the more expreffive Original speaks, He is bafe and vile in his own Sight. So far from aspiring to Self-juftification, that He even condemns and abhors Himfelf; and falls down, as a mof unworthy Wretch, at the Foot of infinitely free Grace.

Ther. I cannot but think,it is the current Doctrine of Scripture, and I am fure, it is one of the first rinciples which the Light of Nature teach s -That the most high GOD mu neffarily love Righteousness, and take Pleasure in the Righte

ous.

Afp. If the Light of Nature was to publish a Gofpel, I believe, it would be formed upon your Plan. Plan. It would beftow Favour only on the Innocent, the Virtuous, and the Holy.-But the Gospel of CHRIST runs in a very different Strain. This brings Pardon for the Condemned, and Bleffings for the Accurfed. This is Health to the Sick, and Recovery to the Ruined. The LORD hath anointed me, faith its divine Author, to preach good Tidings to the Meek, who are humbled under a Sense of their Sinfulness. He hath fent me to bind up the brokenhearted, who are wounded with a Conviction of their undone State-to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, the wretched Captives of Satan; and the Opening of the Prison to them that are

bound,

bound, bound in the Chains of Ignorance, Impotence, and Misery *.

As I am myself a moft unworthy Sinner, You must not be displeased, if I espouse the Cause of those unhappy Creatures. Yet, though a Friend of Sinners, I am no Enemy to the Righteous. I intirely agree with my Theron in allowing, that the most High GOD neceffarily loves Righteoufnefs. Only I want to be informed, Where this admirable and lovely Quality is to be found?-Not among the Gentiles. They have fwerved from the Dictates of natural Conscience. Not among the Jews. They have broke the holy Commandment delivered on Mount Sinai.—Not among Chriftians. For, if GOD fhould enter into Judgment with Us, We could not anfwer Him one of a Thousand.In the Kingdom of Ethiopia, or in the Country of the Moors, where will You find the native Whites?

The SON of GOD found None among the Race of Adam, that were intitled to the Character of Righteous. He who gave Himself a Ranfom for All, makes no Application to fuch Perfons +Why? Because he fullenly dif leemed perfonal Goodness? Or was unable to diftinguish the Excellency of inherent Virtue ? No but becaufe he knew, that, amiable as thefe

* Ifaiah lxi. 1.

+x: 13. I came not to call the Righteous, but Sin

thefe Qualifications are, they have no Existence in the human Heart; till the Sinner, reconciled by his Death, be fanctified alfo by his SPIRIT.

You remember, perhaps, that remarkable Anfwer, which the Spartans once returned to a threatening Embaffy, from fome of the neighbouring States. Nothing could be more concife; and, I think, nothing was ever more fpirited and fignificant.

Ther. Thofe Neighbours gave them to understand by their Ambaffadors; "That, if

they entered their Territories, they would burn their Towns; make the Inhabitants Prifoners; and fpread Destruction, where"ever they advanced."-To which infolent Menace, the brave Lacedæmonians made no other Reply, than—IF.

Is this the Story, to which You refer ?

Afp. The very fame.-And when you are speaking of human Righteousness, as the Cause of our Acceptance with the eternal GOD, I would borrow the Language of a Spartan. IF, shall be my Reply.—If, feclufive of the Obedience, and independent on the SPIRIT of CHRIST, You can furnifh Yourself with this Endowment: Or, if You can carry your Righteoufnefs to that Perfection, which may equal the Purity of the Law, and comport with the Majefty of the Lawgiver: then trust

in

in it; let it be the Ground of your Confidence; and feek no better Foundation.

But whoever fhall, in this Manner, seek for his Recommendation to the Favour of GOD; will act like the mistaken Countryman in Horace: Who, being unable to ford the River, took up a Refolution to wait on the Banks, till the Stream was all run by:

At ille

Labitur, et labetur in omne volubilis Ævum *.

Ther. Here, I fansy, We must take Leave of your Countryman. If He adheres to his Refolution, We fhall find Him in the very fame Situation, when Breakfast is over; and may resume our Subject, just where it is discontinued.

Vain Man, defift: Such flatt'ring Hopes forego:
It flows, and flows, and will for ever flow.

DIA

DIALOGUE VII.

T

THERON.

O me, who have spent the greatest Part of the Winter in Town, these Scenes of the Country are inexpreffibly pleafing. Take, who will, the gilded Saloon, and the filken Settee; fo long as I can fhelter myself under the Canopy of fuch a spreading Beech, and ufe one of its coarse, mif-fhapen Roots for my Seat.

'Tis true, We fee no longer those splendid Brocades, and elegant Toupees, which distinguish the Park and the Mall.-But we have, full in our View, a Multitude of honest Rustics; pursuing their chearful Labours in yonder Meadow. Some, mowing the luxuriant Herbage. Some, raising it into regular Cocks. Others, loading their Waggons with the Hay, or clearing the Ground with their Rakes. The Ground,