times, I must freely confefs, been almost ready to ftagger my Belief. However, I have found myself relieved in this Perplexity, not only by the Teftimonies of Scripture, but even from the Contemplation of Nature. Is not all Nature full of strange, unaccountable, and myfterious Effects?

Ther. That Nature is full of ftrange Effects, is undeniable. Strange are the Experiments of Electricity, and the occult Qualities of the Load-ftone! Strange and furprifing are thofe countlefs Legions of Effluvia, which transpire from a fmall odoriferous Body! More furprifing ftill, are the infinite Myriads of luminous Particles, which iffue from a smaller flaming Subftance *.-There's not a Tree, or a Twig, or a Leaf, but furpaffes the Comprehenfion of all Mankind. Even the minutest Atom, is big with Wonders.

Take a nearer Inftance. This Cow, which comes grazing up to our very Feet. What is her Food? Grafs; nothing but Grafs, the wild Production of the Earth. Give the fame Materials to the Confectioner, the Cook, or the moft skilful Artift in the World. They, with all their Application and Industry, will never be able to work them up into a palatable Difh, or any ferviceable Subftance. Whereas this poor Animal, without fo much as thinking on her Bufinefs, refines and

concocts

* Dr. Nieuwentyt has computed, That, from a lighted Candle, about the Size of fix to the Pound, there iflues, in the Second of a Minute, an Effufion of Particles, vaftly more than ten hundred thousand million Times the Number of Sands, which the whole Globe of the Earth contains. To call this a very great Multitude, would be faying little. It nonpluffes our Thoughts, and exceeds the utmott Strétek of Imagination!"

concocts them, in the most perfect Manner. The Juices of fo contemptible an Herb, compounded and fecreted in her Body, harden into Bone, and soften into Flesh grow tough, as a Cord, in the Sinews; and become tender, as a Jelly, in the Fat. They oozę through the Udder, and form a delicious Stream of Milk; they flow along the Veins, in reeking Tides of Blood. Here, they take a crimfon Stain; there, they equal the Lily in Whiteness; on the Skin and in the Hair, they transform themselves into every Variety of Colours.

Afp. Pray, can you account for all these extraordinary Tranfmutations? Or, not to talk your Philofophy too heavily, can you tell Us, how one -only one of them is wrought? How the coarse and bitter Herbage, chewed and concocted by this dumb Creature, is converted into fo rich a Dainty as Cream?

Ther. As well may our Sight penetrate the Center of the Globe, as Philosophy explain this, and many other fuch Secrets. The Operations of Nature, are nice and delicate, beyond all Parallel, and beyond all Conception. Infomuch, that the intelligent Obferver, can no where caft his Eye, or fix his Thoughts, without being aftonifhed, tranfported, and even loft in Admiration.

Afp. Are not then the Operations of Nature, fo many Vouchers for the mysterious Truths of Chriftianity? Since the Procedure of Providence in this vifible System, is a continued Series of ftupendous and unfearchable Operations; need We be alarmed, can We reasonably be offended, if the Scheme of Redemption is equally ftupendous, is far mare amazing? Yet, though amazing, I hope it will

E 3.

not

not appear, what You was pleased to infinuate, irrational.

Suppose, We ftate the Signification of the Terms ; and adjust the Boundaries of our Subject, before We enter upon a Survey of its Contents?

Ther. Such a Caution would have prevented, at least have shortened, many a vehement and tedious Controverfy.-You fee, on yonder Heath, the Preparations for an approaching Race. There ftand the Pofts, which are to mark out the Limits of the Course. Without this previous reftrictive Care, how irregular would be the Excurfions of the contending Steeds! How difficult, rather how impoffible, to declare the Conqueror, and award the Prize !A clear Definition of Terms, feems equally neceffary for candid Difputants. Without it, they may wrangle for Ages, yet never come to a Deter

mination.

Afp. We were lately confidering the tranfcendent Excellency of the Scriptures. Here We have a most striking and capital Exemplification of the Subject. The Light of Nature might teach Us fomewhat, relating to the Juftification of Man in a State of Innocence. But it knows nothing of the Method, whereby fallen and guilty Man, may be juftified in the Sight of GOD. This is a Secret, hid from all the Refearches of Reafon, and from all the Sages of Antiquity. To the Prophets and Apostles alone, We owe the Discovery of this Mine -this rich and inexhauftible Mine, of holy Confolation and heavenly Treasure.

Ther. I wait for a Specimen of your Treasure, or a Definition of your favourite Point.

Hyp.

Afp. Juftification is an Act of GOD Almighty's Grace; whereby He acquits Sinners from their Guilt, and accounts them righteous; for the Sake of CHRIST's Righteoufnefs, wrought out for them, and imputed to them.

Ther. Two of your Terms want fome farther Explanation. What do You understand by CHRIST's Righteousness, and what is the Meaning of imputed?

Afp. By CHRIST's Righteousness I underftand, the Whole of his active and passive Obedience; fpringing from the perfect Holiness of his Heart; continued through every Stage of his Life; and extending to the very last Pang of his Death.By the Word imputed I would fignify, That this Righteousness, though performed by our LORD, is placed to our Account; is reckoned or adjudged "by GOD as our own. Infomuch, that We may plead it, and rely on it, for the Pardon of our Sins; for the Communication of Grace; and for the Enjoyment of Life eternal.-Shall I illuftrate my Meaning by a well attested Fact?

Ther. Nothing gives Us fo eafy a Conception of any difficult Point, as this Method of explaining, by parallel Facts, or proper Similitudes.

Afp. I don't fay the Cafe is parallel. I only produce it, to aid our Conceptions.-Onefimus, You know, was Philemon's Slave +. He had perfidiously deferted his Master's Service, and still more perfidiously stole his Goods. The Fugitive, in his guilty Rambles,

E 4

* Should any Reader object to the Definition; appre hending, that Juftification implies no more, than the Pardon of Sins; I would defire Him to fufpend his Judgment, till He has perufed Dialogue X. where this Poins is more circumftantially confidered.

See the Epistle to Philemon.

Rambles, providentially meets with St. Paul. He is charmed and captivated with that gracious Gofpel, which proclaims Mercy even for the vileft of Sinners. He becomes a fincere Convert to the Religion of JESUS, and is received into the fpiritual Patronage of the Apoftle. Who, being informed of his difhoneft Conduct, and obnoxious State, undertakes to bring about a Reconciliation, with his offended Mafter: difpatches Him, for this Purpofe, with a Letter to Philemon: and, amongst other Perfuafives, writes thus in the poor Criminal's Behalf; If He hath wronged Thee, or oweth Thee aught, put that on mine Account. I Paul have written it with mine own Hand; I will repay it.

--

That, which the zealous Preacher of Chriftianity offered, the adored AUTHOR of Christianity executed. We had revolted from the LORD of all Lords, and broke his holy Commandments. The SON of GOD, infinitely compaffionate, vouchfafes to become our Mediator. That nothing might be wanting, to render his Mediation fuccefsful, He places Himself in our Stead. The Punishment, which We deferved, He endures. The Obedience, which We owed, He fulfils.-Both which, being imputed to Us, and accepted for Us, are the Foundation of our Pardon, are the procuring Caufe of our Juftification.

Ther. Is this the exact Signification of the original Word, which We tranflate imputed?

Afp. In the Book of Numbers, We meet with this Phrafe, and in fuch a Connection, as clears up its Meaning.-JEHOVAH enacts a Decree concerning the Levites; who had no Vintages to gather, nor any Harvefts to reap; only the Tythes

of