews^ none but the Hl^h-Prieft, was permitted to fet a Foot within the Holy of Holies ; and He, only on the folemn Day of Expiation. Whereas, all Cbriftians are al- lowed to enter into the immediate Preience of the moft High GOD; may have the neareffc Accefs to HIM who dwells in the Heaven of Heavens ; and this, not once in the Year only, but at all Times, and on all Occafions. — The High-Priefl never made that awful Approach, but with the Blood of a Jlaughtered Animal. We have Blood of infinitely richer Value, to atone for our Failings, and recommend our AddrefTes; even the Blood of the crucified yESUS. — Aaro72 entered through the Veil of the Temple ; a Way, that was foon to become antiquated, and for ever to be aboliflied. We enter by a far more noble Way j by the Flefli of our bleffed REDEEMER, given as a propitiatory Sacrifice for our Sins. Which Way is both 72ew and living ; fuch as never waxes old, will fubfifl to the End of Time,
and leads to eternal Life. Trufling in this
Sacrifice, and entering by this Way, which are confecrated on Purpofe for our Ufe, We may not only draw near, but draw near ivifb Boldnefsy with an humble filial Confidence;
and prefent our Supplications with Faith
F f 2 v/ith
436 DIALOGUE XVII.
witli Ajfiirance of Faith — with full Aflurance of Faith.
How ilrong is the Contrail ! How fine the Gradation ! And how precious the Do6lrine 1 What fhall we fear, if we beUeve this Text ? What can we lack, if we improve this Privi- lege ?
T^her. There may come Seafons of Defertiojiy when all Graces are languid, if not dead : When the Light of GOD's Countenance is fufpended, if not turned into Darknefs : and the Man is more hke a lifelefs Log, than a zealous Chrijiian. Thefe Frames of Mind I have heard mentioned, and I begin to know fomething of them by Experience.
Afp. Then '^heron^ when you walk in Dark- ncjs^ and fee no Light of fenfible Comfort, trujl in the Name, the unchangeable Grace, of the LORD J and fay upon the Righteoufnefs, the confummate Righteoufnefs, oi your GOD^\ This is not barely my Advice, but the Direc- tion of an infallible Guide. This agrees alfo with the Chara6ler of a real Chri/lian, as it is mofl exa6rly drawn by an unerring Pen ; We rejoice in CHRIS'T JESUS and have no Confidence in the Flefi -f -, no Reliance on any Thing of
our
* lai. 1. 10. f Phil.'uu 3. Exat^ly drau'ti—'PerhzpSy (here IS nowhere extant a finer, a more complete, or fo lively a Figure of the true Chnjf'um. 'Tis in Miniature^ I own : but it com- prehends
DIALOG U E XVIL 437
our own, either for prefent Joy, or future Glory.
To rely on the Elevation of our Spirits, or the Inlargement of our Devotion, is like build- ing our Houfe upon the Ice : which may abide for a Seafon j but, upon the firfl Alteration of Weather, ceafes to be a Foundation, and be- comes " Water that runneth apace." Whereas, to derive our Confoktion from the MEDIA- TOR's Righteoufnefs, and JEHOVAH's Faithfulnefs, is to build our Edifice upon the Rock : virhich " may not be removed, but iiand- " eth fail: for ever." The former of thele, even amidft all our Changes, is invariably the fame. The latter, notv^ithftanding all our Unw^orthinefs, is inviolably fure. Therefore, the Fruit of that Righteoufnefs is Peace, and the EffeB of this Faithfulnefs is, if not rap- turous Joy, yet ^ietnefs and Ajfurance for ever -f*.
So that, when it is Winter in my Soul, and there feems to be a Dearth on all my fcnlible Delights, I would ilill fay with the-Pfalmift j
" V/hy
prehends all the majier Lines and cvcxy di/iinguiJJvKg Feature. fVe ore they^ who worJJnp GOD in the Spirit ; with the fpi- ritual Homage of a renewed Heart ; with Faith, Love, R( fignation. And rejoice in CHRIST JESUS; in Hii look for all our Acceptance vv^ith GOD; from Him d'. rive all the Peace of our Minds ; and on Him place all th Hope of our final Felicity. Jnd have no ConfJer.ce in tl Flcjh ; renouncing ourfelves, in every View, as unprofi' able Servants ; dilclaiming all our own VV^orks and Attai: ments, as defeiftive Services. * Ijai. xxxii. 17.
F f 3
43S DIALOGUE XVII.
'* Why art thou Jo difqiiieted, 0 my Soul? CHRIST " is the fame amidft all thy Derelictions. He " is a green Fir-'T'ree *, that never lofes its Ver- " dure. Undei: his Shadow Thou mayft always *' find Repofe. His Merit and Atonement are " Hill mighty to fave; they conllitute an ever- *' lafling and infinite Righteoufnefs. The Pro- »' miles of GOD, through his Mediation, are *' yea and amen "f*, are unqueflionably and una- *' licnably thine."
Ther. 'Tis very probable, I may meet with Affit5iions\ Death in my Family, or Difeafe in my Perfon. Difappointments may fruftrate my Defigns. Providence may wear a frown- ing Alpeft, as thougli the LORD had a Con- troverfy with his finful Creature, and was mak- ing Him to poffefs the Iniquities of his Youth. And what will be fufficient to fupport and to chear, in fuch a gloomy Hour % ?
Afp, The Righteoufnefs of CHRIST,
Nothing is fo fovereign, to calm our Fears, and remove all Apprehenfions of the di- vine-Wrath. Apprehenfions of the divine Wrath, would draw the Curtains of Horror around our fick Beds, and throw upon our
lan-
* Hof, xiv, 8. t 2 Cor. i. 20.
X The Sufficiency of C//i^/iS"7's Righteoufnefs, to an- fwcr all thcle important and delightful Ends, is exxellently liiCplaved in A4r. Razv/ins Sermons, on CHRIST the Ricr/j- teo'f' cfs of his People. In which the Public have feen the grand and amiable Eill-ntials of the Gofpcl, delivered in mafculine Language ; defended by nervous Reafoningj ai;d animated by a lively Devotion.
DIALOGUE XVII. 439
languifliing Eye-lids the Shadow of Death *' But a believing Improvement of CHRISl^'s Satisfa(£i:ion for our Offences, cka7's up the mournful Scene, and takes away tlie Sting of Tribulation.
Attending to this great Propitiation, the Sufferer fees his Sins forgiven, and his GOD reconciled^ From whence he concludes, that the fevereft Affli6lions are only fatherly Cor- re6lions ; fliall not exceed his Ability to bear ; and fliall afluredly obtain a gracious LTue. Hii can fetch Comfort from that chearing Word, I will be with him in T'rouble : And cxpeci; the Accomplilhment of that moft confolatory Pro- mife, / will deliver Him, ajid bring him to Ho- nour •\. Thefe Supports have enabled the
Saints, to kifs the Rod, and blcfs the Hand, which chaflifed them. To pofTefs their Souls, not in Patience only, but in Thankfulnefs alfo. While they have looked inward^ and difcerned their abfolute Need of thefe bitter but falu- tary Medicines : Have looked upward, and be- held the Cup in a moft vv'ife and tender PHY- SICIAN'S Hand : Have looked forward, with a joyful Hope, to that better World i where GOD will wipe away all Tears from their
Eyes,
* Alluding to that Defcription of Trihtilation and h\\- guifh, which, I believe, no Perfon of Senribility can read without {huddering ; My Face hf aid with Jl^ecping, and on mji fiye-iuh is the ^haaonj of Death. Job xvi, j6.
t PJal. xci. 15.
Ff4
440 DIALOGUE XVII.
Eyes, and there fhall be no more Sorrow, nor any more Pain.
'T'her. The lafl Occafion of Need is the try- ing Hour of Deathy and the tremendous Day of judgment. Will this Righteoufnefs carry Us, with Safety, through the darkfome Valley ; and prefent us, with Acceptance, at the dread- ful Tribunal ?
Afp. It will : It will. — This filences all the Curfes of the Law, and difarms Death of every Terror. To believe in this Righteouf- nefs, is to meet Death at our SAVIOUR'S Side ; or rather, like good old Simeo?tj with the SAVIOUR in our Arms. — I'hey overcame^ fays the beloved Difciple, they overcame the lall Enemy, not by natural Fortitude, or philo- fophic Refolution, but by the Blood of the LAMB*; by a believing Application of the vidorious REDEEMER'S Merit. — IknoWy adds the heroic Apoftle, 'who?n I have believed 'f-y I am afiured, that my JESUS is infinitely faithful, and will not defert me ; that his Ran- fom is abfolutely fufficient, and cannot deceive me. Therefore, with a holy Bravery, He bids Defiance to Death ; or rather, triumphs over it, as a vanquifhed Enemy ; 7'hanks be to GOD, who giveth Us the Virion through our LORD JESUS CHRIST' i /—Nay, through the won- derful
♦ Eev. xii. ii; t 2 71m. u 12. % i Cer* xv. 57.
DIALOGUE XVII. 441
derful Efficacy of CHRIS Ts Propitiation, Death is ours * -, not our Foe, but our Friend and Deliverer. We may number it among our Treafures ; and reft fatisfied. That to die^ is Gain,
What ? Though our Flefh fee Corruption. Though this Body, vile at prefent, be made viler ftill, by dwelling amidft Worms, and mouldering in the Duftj yet through HIS Righteoufnefs, who is the Refurre6lion and the Life, it fhall fhake off the Difhonours of the Grave : It fhall rife to a new and illuftri- ous State of Exiftence : It fhall be made like the glorious and immortal Body of our triumph- ant LORD. — If the Body be fo refined, fo ex- alted J what will be the Dignity, what the Per- feftion, of the Soul ! Or rather, of Soul and Body both, when they are happily and indif- folubly united, at the Refurreftion of the Juft !
Shall they have any thing to fear, when
the Judgment is fet, and the Books are opened ? 'Tis probable there will be no Accufation, 'tis certain there is no Condemnation^ to them that are in CHRIST JESUSi-. Who fhall lay any Thing to their Charge? It is GOD — not Man, or Angel, or any Creature, but GOD — that jujiifies them. The GOD whofe Law was broke, the GOD to whom Vengeance be-
longeth,
* I C(?r. iii. 22, t Rom.vm. i.
442 DIALOGUE XVII.
longeth, He Himfelf pronounces them inno^ centy beeaufe their Iniquities have been laid upon CHRIST'-j He Himfelf pronounces them righteous J beeaufe they are interefted in the Obedience of their REDEEMER j on thefe Ac- counts, He Himfelf pronounces them ^/^^, and gives them an abundant Entrance into the Joy of their LORD.
But what can exprefs, or w^ho can imagine their Happinefs, when they take up their Abode, in the Palaces of Heaven j amidft the Choirs of Angels ; and under the Light of GOD's Countenance ! When they poflefs the Hope of Righteoufiiefs * ; when they wear the Crown ofRighteoufnefs-f; and receive that great, that eternal Salvation, which is a proper Re- compence for the Humiliation and Agonies of JESUS CHRIST the righteous X-
Come then, my dear Theron, let Us hence- forth be as Branches, ingrafted into the hea- venly Vine J derive all our Sap, all our Moif- ture, all our Confolation, from his Fulnefs. Let Us live upon our all-fufficient REDEEMER, as the IJraelites fubfilled on their Manna from Heaven, and their Waters from the Rock ; and not wilh for otko', as we cannot pollibly enjoy better Suttenance.
I'her.
* Gal. V. 5. t 2 Tim. iv. 8. % i John ii. |,
DIALOGUE XVII. 443
l^her. Is thifi the Meaning of our LOR D's Exhortation, when he fhews the Neceflity of eating his Flefij and dritiki?ig his Blood f
Afp. 'Tis the very fame. A repeated and incelfant Application of our SAVIOUR's Me- rits, for all the Purpofes of Piety and Salva- tion, is the Kernel of this Nut, the Meaning of this Metaphor. When we habitually ad- vert to JESUS CHRIST, as dying for our Sins, and rifing again for our Juftification ; performing all Righteoufnefs, that we may be intitled to an eternal Crown ; and interceding in Heaven, that we may be filled with all the Fulnefs of GOD : Then we eat his Flefh, and drink his Blood. Then we derive a Life of folid Comfort, and real Godlinefs, from his mediatorial Offices j juft as we derive the Con- tinuance of our natural Life, from the daily Ufe of alimentary Recruits.
Ther. Your Difcourfe brings to my Remem- brance that magnificent and beautiful Pallage in Scripture, where CHRIST is called Thje Sun of Righteousness. YourDo6trine lets the Comparifon in a very advantageous Light ; gives it the utmofl Force, and the greatefl Pro- priety. The Righteoufnefs of CHRIST ac- cording to your Account, is as extenlively ufe- ful in the Chrijiian Life, as the Beams of that grand Luminary are in material Nature. — ^-
The
444 DIALOGUE XVII.
The Sun fills the Air ; where it difFufes Light,
and creates Day. The Sun penetrates the
Ocean 'y from whence it exhales Vapours, and forms the Clouds. — In the vegetable Creation, the Sun raifes the Sap» and protrudes the Gems j unfolds the Leaves, and paints the BloiTom ; diftends the Fruit, and conco6ts the Juices. — Turn we to the animal World ; the Sun de- lights the Eye, and gladdens the Heart. It awakens Millions of Infecls into Being j and imparts that general Joy, which every fenfible Creature feels. Indeed, there is nothing hid from the Heat thereof.
Afp. Thus the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that true and only Stm of Righteoifnefs, arifes on his People with Healing in his JVifigs *. So various, fo efficacious, and fo extenfive are his Influences. Like a Sun, He inlightens and in- livens : like Wings, He cherifhes and prote6ls : like a Remedy, He heals and reflores. And all, by virtue of his Righteoufnefs, on account of
his Righteoufnefs. Nor can We doubt, nor
need We wonder, if We confider its Nature and its Author. Its Nature ; it is confum- mately excellent, has every Kind, and every Degree of Perfe6lion. Its Author ; it is the Ritrhteoufnefs and Obedience of that incom- parable PERSON, in whom divells all the Ful- nefs of the Godhead.
It
* AM iv. 2.
DIALOGUE XVII. 445
It muft therefore You will permit me to
fum up in a Word, what has been difplayed
at large It muft be fully anfwerable to the
De?na?2ds of the Law^ even in its higheft Pu- rity, and utmoft Exadlnefs. It is infinitely
fuperior to the Demerit of Siji^ and intirely abfolves from all Guilt, intirely exempts from all Condemnation. It is a moft valid and ne- ver failing Plea, againft the Accufations of Sa- tan^ and the Challenges of Confcience. It
eftablifhes an undoubted T!itle to every Bleffing, whether in Time or in Eternity, whether of
Grace or of Glory. It is a fure Support for
the Chriftian, in an Hour of Defertioriy and in the Agonies of Death. Cafting Anchor on this Bottom, He may difmifs every Fear, and ride out every Storm. Leaning upon this Staff, He may go down to the Repofe of the Grave •, and neither be appalled at the folemn Har- bingers of Difiblution, nor terrified at its far more awful Confequences.— The Merit of this Righteoufnefs, and the Power of its DIVINE AUTHOR, will unfeal the Tomb ; will bring forth the fleeping Duft from the Chambers of Putrefa6lion j and build up the whole Man into Immortality and Glory. By this He will be prefented without Spot^-j prQCcnttd faultlefs f j yea, be prefented perfeB |, and with exceeding Joy J before the Throne.
What
* Eph. V. 27. t Jude 24. X Col, i. 28.
446 DIALOGUE XVIL
What a Gift then is the Rtghteoufnefi of CHRIST! Bleffed be GOD, for all the in- dulgent Difpenfations of Providence ! BlefTed be GOD, for all the beneficial Productions of Nature! But above all, blefTed be GOD, for the tranfcendent and unfpeakable Gift — of CHRIST and HIS Righteousness,
TABLE
O F T H E
T E X T ^,
More or lefs illujirated in this Work.
GEN.
Hhap. Ver.
11 |
3v • |
ii |
>7 |
iii |
«5 |
iii |
«5 |
iii |
ao |
vi |
3 |
vi |
5 |
vi |
H |
viii |
21 |
xi |
4 |
XV |
3 |
xxii |
I |
xxii |
X |
xxii |
H |
xxvii |
30, <^C' |
iii |
2 |
xii |
9 |
XV |
9, 10 |
XV |
26 |
XX |
24 |
xxviii |
38 |
xxix |
4 |
xxix |
20 |
xxix |
39 |
xxxiv |
7 |
Vol. |
Tag. |
- Ill |
H |
II |
»24'5 |
II |
64 |
II |
389 |
II |
390 |
II |
148 |
II |
141 |
I |
108 |
11 |
M9 |
II |
loz |
III |
aio |
III |
214 |
III |
214 |
III |
223 |
I |
20 |
E X 0 D. |
|
Ill |
»9 |
I |
114, I |
III |
»i3 |
III |
294 |
I |
365 |
II |
392 |
I |
127 |
I |
114, I |
I |
127 |
I |
164 |
LEVIT.
TEXTS Illujlrafel
L E V I T. |
|||
Chap. |
Fer. |
Vol. |
Pag. |
xiv |
4. 5.6 |
,7 I |
114, 15 |
xvi |
Chap. |
I |
102, 2, |
xvi |
21 |
I |
63 |
xvi |
zz |
I |
63 |
xvU |
3.4 |
I |
61 |
xvii |
It |
I |
114 |
zxiii |
42 |
I NUMB. |
127 |
vi |
2,tj'f |
I |
119 |
XV |
38 |
I |
258 |
xviii |
27 |
I |
61 |
xxi |
8 |
II |
82 |
XXV |
\t |
I |
128 |
XXXV |
13 |
II D E U T. |
8j |
viii |
4 |
I |
»97 |
ix |
5 |
I |
3H |
xxxii |
2 |
III |
25 |
xxxiii |
10 |
II |
210 |
xxxiii |
i3.H»' |
!5,i6III J UD G. |
t66 |
XV |
8 |
n |
•74 |
xvii |
6 |
II 1 S A M. |
»SJ |
iii |
H |
I |
162 |
xii |
% |
I |
320 |
xvlii, xix, XX |
Chap. |
I |
20 |
XX |
30 |
III |
303 |
xxiii |
25 |
1 2 S A M. |
260 |
• 1 |
19 |
I |
22 |
XV |
3« |
11 |
350 |
xviii |
3S |
ir |
22 |
xxiii |
3 |
III |
73- |
xxiii |
5 |
11 |
4 |
TEXTS lUuftratel
I KINGS. |
|||
Chap. |
Ver. |
To/. |
Pog. |
viii |
32 |
ir |
48 |
X |
6.7 |
I |
273 |
xiv |
10 |
ir |
186 |
xviii |
27 |
II z KINGS. |
295 |
xiv |
9 |
II |
307 |
XX |
3 |
I 2 C H R 0 N |
402 |
xxxIV |
27 |
II N E H E M. |
3S3 |
ii |
4 |
II |
3?o |
ix |
21 |
I |
'97 |
xiii |
22 |
I JOB. |
401 |
i |
I |
ll |
294 |
ii |
4 |
II |
188 |
ix |
10, 11 |
I |
199 |
ix |
12 |
n |
243 |
ix |
15 |
II |
21 |
ix |
2o,2r,3 |
10,31,32! |
398 & feq. |
X |
II |
n |
175. 18S |
xii |
7.8 |
III |
140 |
xiv |
4 |
II |
130 |
XV |
H. 15^ |
, 16 II |
137 |
xix |
8 |
III |
SS |
xix |
25 |
in |
34* |
xxvi |
8 |
HI |
2> |
xxvii |
5 |
II |
48 |
xxviii |
5 |
HI |
3' |
xxix |
»9 |
III |
260 |
xxxvi |
38 |
lii |
26 |
Xxxvii |
16 |
III |
25 |
Xxxviii |
s |
in |
38 |
aycxviii |
s,^ |
III |
112 |
xxxviii |
10 |
III |
108 |
xxxviii |
«4 |
III |
i93 |
xxxviii |
if |
III |
24 |
Vol. III. |
Gc |
xxxnn
TEXTS Illiijirated.
Chap. Ver, Vol. Pag:
xxxviii |
37 |
IJI |
'47 |
xxxviii |
37,38 |
III |
69 |
xxxix |
18 |
in |
20 |
xlii |
6 |
I |
397 |
xlii |
6 |
tn |
394 |
xlii |
7,8 |
I |
I JO |
P S |
A L. |
||
viii |
6, 7, 8 |
Ill |
152 |
>iv |
2, 3 |
II |
»35 |
XV |
I |
I |
307 |
XV |
4 |
I |
309 |
xix |
5 |
III |
72 |
xix |
\Z |
I |
389 |
xxii |
21 |
III |
125 |
xxii |
8 |
II |
424 |
xxiv , |
5 |
II |
395 |
xxix |
4» 5'^ |
lit |
123 |
xxix |
9 |
III |
355 |
xxvii |
I |
III |
342 |
xxxii |
I |
I |
329 |
xxxvi |
6 |
II |
45 |
xxxvii |
7 |
III |
338 |
xxxvii |
20 |
III |
381 |
xlix |
5 |
I |
259 |
li |
5 |
II |
132 |
11 |
7 |
III |
427 |
Iviii |
10 |
III |
387 |
lix |
16 |
II |
265 |
Ix |
6 |
III |
366 |
Ixii |
12 |
I |
293 |
Ixv |
>3 |
II |
396 |
Ixviii |
iS |
Til |
304 |
Ixviii |
19 |
III |
■ 138 |
Ixxi |
15 |
HI |
60, |
Ixxi |
16 |
II |
396 |
Ixxvii |
10 |
III |
340 |
Ixxvii |
17, 18 |
HI |
353* |
Ixxvii |
10 |
III |
377 |
!xxix |
3 |
HI |
288 |
Ixxxv |
\o |
I |
158 |
Ixxxix |
iS> 16 |
II |
397 |
xci. |
15 |
IH |
439 |
ciii |
3 |
HI |
341 |
civ |
id |
JI |
45 |
CIV |
16 |
HI |
150 |
vt
TEXTS Illiiftrated,
Chap. |
Ver. |
Vol. |
Pag. |
civ |
iz |
Ill |
18 |
civ |
24 |
III |
135 |
ex |
3 |
II |
268 |
cxv |
16 |
HI |
38 |
cxvi |
12 |
I |
23+ |
cxix |
96 |
I |
379 |
cxxxiii |
2 |
III |
231 |
cxxxv |
7 |
HI |
27 |
cxxxvii |
5>6 |
III |
189 |
cxxxix |
1,2 |
lit |
88 |
cxxxix |
H |
II |
190 |
cxliii |
2 |
I |
401 |
cxliii |
2 |
II |
49 |
cxlv |
9 |
III |
261 |
P R 0 V. |
|||
i |
22, 23 |
II |
264 |
vi |
1 1 |
II |
261 |
vii |
7 |
II |
260 |
viii |
27 |
in |
5 |
xix |
12 |
III |
179 |
xxi |
I |
HI |
90 |
xxii |
»5 |
II |
136 |
xxiii |
26 |
III |
38 |
[XXV |
II |
I |
38 |
XXV |
»9 |
II |
53 |
XXX |
2 |
II |
256 |
xxxi |
21 |
III |
188 |
E C C L E S. |
|||
vii |
6 |
»3 |
|
vii |
20 |
400 |
|
vii |
29 |
131 |
|
ix |
7 |
21 |
|
xii |
3 |
176 |
|
xii |
4 |
2-4 |
|
xii |
6 |
'75 |
|
xii |
6 |
203 |
|
C A N T I C. |
|||
i |
I |
m |
368.9 |
i |
I |
III |
229 |
i |
9 |
If |
400 |
ii |
9 |
I |
1,7 |
ii |
II, 12, 13 |
I |
77 |
ii |
H |
in |
12; |
Gg 2 |
TEXTS Illujlrated,
Chap. lii iv iv iv vi vi viii
1
i
iv
V
vi vi vii vii ix ix
X
2(i xi xi
xiii xxvi xxvi xxvii xwiii x:{viii xxviii xxviii xxxiii
XXXV
XXXV
xxxvi xxxviii xli xlii xlii xlii xliii
Ver. |
Vol. |
Pagf |
6 |
Ill |
380 |
I |
II |
181 |
2 |
II |
193 |
3 |
II |
190 |
lO |
III |
106 |
12 |
III |
194 |
5 |
II I S A L |
«3 |
»8 |
I |
180 |
27 |
If |
399 |
6 |
III |
3S5 |
26 |
III |
395 |
2» 3. 4» |
5 rrr |
395 & fe<j |
9 |
III . |
235 |
19 |
Ill |
257 |
25 |
III |
258 |
.6 |
I |
239 |
^ |
III |
3®o, 1 |
33» 34 |
III |
423 |
I |
III |
423 |
3 |
II |
215 |
9 |
I |
349 |
10 |
III |
426 |
19,20,21,22 JI |
106 |
|
7 |
11 |
263 |
8,9 |
11 |
344 |
6 |
I |
47 |
12 |
II |
411 |
J5 |
III |
395 |
20 |
I |
322 |
16 |
11 |
421, z |
j6 |
III |
124 |
I |
I |
47 |
8 |
I |
J 48 |
12 |
II |
186 |
7. >3 |
II |
244 |
'13 |
III |
158 |
I |
11 |
321 |
10, II |
12 111 |
»75 |
2( |
II |
13 |
25 |
III |
4 |
xlly
TEXTS niuflrated.
Chap, |
Yer, |
r^A |
Tag. |
xliv |
28 |
I |
262 |
jfliv |
zz |
iir |
428 |
xlv |
2 |
n |
99 |
xiv |
21 |
I |
33« |
xlv |
22 |
nr |
357 |
xlv |
24 |
\i |
399 |
xlviii |
8 |
II |
139 |
xlix |
H |
HI |
34-3 |
xlix |
18 |
III |
360 |
1 |
10 |
III |
335 |
11 |
. 9, 10 |
III |
114 |
li |
6 |
II |
402 |
lii |
7 |
III |
»75 |
liii |
4 |
I |
h; |
liii |
5 |
I |
86 |
liii |
5 |
I |
H5 |
liii |
6 |
I |
»37 |
liii |
6 |
ir |
59 |
liii |
10 |
I |
'59 |
liii |
12 |
I |
149 |
Iv |
I |
III |
299 |
IV |
9 |
III |
117 |
Iviii |
*3 |
II |
351 |
lix |
5 |
II |
282 |
Ix |
»7 |
III |
399' 4' |
Ix |
22 |
11 |
163 |
Ixi |
I |
I |
3»i |
hi |
10 |
III |
359 |
Ixi |
10 |
II |
400 |
Ixiv |
6 |
II |
366, 7 |
Ixiv |
6 |
III |
42 |
J |
E R E M. |
||
■ii |
'3 |
ir |
442 |
ii |
25 |
I |
176 |
n |
32 |
II |
283 |
iv |
19, &c. |
III |
411 |
V |
22 |
III |
108 |
viii |
2 |
II |
264 |
viii |
7 |
II |
243 |
xvii |
3 |
II |
M-3 |
xxiii |
^.6 |
11 |
406, 7 |
xxxiii |
8' |
III Sg 3 |
l^'O |
xlvis
in I
iii
ix
ix
TEXTS Illupated.
Chap, Ver. Vol. Tag.
xlvii 3 III 415
1 20 I 104
E Z E K.
xiii 10 I 367
xvi 6 III 293
xviii 27 I 291
xxvii 5 III 175
xxviii 14 1 log
DAN.
II 102
27 III 19
9 III 302
24 JI 404. i H O S.
vi 3 I 319
xi 14 III 193
xi 19, 20 III 236
xiii 9 I 219
xiv 6 I 47
xiv 8 III 438
JOEL.
il 8 III 394
ii 3 HI 393
iii 16, 17 III 392
AMOS.
V 19 in 391
JONAH,
i 4 III 86
M I C A H.
vl 8 I 350
vii 19 III ^78
H A B A K.
i 14 HI 140
i 13 I 395
iii 4 JIf ^24
iii II in 414
HAG.
ii 7 il 39»
T E X T 5 Ilhijlrafed.
Z E C H. |
||||||
Chap. |
Fer. |
Vol. |
P^g- |
|||
ii |
§ |
JI |
210 |
|||
iii |
3' |
4. 5 |
II |
■^8 |
||
iii |
9 |
nr |
429 |
|||
iv |
2, |
3, 12 |
iir |
232 |
||
iv |
7 |
I |
337 |
|||
vi |
12, |
13 |
ir |
59 |
||
ix |
9 |
ir |
4c8, 9 |
|||
xi |
lO |
I |
232 |
|||
xii |
lO |
III |
96 |
|||
xii |
I |
III |
429 |
|||
xiii |
7 |
\\\ |
76 |
|||
xiii |
7 |
I |
203 |
|||
xiv |
6 |
M |
A |
n L. |
298 |
|
iii |
i6. |
17 |
I |
15 |
||
iv |
2 |
II |
47 |
|||
M |
A |
T T. |
||||
V |
3 |
I |
299 |
|||
V |
6 |
III |
322 |
|||
i V |
i6 |
I |
235 |
|||
V |
17 |
II |
^5 |
|||
V |
i8 |
II |
'3 |
|||
V |
20 |
I |
300 |
|||
V |
44 |
II |
356 |
|||
vi |
t) |
f |
10 |
|||
vi |
20 |
. |
IH |
411 |
||
vi |
30 |
II |
1S8 |
|||
vi |
33 |
"■ |
If |
427 |
||
viii |
3 |
III |
i8z |
|||
viii |
22 |
II |
149 |
|||
viii |
26 |
III |
87 |
|||
ix |
13 |
I |
158 |
|||
ix |
13 |
III |
294 |
|||
ix |
20 |
I |
2;9 |
|||
ix |
22 |
II |
77 |
|||
xi |
28 |
III |
320 |
|||
xii |
36, |
37 |
I |
40 |
||
Ixii |
39 |
I |
122 |
|||
xvii |
27 |
III |
8>- |
|||
xvii |
»7 |
III |
364- |
|||
xviii |
32 |
III |
2S6 |
|||
xix |
>7 |
. |
I Gg 4 |
300 |
x\ii |
TEXTS Illufirated,
Chap. |
Ver. |
Vol, |
Pag. |
xlvii |
3 |
III |
415 |
1 |
20 |
I E Z E K. |
104 |
xiii |
10 |
I |
367 |
xvi |
6 |
III |
293 |
xviii |
27 |
I |
29 1 |
xxvii |
5 |
Ilf |
'75 |
xxviii |
H |
I DAN. |
109 |
iii |
I |
II |
102 |
iii |
27 |
III |
»9 |
ix |
9 |
III |
302 |
ix |
24 |
II H 0 S. |
404, |
vi |
3 |
I |
319 |
xi |
H |
III |
193 |
xi |
i9» |
20 III |
236 |
xiii |
9 |
I |
219 |
xiv |
6 |
I |
47 |
xiv |
8 |
III JOEL. |
438 |
ii |
8 |
Ill |
394 |
ii |
3 |
III |
393 |
iii |
16, |
17 III AMOS. |
392 |
V |
^9 |
Ill |
391 |
J |
' 0 N A H. |
||
i |
4 |
Ill |
86 |
M 1 C A H. |
|||
vl |
8 |
I |
350 |
vii |
19 |
III |
178 |
H A B A K. |
|||
i |
H |
III |
140 |
i |
«3 |
I |
395 |
iii |
4 |
IH |
124 |
iii ii |
11 7 |
III HAG. II |
4»4 39< |
T E X T § lUuftrated.
Z E C H. |
|||||
Chap. |
Ver. |
Vol. |
P^g- |
||
ii |
8 |
JI |
210 |
||
iii |
3' |
4' 5 |
II |
■JS |
|
iii |
9 |
irr |
429 |
||
iv |
2, |
3, 12 |
iir |
232 |
|
iv |
7 |
r |
337 |
||
vi |
12, |
13 |
JI |
59 |
|
ix |
9 |
JI |
4c8, 9 |
||
xi |
lO |
I |
z-\z |
||
xii |
lO |
III |
96 |
||
xii |
I |
III |
429 |
||
xiii |
7 |
JIE |
76 |
||
xiii |
7 |
I |
203 |
||
xiv |
6 |
II |
298 |
||
M A L. |
|||||
iii |
i6, |
17 |
I |
15 |
|
iv |
2 |
II |
47 |
||
MATT. |
|||||
V |
3 |
I |
299 |
||
V |
6 |
III |
322 |
||
i V |
i6 |
r |
23^ |
||
V |
17 |
II |
<55 |
||
V |
i8 |
II |
'3 |
||
V |
20 |
I |
300 |
||
V |
44 |
II |
356 |
||
vi |
b |
I |
10 |
||
vi |
20 |
IH |
411 |
||
vi |
30 |
II |
188 |
||
vi |
33 |
JI |
427 |
||
viii |
3 |
III |
182 |
||
viii |
22 |
11 |
149 |
||
viii |
26 |
III |
87 |
||
ix |
'3 |
I |
158 |
||
ix |
13 |
III |
294 |
||
ix |
20 |
I |
2;9 |
||
ix |
22 |
II |
77 |
||
xi |
28 |
III |
320 |
||
xii |
36, |
37 |
I |
40 |
|
'xii |
39 |
I |
122 |
||
xvii |
27 |
III |
8> |
||
xvii |
'7 |
ni |
361 |
||
xviii |
32 |
III |
2X6 |
||
xix |
•7 |
I |
300 |
||
- |
Gg 4 |
x,\ii |
TEXTS IlluftrateL
Chap. Vtr. Vol. Tag.
xlvii 3 III 415
1 20 I 104
E Z E K.
xiii 10 I 367
xvi 6 III 293
xviii 27 I 291
xxvii 5 Ilf 175
xxviii 14 1 109
DAN.
iii I II 102
iii 27 III ig
ix 9 III 3°2
ix 24 II 404, I
H O S.
3 I 319
14 III 193
19, 20 III 236
9 I 219
6 I 47
8 III 438
JOEL.
8 III 394
3 III 393 16, 17 111 392
AMOS.
19 III 391
JONAH.
4 III 86 M I C A H.
8 I 350
19 III 178
H A B A K.
VI
xi
xi
xiii
xiv
xiv
ii iii
VI
vii
1 i
iii iii
14 III 140
«3 I 395
4 II[ 124
II III 4H HAG.
7 II 39»
T E X T § lUuftrafed,
Z E C H. |
||||
Chap. |
Ver. |
Vol. |
Pag. |
|
ii |
S |
II |
210 |
|
iii |
3. |
4»5 |
II |
■iS |
iii |
9 |
irr |
429 |
|
iv |
2, |
3, 12 |
III |
232 |
iv |
7 |
I |
337 |
|
vi |
12, |
13 |
II |
59 |
ix |
9 |
II |
4C8, |
|
xi |
lO |
I |
232 |
|
xii |
lO |
III |
96 |
|
xii |
I |
III |
429 |
|
xiii |
7 |
III |
76 |
|
xiii |
7 |
I |
203 |
|
xiv |
6 |
II |
298 |
|
M A L. |
||||
iii |
i6, |
17 |
I |
15 |
iv |
2 |
II |
47 |
|
MATT. |
||||
V |
■? |
I |
299 |
|
V |
6 |
iir |
322 |
|
V |
i6 |
I |
23^ |
|
V |
»7 |
II |
^5 |
|
V |
i8 |
II |
'3 |
|
V |
20 |
I |
300 |
|
V |
44 |
II |
356 |
|
vi |
b |
I |
10 |
|
vi |
20 |
IH |
411 |
|
vi |
30 |
II |
188 |
|
vi |
33 |
" |
If |
427 |
viii |
3 |
III |
182 |
|
viii |
22 |
II |
149 |
|
viii |
26 |
III |
87 |
|
ix |
'3 |
I |
IS? |
|
ix |
13 |
m |
294 |
|
ix |
20 |
I |
2>9 |
|
ix |
22 |
II |
77 |
|
xi |
28 |
in |
320 |
|
xii |
36, |
37 |
I |
40 |
'xii |
39 |
I |
122 |
|
xvii |
27 |
III |
8> |
|
xvii |
•7 |
ifi |
36f |
|
xviii |
32 |
III |
2X6 |
|
xix |
•7 |
I Gg 4 |
300 |
TEXTS Illujlrated,
Chap. Ver. Vol. Pag.
y.x\\ 4 III 280
xxii u III 279
xxii 37» 8, 9 II 12
XXV 30 I 296
xxvi 28 I 136
xxvi 36 I 171
xxvi 38 I « 172
xxvi 68 I 170
xxvii 9 III loi
xxvii 29 I 170
xxvii 42 I 171
MARK.
i 7 HI 79
ii 14 III 90
iv 28 III 7
iv 39 I 279
V 9 I » 154
V 9 III 93
V 15^ III 182 vi 51 I 279
vii 20,21,22,23 II 246
vii 22 II 292
ix 3 I 130
jx 6 III 171,
xi 20 III 85
xiv 13 III 88
xvi .14 III 364
LUKE.
ii 14 III 179
it 69 HI 125
vi 12 II 162
X 30. -^c- J 33
XV II I 37
XV 22 III . 281
xvi 9 III 411
xvi 12 III 4' I
xvii 9 I 328
xvii 10 I 342
xviii I II 351
xviii 13 11 49
xviii 31 I 1 02
xix 8, 14 HI 201
XIX
TEXTS Ilhiflrated,
Zhap. |
Ver. |
Vol. |
Pag. |
xix |
48 |
I |
19 |
xix |
9 |
III |
278 |
xxlv |
13 |
I |
20 |
xxiv |
>7 |
I |
40 |
xxiv |
25 |
II r |
364 |
xxiv |
32 |
I |
12 |
xxiv |
47* |
III |
296 |
J |
0 H N. |
||
i |
12 |
II |
82 |
i |
12 |
III |
338 |
i |
14 |
ir |
229 |
i |
47 |
I |
320 |
• • 11 |
H» J5 |
HI |
89 |
ii |
»9 |
I |
12Z |
iii |
6 |
11 |
149 |
iii |
^4 |
I |
122 |
ill |
'16 ' |
I |
167 |
iii |
18, 36- |
I |
293 |
iii |
36 |
III |
323 |
iy |
10 |
III |
339 ■ - |
V |
' 17 |
III |
7 |
V |
40 |
III |
283 |
V |
44 |
I |
268 |
vi |
21 |
III |
325 |
vi |
35 |
II |
81 |
vi |
44 |
II |
268 |
vi |
58 |
III |
339 |
vi |
63 |
III |
>74 |
vii |
37 |
III |
298 |
viii |
• 7 |
III |
89 |
xi |
50 |
I |
145 |
xi |
39 |
III |
92 |
xiv |
»5 |
I |
235 |
XV |
4 |
I |
361 |
XV |
5 |
I |
236 |
XV |
5- |
in |
235,0 |
XV |
6 |
I |
361 |
XV |
15 |
III |
234 |
XV i |
9 |
I |
291 |
xvi |
8,9,10,11 II |
449' 50 |
|
xvii |
4 |
II |
56 |
xvii |
6 |
II |
59 |
xvii |
24 |
•II |
61 |
xvii |
24 |
III |
66 |
xviii |
6 |
III |
90 |
- |
- ACTS. |
TEXTS Illujirated,
Chap.
ACTS.
Vol.
Ver
Pag,
ii |
47 |
III |
202 |
iii |
'9 |
I |
105 |
iv |
20 |
I |
234 |
iv |
37 |
I |
362 |
V |
31 |
I |
105 |
V |
4i |
III |
195 |
vJii |
20 |
I |
363 |
ix |
II |
HI |
»73 |
X |
35 |
I |
294.5 |
xi |
23 |
II |
85 |
xi |
18 |
I |
332 |
xiii |
38 |
I |
343 |
3cvi |
3» |
III |
278 |
xvii |
27 |
II |
219 |
xix |
2t |
ni |
207 |
XX |
28 |
I |
'75 |
xxvi |
18 |
II |
5» |
R 0 |
M. |
||
i |
16,17 |
II |
430 |
i |
»7 |
III |
372 |
i |
18 |
II |
26 |
ii |
4- |
I |
232 |
iii |
'9 |
II |
»37 |
iii |
20 |
II |
431 |
i^ii |
20 |
II |
24 |
iii |
21, 22 |
II |
388 |
iii |
24 |
II |
432 |
iii |
24 |
I |
337 |
iii |
25 |
I |
'57 |
iii |
26 |
I |
158 |
iii |
3< |
I |
236 |
iii |
3» |
II |
432 |
iv |
3 |
I" |
74 |
JV |
4 |
I |
348 |
iv |
4 |
II |
10 |
iv |
I |
228 |
|
iv |
l.e^fr. |
II |
1 1 |
iv |
6,7 |
II |
433M |
IV
"TEXTS llluflrated.
Chap. Ver. Vol Pag,
H
IV IS, 20 111 21 X
iv 20 in 363
V 8 1 ,67
292
V T2 I 206
232
435 52
436,7 63 50
V 18 I 216 [v 19 II 438,9
25
50
231 vi 6 II 236
V
V
vi
VI
vii
Vll
viii viii viii viii ix ix
X X X
xi xi
H |
11 |
18, 20 |
III |
20 |
in |
8 |
I |
10 |
HI |
T2 |
I |
H |
III |
14 |
II |
17 |
II |
»7 |
II |
17 |
III |
18 |
ir |
18 |
I |
»9 |
II |
20 |
II |
21 |
II |
2 |
I |
6 |
II |
23 |
I |
9 |
II |
^7 |
III |
18 |
II |
3 |
II |
7 |
i[ |
I |
III |
33' 34 |
I |
30 |
II |
30'3^32 |
11 |
3 |
II |
4 |
II |
4 |
11 |
6 |
II |
33 |
III |
293 24
vn 17 ill 245
147
23 148 441 107
n 444
441
39 447
17 117
I COR.
1 |
27 |
I |
30 |
II |
|
iii |
21 |
III |
iii |
22 |
,. Ill |
V |
I |
|
vi |
I t |
I |
vi |
II |
II |
,6
148
445'
41
441
97.98 230 446
Tl
Vi vi |
»9 20 |
ix X |
9 2 |
4 |
|
XV XV |
45.47 52 |
XV |
57 |
TEXTS Illuflrated.
Chap. Ver, Vol Pag.
II 229
II 227
Ml 274,5
I 123
T 122
II 205
I 206
11 445
III 440
2 C O R.
i 12 II 21
i 20 III i8t
ii 2 III 194
iii 6 II 28
iii 7 II * 9
iii 13 II 267
iv 6 HI 171
iv 17 I 30
V I ir 172
V 4 II 300
V 14 III 195
V I5 III 189
V 19 I 87
V 20 I 156
V 21 II 453 vi 18 III 179
vii 10 III 188
viii 1 III 196
viii 2 III 202
viii 9 i 365
viii 12 II 20
X 6 I 369
xii 10 III 195
GAL.
i 7 II H
ii IS. 16 n 451
li 19 II 3 '9
21 II 13
11
iii I
in
II ^6
10 II iS
iii 10 II
Ul
TEXTS Illuftrated.
Chap.
Ill iii iii iii iii iv
V
V
1 i i
ii ii ii iii iii iii iv iv
V
Fer. >3
21 22
24 27
5
4
26
12 17
»9
16
29 27
r<7/. |
Jag. |
I |
146 |
II |
23 |
II |
39 |
II |
9 |
II |
81 |
I |
239 |
I |
344 |
I |
268 |
P H. |
|
I |
308 |
I |
165 |
I |
^79 |
II |
152,236,245 |
I |
350 |
I |
326, 7 |
III |
348 |
iir . |
323 |
Ill |
52 |
II |
226 |
I |
40 |
III |
445 |
PHIL.
1 i
ii ii ii iii iii iii
i
ii iii
10, 11 |
I |
1 |
III III |
8 |
II |
12, 13 |
III |
8,9 9 |
II II II |
COL |
|
21 |
II |
28 |
III |
10 |
I |
16 |
I |
o s.
8
324 »95
11
55 325 456, 7.
77
2JO
150
445
226
38
I T H E S S. 16, ^c. I z5
I.TIM.
TEXTS lllujiratcd.
I |
T |
I M. |
||
Chap. |
Ver. |
Vol. |
Pag. |
|
i |
15 |
Ill |
328 |
|
ii |
6 |
I |
144 |
|
iii |
16 |
I |
306 |
|
Ivi |
3 |
J II |
227 |
|
2 |
t T |
I M. |
||
i |
12 |
Ill |
4+0 |
|
ii |
6 |
III |
309 |
|
iii |
»S |
T |
II 1 T. |
448 |
i |
»5 |
I |
364 |
|
ii |
n, |
12 |
I |
232 |
ii |
'3' |
H |
I |
176 |
iii |
3 |
in |
269 |
|
iii |
3> |
4'S. |
.6,7111 |
357 |
liii |
8 |
I |
254 |
|
iii |
8 |
H |
1 E B. |
236 |
i |
3 |
Ill |
58 |
|
iii |
2 |
I |
III |
|
iii |
14 |
III |
242 |
|
iii |
'9 |
III |
366 |
|
iv |
;Jo |
I |
379 |
|
viii |
5 |
I |
124 |
|
viii |
10, |
II, I |
2 I |
182 |
viii |
10 |
II |
65 |
|
ix |
16 |
III |
235 |
|
ix |
16, |
»7 |
III |
282 |
ix |
22 |
1 |
113 |
|
X |
5, |
7 |
II |
61 |
X |
20 |
I |
123 |
|
X |
26 |
I |
16? |
|
xi |
I |
III |
33<^ |
|
xi |
6 |
I |
365 |
|
xi |
17 |
III |
209, ^V. |
|
xii |
2 |
II |
82 |
|
xii |
2 |
III |
338 |
|
xiii |
8 |
I |
349 |
|
xiii |
12 |
I |
103, 185 |
|
xiii |
20 |
I |
10; |
JAM.
TEXTS llluftrated.
Chap,
\
ii iii iii iii
V
1 i
ii ii ii iii iii
1
ii iii
1 i i ii ii iii iii iii
V V
J A |
M. |
|
Ver. |
Vol. |
P-^. |
17 |
II |
^04' |
21, 4 |
I |
|
2 |
I |
401 |
9 |
ir |
153 |
»3 |
I |
3 |
»7 |
II |
296 |
I P E T. |
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J O H N',
TEXTS llliiftratel
Chap.
u iii iv
vii vii viii xii xiv xiv
XV
xviii
XX
xxii xxii
3 |
JOHN. |
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Ver. |
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FINIS.
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