which, exclufive of such a Discovery, had been for ever hid from the moft fagacious Minds. 'Tis ftrange to the unlearned Obferver, that this ponderous Globe of Earth and Seas, fhould wheel its rapid Circuit round the Sun. But the Telescope has rendered this Fact clear to a Demonftration.-'Tis ftrange likewife to our natural Apprehenfions, that We should die in Adam, and be undone by our firft Parent's Difobedience. Nor lefs fo, that We fhould be made alive in CHRIST, and derive our Recovery from his imputed Rightcoufnefs. But Revelation makes this Doctrine as certain, as it is comfortable.

Ther. Does Revelation make it certain ?This is a Point not yet eftablished, but taken for granted. I rather apprehend, that Revelation, in no Place maintains it, in many Places difavows it. Since your Abfence, Afpafio, I have spent some Time in searching the Scriptures, with a particular View to this Tenet. And I can find no fuch Expreflion in the whole Bible, as the Imputation of CHRIST's Righteousness. If it was fo leading an Article, as You reprefent; furely, it could not have been intirely forgotten by the inspired Writers, nor utterly excluded from their Body of Divinity.

Afp. The very identical Expreffion may not occur, and yet the Doctrine be abundantly taught.

VOL. I.

U

taught. I believe, You never met with the Word Refurrection, in any Part of the Pentateuch; nor ever read the Phrase Satisfaction, in all the New Teftament. Yet our LORD fully proved the Truth of the former, from the Writings of Mofes; and You Yourself have acknowledged the latter, to be the unanimous Senfe of the Apostles and Evangelists.

In the Epistle to the Romans, We have exprefs and repeated Mention of a Righteoufnefs imputed. What or whofe Righteousness, can be the Subject of this Affertion ?—Not the Righteousness of Angels. They are a superior Class of Beings, and have no fuch intimate Connection with our Nature.-Not the Righteousness of eminent Saints. This is the exploded Error of Popery; and furnishes the Romish Zealots with that Chimera of Arrogance and Folly, Works of Supererogation.

-Not any Righteousness of our own: for, it is pofitively declared, to be without Works*; in which no Works of our own have any Concurrence, or the leaft Share. What other Righteoufnefs then can be meant, but the Righteousness of our great SUBSTITUTE, SURETY, and SAVIOUR? Who took our Nature; discharged our Debt; and is therefore ftiled, JEHOVAH our Righteousness +. Ther.

Ther. This feems contrary to the whole Tenour of the facred Instructions. What says the Prophet? When the wicked Man turneth away from his Wickedness that He hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, He fhall fave his Soul alive*. Here, that greatest of

Bleffings, the Salvation of the Soul, is afcribed to a Departure from Evil, and a Perfeverance in Good: to a real Alteration in a Man's own Temper and Conduct, not to any fansiful Application of fome tranfmiffive Righteousness from Another.

Afp. Let me ask my Theron; Is there no Wickedness, but Riot and Debauchery, Profaneness and Injustice?-Unbelief, though it may pass without Cenfure or Notice in a System of Morality, is, in the Volume of Revelation, declared a capital Crime. Our LORD, speaking of the HOLY SPIRIT, mentions it as a fignal Part of his Office, That He shall convince the World of Sin.-Of what Sin? Scandalous Violations of moral Rectitude? This were a needless Employ. The Light of Reafon is fufficient to evince fuch a Charge; and the Court of Confcience is erected, to pass the deferved Sentence.-Of Sin, adds the HEAVENLY TEACHER, because they believe not on me on my Death, as the Cause of their Forgiveness; on my Righteoufnefs, as the Ground

Ground of their Acceptance; on my SPIRIT, as the powerful Principle of their Holiness.

Unbelief treats GOD as a Liar *; because, it rejects the Teftimony, which He has bore concerning his beloved SON.-Unbelief tramples on the Blood of CHRIST, and is a moft contemptuous Affront to all his faving Offices.-Unbelief would counteract the Operations of the HOLY GHOST; whofe peculiar Work it is, to teftify of CHRIST, and make manifeft his Righteousness.-Unbelief inftigates (could We have thought it poffible?) a Child of Duft, a Slave of Sin, to idolize Himself and his own Performances.—To fay all in a Word; Unbelief is that great, that comprehenfive Iniquity, which fcornfully rejects, or impioufly renounces, the most glorious Method of Salvation, which Omniscience itself could devife.

The wicked Man, therefore, never turns from his Wickednefs; till He turns, by a true Faith, to JESUS CHRIST. Till then, He is a Rebel against the Gospel, however He may pay fome fpecious and partial Regard to the Law. So flagrant a Rebel, that he stands particularly excepted, in the Act of Evangelical Indemnity. For, as He that believeth on the SON, bath everlasting Life; fo, He that

I John v. 10.

believeth

believeth not, is condemned already, and the Wrath of GOD abideth on him*.

Ther. What are the Pfalmifl's Sentiments on this Subject? Does not He reprefent the Matter in a very different Light? Thou, LORD, art merciful; for Thou rewardest every Man according to his, not Another's Works†.

Afp. Noble Saying! May it be written upon our very Hearts!-GOD is merciful, and therefore rewardeth. From whence it appears, that what We call a Reward, is really an Act of Mercy, rather than of Juftice. The Wages of Sin is Death; but the Gift (fays the Apoftle, altering his Style, and making a most important Distinction) the Gift of GOD is eternal Life -The infpired Penman fub-, joins, not for, but according to, every Man's Works. His Works are the Measure, not the meritorious Caufe. To merit, is the fole Prerogative of the SAVIOUR. To Him it is owing, that our imperfect Services are honoured

*John iii. 18, 36. The Words are exceedingly emphatical, and no lefs awful.-Not barely He shall come into Condemnation, but He (that believeth not) is condemned already. Though ever fo civilized or refined in his outward Converfation, He lies under a Sentence of Death, and is the Object of divine Wrath.-Which not only will visit Him, but abideth on Him. So that, where-ever He may be, whatever He may do, the Difpleasure of the tremendous JEHOVAH hangs over Him, like a dreadful deftructive Sword; and, if He dies in fuch a Condition, will inevitably fall upon him, and cut him in Pieces eternally.