paint holiness, and diffuse gladness. May all these, ere long, arise in my Theron's breast; and each be bright as that resplendent bow, lasting as the sun that creates it! In the mean time it is the ardent wish of my soul, and shall be my frequent prayer to God, That both our hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love, unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding," in this great mystery of godliness. What vigour of expression, what exuberance of ideas, and, above all, what distinguished privileges are here! Assurance-full assurance-riches of the full assurance-all riches of the full assurauce of understanding, in reference to our union with Christ, and its unutterably precious effects! Can the orator express more? Can the sinner desire more? Can the saint, I had almost said, can the archangel enjoy more? May this be the portion of my dear Theron, and of His ever faithful ASPASIO. DIALOGUE XV. Aspasio revisits Theron-Theron under anxiety of Spirit-Partly to entertain, partly to comfort his Friend, Aspasio enlarges upon the bounty of the Creator, visible both in the animal and vegetable world-The new Convert is slow of heart to believe -Evangelical motives to Faith. ASPASIO had taken leave of his friend Camillus, and was come to revisit Theron, whose thoughts seemed to be in a state of much fluctuation and no small anxiety; hoping, that some proper conversation on the grace and privileges of the everlasting gospel might compose and comfort his mind: might, while his heart was. softened by humbling convictions, fix the stamp of genuine Christianity, and deliver his whole soul into the mould + of evangelical religion. Col. ii. 1. + Deliver into the mould'-this is the literal translation and exact sense of St. Paul's phrase; Eig ov mapeдWÜNTE TUTTON When sorrow wounds the breast, as ploughs the glebe, He arrived pretty late in the evening, and being somewhat weary with the journey, soon withdrew to his repose. The next morning, as Theron walked abroad to taste the cool delights of the dawn, he was agreeably surprised by meeting Aspasio. Ther. So soon awake, my worthy friend! and after so much fatigue on the preceding day! I had not the least expectation of your company till breakfast; then, indeed, I promised myself a double regale-the refreshments exhibited on the table, and those wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ,'+ which, more precious than manna, drop Asp. How, Theron! Have you also learned those soothing arts, which polish the speech to deprave our sentiments? Could I have suspected the enchanting wiles of flattery from my sincere, my tried, my bosom friend? Ther. Your friend is still sincere, and his words are very remote from flattery. How welcome to the wind bound mariner, weary with expectation and sick with disappointments, is the visit of a propitious gale! how welcome to the fields, parched with drought and gasping for moisture, are copious showers of rain! How acceptable to the Israelites, travelling through the inhospitable desert, and pining away for want of the fruits of the earth, was the miraculous supply of heavenly bread! Yet neither propitious gales to the windbound mariner, nor copious showers to the thirsty soil, nor heavenly bread to the fainished Israelites, could be more welcome than your late conversation, and later correspondence, to my anxious soul. Asp. Why I thought you looked upon my notions as chimerical. Is Theron also become credulous, like didaxns. Rom. vi. 17.; which, as it contains a beautiful allusion, conveys also a very instructive admonition; intimating, that our minds, all pliant and ductile, should be conformed to the refined precepts of the gospel, as liquid metals take the figure of some elegant mould into which they are cast. ti Tim, vi, 3. Night Thoughts. one of us weak-headed believers? Has he quitted the strong-holds of reason? Is he vanquished by the sling. stone of faith? Or can he submit to this strange method of salvation, by embracing the righteousness, and relying on the obedience of another? Ther. I find my reason was a feeble guide, or I my. self not faithful to its genuine dictates. I was blinded with prejudice; I was intoxicated with pride; a vain conceit of my moral powers betrayed me, as I fear it has betrayed many, into a contempt of the evangelical righteousness. I held, what I thought an honour to human nature; I now retract my opinion: I now perceive, that as my natural light could not discover the way, neither can my per-onal obedience put me in possession, of life and salvation. My true glory and real happiness I would henceforth derive from the blessed Jesus. No more banter, Aspasio; have done: I am serious, and very much in earnest: so much in earnest, that if all my acquaintance of the pharisaical turn, or if all my brothers of the smile should rally me on the subject, I would frankly acknowledge my error, and as freely sign my recantation. Asp. My dear Theron, I applaud your resolution. You have no more cause to be ashamed of such a practice, than Philip had to be ashamed of the imperfection in his limbs; when, being observed to go lame with a wound received in battle, he had this consolation sug. gested by one of his courtiers: Never blush, my royal Sir, for a defect which puts you in mind of your valour every step you take. To sacrifice our preju dices in the search of truth, is no less honourable, than to be marked with a scar in the defence of our country. I beg pardon for my pleasantry: since you are so very serious, a gay air was quite unseasonable. You cannot often complain, that I am guilty of this fault; nor can you easily imagine the satisfaction I shall enjoy, if either my letters, or my discourse, have administered any advantage to my friend. I shall note it. down among the distinguished blessings of my life, and have an additional obligation to love the beneficent Author of all good. But as I cannot be a furtherer of your happiness without the greatest delight, so I cannot be a witness of your solicitude without a painful regret; you must therefore permit me to ask the cause of that unusual vehemence which I observe in your speech, and of that deep concern which I read in your countenance. Ther. I have been considering very attentively, what is the present state, and what is likely to be the final condition of my soul. My hopes and fears Start up alarm'd; and o'er life's narrow verge A vast eternity! My sins, at the same time, like an armed host, are set in dreadful array, and surround me on every side. Justice, like an injured and incensed foe, unsheaths. the sword, and makes a loud demand for vengeance. No righteousness of my own presents itself, to which I may fly for refuge. The method of salvation in which I formerly confided, is a bridge broken down, and leaves me without any possibility of escape, abandoned to the approaching enemy. To a person in such deplorable circumstances, how reviving, how delightful is the very thought of being interested in the great Redeemer's righteousness! I do not wonder now at a saying of Luther's, which I have sometimes exploded as strangely extravagant: That, upon the discovery of this glorious righteousness the gates of paradise seemed to fly open before him, and the dawn of heaven was all in view." Talking in this manner, they came to an elevated ter race, which, about an hour before, had been shaved by the scythe, and emitted all the freshness of new-mown herbage. On one side a fine champaign country stretched its wide dimensions; on the other, a flower-garden exhibited the last ornaments of the year. Here you might still see the tufted vermilion, and the full-blown ivory, glittering through spangles of liquid chrystal: there you might trace the footsteps of the early cattle, by many a recent print on the dewy lawn. On the walls and espaliers, autumn had spread her stores; and was beginning to beautify their rinds with many a ruddy streak, or to breathe over their glossy skins her delicate and inimitable bloom. Asp. See, said Aspasio, the wisdom and benignity which, in amiable and inseparable conjunction, display themselves through the whole economy of the universe! 'God has made every thing beautiful in his time," every thing serviceable in its place. A little while ago the flowery meads delighted our eyes, and the melodious birds charmed our ears; now the tasteful fruits are preparing their dainties, and presenting us with a collation to regale our palate. The whole earth, and all the seasons, are rich with our Creator's goodness; yea, the whole earth, and all that replenishes it, all that surrounds it, are full of his presence. He it is, who Warms in the sun, refreshes in the breeze, Glows in the stars, and blossoms in the trees; An habitual belief of this truth gives nature her loveliest aspect, and lends her the most consummate power to please. The breath of violets and the blush of roses, the music of the woods and the meanders of the stream, the aspiring hill, the extended plain, and all the decorations of the landscape, then appear in their highest attractives, then touch the soul with the most refined satisfaction, when God is seen, when God is heard, and God enjoyed in all.Is Theron lost in thought, and deprived of speech? Is he alone silent, while all things speak their Maker's praise? Does faith throw a shade over the works of creation? Does it not heighten their beauties, and enliven their graces? The religious is the only true philosopher; and the pleasures of imagination never acquire their proper relish till they are ripened by the exercise of devotion. With this view, then, since my friend forbears, let me attempt to speak; not to increase his knowledge, but to cherish faith and cultivate devotion in us both. The spacious canopyt over our heads is painted with Ecclus. iii. 11. + Pope's Eth. Epist. What Aspasio calls the canopy, Isaiah describes by P, which we translate as a curtain; but the exact signification is, |