Ther. Pardon me for interrupting You, Afpafio. I have no Objection to the general Drift of your Difcourfe. But that particular Notion of imputed Righteousness, has always appeared to me in a very ridiculous Light. And I must say, that such a Puritanical Noftrum makes a very unbecoming Figure, amongst your other manly and correct Sentiments of Religion.

Alp. You know, Theron, I have long ago difavowed that ignoble Prejudice, which rejects Doctrines, or defpifes Perfons, because they happen to be branded with contemptible Names. 'Tis true, the Writers ftyled Puritans, are remarkable for their Attachment to this Peculiarity of the Gospel. It runs through all their Theological Works; and very eminently diftinguishes them, from the Generality of our modern Treatifes.-But, muft it therefore be wrong, becaufe maintained by that particular Set of People? Or, are they the only Advocates for this important Truth?

Ther. Aye: it is as I fufpected. I have lately conjectured, from feveral Hints in my Afpafio's Difcourse, that He has been warping to the low ungentleman-like Peculiarities of those whimsical Fanatics.

Afp. I cannot conceive, why You should call them whimsical.-To fettle Faith on its proper Bafis, the meritorious Righteoufnefs of the REDEEMER; and to deduce Obedience from its true Origin, the Love of GOD fhed abroad in the Heart. To fearch the Confcience, and convince the Judgment-To awaken the lethargic, and comfort the afflicted Soul To do all this, from a thorough Knowledge, joined to a masterly Application,

Application, of the divine Word-Thefe, fure, are not whimfical Talents, but real Excellencies. Yet these, if We may credit Hiftory, entered into the Preaching; thefe, if We will examine impartially, are to be found in the Writings of the Puritans. And a Pearl, you will please to remember, is a Pearl ftill, though it should hang in the Ethiopian's Ear.

Ther. Ethiopian indeed! You have truly characterized, that demure and gloomy Generation. I hope, You don't intend to introduce their affected Solemnity and forbidding Reserve, into your own eafy and engaging Converfation. Though, for aught I can judge, this would be no more ungraceful, than to patch fuch aukward and antiquated Notions, on the refined Scheme of Christianity.

Afp. My dear Friend, You are too ludicrous; and I begin to catch the Infection. Away with your Wit, I befeech You. Or, if You must have it in your Retinue, let it be your Page, not your PrivyCounsellour. Let it wait at the Door, not prefide at our Councils. We had better return to our first Topic. Let us contemplate the Wonders of Creation; and as We admire the Works, learn to adore the MAKER.

Ther, None of your Evafions, good Afpafio. You must not think to put me off at this Rate. I have wanted an Opportunity to rally you upon this Head; and to argue or laugh You, out of these religious Oddities.

At

Afp. If You will not agree to Terms of Peace; I hope, you will allow fome Ceffation of Arms. leaft, till I can mufter my Forces, and prepare for the Vindication of my Principles.

Ther.

Ther. No: upon the Spot, and out of Hand, You are required to answer for yourself, and thefe fame queer Opinions.-I fhall ferve You, as the Roman Conful ferved the procrastinating Monarch +. When, demurring about his Reply to the Demands of the Senate, He faid, "He would confider of the "Matter:" the refolute Ambaffador drew a Circle round him with his Cane, and infifted upon a politive Answer, before he stepped over thofe Limits.

Afp. This, however, You must give me Leave to obferve, That the Affair is of a very ferious Nature. Upon Condition, that you will difmifs your Flourishes of Humour, and Strokes of Satyr; I will acquaint You with the Reafons, which have made. me a Convert to this Doctrine.-Once, I held it in the utmost Contempt; and pitied the Simplicity of (as I then ftyled them) its deluded Admirers. But, I am now become fuch a Fool, that I may be truly wife, and substantially happy. I have seen my ruined State; and I bless GOD for this fovereign Restorative. It is the Source of my strongest Confolations, and the very Foundation of my eternal Hopes.

Ther. Excufe me, Afpafio; if the Vivacity of my Temper, and the feemingly uncouth Tenet, kindled me into a more humorous Gaiety, than became the Occafion. You speak of the Point, with fo much Seriousness, and in fuch weighty Terms, as check my Levity, and command my Respect. Be pleafed to execute, what You have promifed; and the most engaged Attention of my Mind, fhall atone for the petulant Sallies of my Tongue.

Afp. To'conceive a Diflike of any Doctrine, only because Persons of a particular Denomination, have been active and zealous to promote its Reception; this is hardly confiftent with an impartial Enquiry after Truth.

Ther. I grant it, Afpafio. And I should be ashamed of my Oppofition, if it was founded on so flight a Bottom. But, abstracted from all Party Confiderations, I can fee nothing in this fuppofed Article of our Faith, which may recommend it to the unprejudiced Enquirer.-What can be more aukward than the Term, or more irrational than the Sentiment?

Afp. The Word imputed, when used in this Connection, may poffibly convey a difagreeable Sound to the Ears of fome People. Because, they look upon it, as the peculiar Phrafeology of a few superfitious Sectarists; and reject it, merely on the Foot of that unreafonable Surmife.-But, how can You be difgufted at the Expreffion, Theron; who have fo often read it, in the most approved and judicious Writers? St. Paul, who might affirm with relation to his Epiftles, much more truly than the Painter concerning his Pourtraits, I write for Eternity *; fcruples not to use this aukward Language, feveral Times in the fame Chapter +. Milton, the Correctnefs

* Alluding to the Painter, who, apologizing for the flow Procedure and scrupulously nice Touches of his Pencil, faid; Eternitati pingo, I paint for Eternity. And thofe Strokes had need be correct, which are intended, not barely to folicit, but to command the Admiration, of all fucceeding Ages.

+ See Rom. iv. In which fingle Chapter, fome Branch of the Word ofCedar, to be imputed, occurs no less than ten or eleven Times.

reness of whose Taste, and the Propriety of whose Style, no Perfon of Genius will ever question; delights to copy, in various Parts of his incomparable Poem, the Apostle's Diction.-Authorized by fuch Precedents, it is fuperior to Cavil, and warranted beyond all Exception.

As to the Sentiment, I take it to be the very fundamental Article of the Gospel: and I believe, whoever is acquainted with ecclefiaftical Affairs, will allow, that it was the moft mortal Arrow in the Heart of Popery, and the principal Pillar in the Eftablishment of the Reformation.-What fays our LORD, with regard to the Love of GOD, and the Love of our Neighbour? Qn these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Much the fame would I venture to fay, concerning the Imputation of our Sins to CHRIST, and the Imputation of CHRIST's Righteousness to Us: On thefe two Doctrines, hang all the Privileges and the whole Glory of the Gospel.

Ther. In our laft Converfation, I muft own, I faw a strong Refemblance between the Works and the Word of GOD. But I never obferved any Thing in Nature, that bore the least Analogy to imputed Sin, or imputed Righteousness.-To me your two Doctrines feem ftrange, unaccountable, and irrational.

Afp. That our Sins fhould be charged upon the only begotten SON of GOD, and that his Righteousness should be imputed to finful Worms, is ftrange, exceeding ftrange. The Pfalmift calls it, marvelous Loving-Kindness *. The Apostle styles it, Love that paffeth Knowledge +. And it has fomeE 2 times,

* Pfal. xvii. 7.

+ Eph. iii. 19.