Ther. But if any foolish and refractory patients have abused our beneficence, it is a standing unalterable rule of the house, never to admit them second time, however pressing their exigencies, or however powerful their recommender. I have not once only, but through the whole course of my life, abused the marvellous loving-kindness of the Lord.

Asp. And is not the Lord superior to all his creatures, in acts of pardon as well as of power? Yes, as those heavens are higher than this prostrate earth, so much more enlarged and extensive is the divine clemency-than the widest sphere of human kindness, shall I say? rather than the boldest flights of human imagination. Your statues are inexorable, in case of one notorious irregularity committed: "But the free gift of a Redeemer's righteousness is vouchsafed, notwithstanding many offences, unto justification," Rom. v. 16. It is the glory of our almighty Ruler, and redounds to the honour of his crucified Son, to pass over (Prov. xix. 11), not a single transgression only, but a multitude of provocations; to be altogether as unequalled in mercy, as he is absolutely supreme in majesty.

As it is the grossest pride to entertain high notions of our own accomplish ments, or to expect eternal life on the score of our own obedience; so it will be the greatest affront to the grandeur of Christ's merits, and the freeness of his grace, if we suppose our crimes too heinous to be forgiven, or our persons too vile to be accepted.

[Theron paused.-These considerations seemed to operate; this anodyne to take effect. Desirous to improve the favourable juncture, and impart the needed consolation, Aspasio added :-]

How often did the inhabitants of Jerusalem disregard the warnings, and reject the counsels of our blessed Lord! How justly might he have sworn in his wrath," They shall never hear the joyful sound of my gospel more The blessings which they have so wantonly despised, and so wickedly abused shall be irrevocably withdrawn." Instead of passing such a sentence, this is the charge which, after his resurrection, he gives to his apostles: "Let repentance and remission of sins be preached in my name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem," Luke xxiv. 47. "At Jerusalem, Lord! Have not the men of that ungrateful and barbarous city been deaf to thy tenderest: importunities? Did they not persecute thee unto condemnation and death? Are not their weapons still reeking, as it were, with thy blood; and their tongues still shooting out arrows, even bitter words, by which they would murder thy character, as they have already crucified thy person?" Yet theselti wretches (and could any be more inhuman? could any be more unworthy?) are. not only not abhorred, but unto them is the message of grace and the word ofs salvation sent. Nay, to shew the unparalleled freeness of our Redeemer's grace, these are first upon the heavenly list. The glad tidings of pardon and life, which are to be published through the world, must begin, (amazing mercy!) must begin at Jerusalem.

Ther. Thus much I may venture to profess in my own behalf,—that I long for this blessing; I pray for this blessing; but I cannot see my title to this comprehensive and inestimable blessing clear.

Asp. I behold it perfectly clear. Some days ago a worthy clergyman, who lately came to settle in the neighbourhood, did himself the honour of making one at your table. After dinner you showed him your library; we took a walk in your garden, and made the agreeable tour of the fish-ponds: then,

with that amiable frankness of mien and accent, which is so 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 collection was his own; that if, on a visit from some acquaintance of superior rank, he should wish to be accommodated with a more delicate entertainment than usual, the productions of your waters, and of your hot-beds, were entirely at his service; and that his acceptance of your offers, without the least shyness or reserve, would be the most pleasing compliment he could pay you on the occasion." What says the great Proprietor of all good? "If any man," however unworthy his person, or obnoxious his character, "thirst,"-thirst for the blessings of my evangelical kingdom,-" let him come unto me," the fountain of these living waters, "and drink his fill," John .vii. 37. You yourself acknowledge that you long for the sacred privileges of the gospel. Your beart is awakened into habitual and lively desires, after the salvation of Christ. What is this but, in the spiritual sense, to thirst? To you, therefore, the promise is made, to you the riches of this benign dispensation belong.

That clergyman has not the least suspicion of being disappointed, in case he should send for a brace of carp from your canal, or a fine melon from your garden. Why is he so confident? Because he has done you any signal service? No; but because you have passed your word, and made the generous offer. And why should you harbour the least doubt concerning the divine veracity? Why should you call in question your right to these heavenly treasures: since it is founded on a grant altogether as free, altogether as clear, as your own indulgent concession, and infinitely more firm than any human engagement? founded on the fidelity of that sublime Being, who ** remembers his covenant and promise to a thousand generations."

Ther. It is impossible to confute, yet difficult to believe, what you urge. Asp. What I urge is not the voice of a few dubious passages, nicely culled from the book of God, or forcibly wrested by the interpretation of man. The whole tenor of inspiration runs, with the greatest perspicuity and the greatest uniformity, in this delightful strain. Let me, out of a multitude, produce another express from the court of heaven. "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, even he that hath no money. Come ye, buy and eat; yea come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price," Isa. lv. 1. Wine and milk undoubtedly signify the pardon of our sins, and the justification of our persons; the communications of sanctifying grace, and the hope of eternal glory. These are nourishing and refreshing to the soul, as milk, the richest of foods, and as wine, the best of cordials, are to the body. These you see are to be obtained "without money, and without price," without any merit of our own, without any plea deduced from ourselves-by poor, undone, perishing bankrupts. They are to be enjoyed by every one who unfeignedly esteems them, and humbly seeks them. No exception is made; no exclusive clause added. It is not said, any one that is worthy, but "every one that thirsteth." To leave no room for any misgiving apprehensions, the kind invitation is repeated: "Buy and eat; buy wine and milk." The invaluable yet free tender is confirmed again and again: "He that hath no money-without money-without price." And both are pressed upon us with a very remarkable, with the most affectionate vehemence: "Come ye; come ye; yea come."

Had our heavenly benefactor permitted us to draw up this instrument of conveyance, and word it according to our own wish, what language could we have contrived, to render either the grant more free, or our claim more secure?

Ther. These are cheering truths. They amount to little less than a demonstration. And I am ready to declare, in the language of Agrippa, Almost thou persuadest me to commence a believer.

Asp. And why, my dear friend, why not altogether? Can you distrust the sincerity of the divine overtures? If the overtures are real, your title is unquestionable. Nay, there is more than an overture: you have an actual gift from the almighty Majesty. "To us," says the prophet, including all that wait for the redemption of Christ, and the consolation of Israel, "a child is born," Isa. ix. & "To us," he repeats the precious truth, to declares his exuberant joy, and denote the absolute certainty of the thing (see Gen.. xli. 32), “a son is given;" even God's own Son, the ever-blessed Jesus, to be our propitiation, our surety, our complete redeemer.

Just cast a look upon yonder neat lodge. Though placed in the centre of a spacious field, it seems to be contiguous with the extremity of the vista. The eye, travelling over such a length of ground, has almost lost the windows, and the decent ornaments of the front. But I shall not soon lose the idea of that amiable munificence, which, as I was rambling one pleasant morning, and accidently called at the house, I learned from its present owner. He was, I find, one of your servants; had spent several years in your family: when he settled in the world, you bestowed upon him that commodious box, and a pretty adjacent farm; to possess, without molestation or control, during his life. Does he not reckon the little estate, by virtue of your donation, to be his own? as much his own for the time prescribed, as if he had paid an equivalent in money? Since the Lord Jehovah has given us his Son, and all his unutterable merits; why should we not, with an assurance of faith, receive the incomparable gift? Why should we not confide in it, as firmer than the firmest deed; and far more inviolable than any royal patent? Especially since it has been sealed to us in every sacramental ordinance, and witnessed by every good motion of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

Ther. My servant never affronted my authority. If he had vilified my character, or insulted my person, should I then have been inclined to make the same advantageous settlement?

Asp. 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. "To the Lord our God," says the prophet, "belong mercies and forgivenesses;" in measure superabundant, and in continuance unwearied: and this, "notwithstanding we have" offended him by our manifold failures in duty; nay, have "rebelled against him" (Dan. ix. 9) by flagrant violations of his law.

In sweet concert with this prophetical lesson, sings the transported Psalmist "Thou, Lord," in thy sacred humanity, "hast ascended up on high;" ascended, from the low caverns of the tomb, to the highest throne in the highest heavens. "Thou hast led captivity captive;" hast abolished death, that universal tyrant; and subdued those powers of darkness which had enslaved the whole world. Like a glorious and triumphant conqueror, thou hast received gifts;" not merely for thy own fruition, but to confer on others, by way of honorary and enriching largess. What are those gifts, Theron ?

also

Ther. The gifts of the gospel, I suppose; pardon of sin, the influences of the Holy Spirit, and those other privileges of Christianity, which constitute the present happiness of mankind, and prepare them for future bliss.

Asp. You rightly judge. And for whom were those royal, those heavenly donatives received? If you have an inclination to bestow a sword set with diamonds, a finely wrought piece of plate, or an exquisitely finished picturewhat names present themselves to your thoughts? what persons are the objects of your choice? The approved friend, or distinguished favourite, I make no question. But for whom (let me ask again, since it is a point of the last importance) were those heavenly donatives received?

Ther. Let me recollect :-" Thou receivedst gifts," not for fallen angels, but "for men ;" and not for thy friends, but for thy" enemies;" yea, "for the rebellious also," Psal. lxviii. 18. Merciful heaven! What a word is

this! And does is come from the God of truth? Gifts! divine gifts! gifts of unspeakable value and eternal duration! and these to be conferred on enemies, on the rebellious! wretches who are destitute of all gracious qualifications; who deserve not the least favour; but have reason to expect the frowns of indignation, and the sword of vengeance!

Asp. Thus it is written in those sacred constitutions, which are far more steadfast and unalterable than the laws of the Medes and Persians. Thus it is spoken, by the mouth of that almighty Being, with whom there is no variableness, nor the least shadow of turning. Let us not, my dear friend, by unreasonable unbelief, frustrate all these promises, and reject our own mercies. Let us not, by an evil heart of unbelief, make God a liar; and make ourselves, of all creatures, most miserable.

But see! The clouds, which hung their agreeable sables to damp the ardour, and abate the glare of day, are departing. The sun has been colouring their fleecy skirts, and spreading over the floating screen a variety of interchangeable hues. Now he begins to edge them with gold, and shine them into silver; a sure indication, that (like the glittering, but transitory toys, which they represent) they will soon be swept from the horizon, and seen no more. The bright orb, while we are speaking, bursts the veil, and, from a voluminous pomp of parting clouds, pours a flood of splendour over all the face of nature. We shall quickly perceive this open situation too hot to consist with pleasure, and must be obliged to seek for shelter in the shady apartments of the house.

Will you admit me, Theron, into those shady apartments?

Ther. Admit you, Aspasio! I am surprised at you question. I thought you had known me better; and I am sorry it should be needful to assure you, that my house is as much your own as it is mine. The more freely you command it, the more highly you will oblige me.

Asp. May I believe you, Theron? Do you speak from your heart? or must I conclude, that you plausibly profess what you have no intention to perform? Would you be pleased, if I should obstinately persist in these dishonourable suspicions, notwithstanding all your friendly protestations? Ther. My dear Aspasio, I see your design. I see, and am ashamed; ashamed to think that I should fancy myself more punctual in my professions than God is true to his word. Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief!"

DIALOGUE XVI.

OUR friends had agreed upon a visit to Philenor. They rode through a fine open fruitful country; which was covered with crops of ripened corn, and occupied by several parties of rustics gathering in the copious harvest.

The rye, white and hoary as it were with age, waved its bearded billows, and gave a dry husky rustle before the breeze. The wheat, laden with plenty, and beautifully brown, hung the heavy head, and invited, by its bending posture, the reaper's hand. Plats of barley, and acres of oats, stood whitening in the sun. Upright, and perfectly even, as though the gardener's shears had clipped them at the top, they gratified the spectator's eye, and gladdened the farmer's heart. Beans, partly clad in native green, partly transformed and tawny with the parching ray, were preparing the last employ for the crooked weapon. Some of the grain lay flat, in regular rows, on the new made stubble. Some was erected in graceful shocks along the bristly ridges. Some, conveyed homewards on the loaded waggon, nodded over the groaning axle.

The villages seemed to be empty, and all their inhabitants poured into the plains. Here were persons of each sex, and of every age. The lusty youths, stooping to their work, plied the sickle, or swept with their scythes the falling ranks. The sprightly females followed, binding the handfuls into sheaves, or piling the swaths into hasty cocks. Dispersed up and down were the children of the needy, gleaning the scattered ears, and picking their scanty harvest. Nor were the old people absent; but crawling into the sun, or sitting on a shady eminence, they beheld the toils, the pleasing toils, they once sustained.

This is the most joyful period of the countryman's life; the long expected crown of all his labours. For this he broke the stubborn glebe, and manured the impoverished soil: for this he bore the sultry beams of summer, and shrunk not from the pinching blasts of winter: for this he toiled away the year, in a round of ceaseless but willing activity; knowing that* “ the husbandman must labour, before he partakes of the fruits," 2 Tim. ii. 6. And will not the blessed hope of everlasting life, will not the bright expectation of consummate bliss, animate us with an equally cheerful resolution, both to resist the temptations, and discharge the duties of our present state. Short seemed the way, and quick passed the time, as they travelled through such scenes of rural abundance and rural delight. Before they were aware, the horses stopt at Philenor's seat; where they found, to their no small disappointment, that the master was gone abroad. They alighted, however, and took a walk in the gardens.

The gardens, at proper intervals, and in well-chosen situations, were interspersed with pieces of statuary. At the turn of a corner, you are-not shocked with a naked gladiator, or a beastly Priapus,-but agreeably surprised with the image of Tully. He is just risen from his seat, and upon the point of addressing himself to some important oration. A reverential awe appears Beza thinks, that in settling the construction of this verse, the adverb gr should be connected with the participle xiriwyta,