be in the calm and moderate words of a judicious divine: I do not affirm that, without a full assurance, there is no faith; but this I maintain, that wherever the latter exists, there will be a sincere pursuit of the former.'

Among the reasons why so few persons attain this eminent blessing, we may reckon the following. They understand not the perfect freeness of grace, nor the immense merits of Christ: they never consider the unspeakable value of an assured faith; neither are they aware that it is intended for the enjoyment of sinners: either they seek it not all, or else they seek it where it is not to be found, from some works of righteousness in themselves, rather than from the gracious promise of God in his word; which is altogether as ill-judged, and as sure to issue in disappointment, as if a person should go in quest of ice amidst the torrid zone, or expect to find spicy islands under the northern pole.

But whether people consider it or no, the value of an assured faith is indeed unspeakable. When this is wrought in the heart, peace will stand firm, and afflic tions drop their sting; prayer will return laden with treasures, and death will approach stripped of its terrors; the soul will be as a watered garden,' and all her graces' blossom as a rose,' When this is wrought in the heart, the gospel of Christ will appear with new charms, and operate with new energy; its hymns will no longer be a strange language to your ear, nor its pri ileges as forbidden fruit to your palate. You will then, as you peruse each sacred page, feel it to be the power of God, and taste that the Lord is gracious." You will reap a benefit, and enjoy a delight, as much superior to those of the doubting reader, as the pleasure of eating this delicious peach is superior to the mere description of its agreeable relish.

Bear with me a moment longer, Theron; for you can hardly imagine what an improvement and exaltation this will give to every truth you contemplate, and every object you behold. When you contemplate the rise of kingdoms and the fall of empires, when you recollect the many great and astonishing events recorded in the history of nations, how highly delightful must it be to 1 Pet. ii. 3.

say, 'All these passed under the superintendency of that hand, which was pierced with the bloody nail, and fastened to the cursed cross for me.' When you be hold the magnificence of creation and the richness of its furniture, the grandeur of nature and the variety of her works, what a heightened pleasure must they all impart, if, as you view the glorious scene, your thoughts make answer to your eyes; All these were brought into existence by that adorable Ferson who sustained my guilt, and wrought out my justifying righteous

ness."

O that we may possess this precious faith!" that it may grow incessantly,' grow exceedingly !'+ till it be rooted like those full-grown oaks under which we lately walked, and grounded't like that well-built edifice which is still in our view!

Ther. I join with my Aspasio in this wish, and must beg of him to inform me, how I may attain so desirable a blessing.

Asp. You have entirely cured me, Theron, of making apologies; would to God I might be as successfully instrumental in delivering my friend from his doubts! that the gospel might come to us, as it came to the Thessalonians, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance!'

Prayer is the first expedient. Every good gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights. Christ is not only the object, but the author and finisher of our faith. Lord, increase our faith,' was the request of the disciples, and should be the prevailing language of our hearts.

Lay up many of the divine promises in your me mory; stock that noble cabinet with this invaluable treasure. Faith cometh by hearing," by meditating on, by praying over, this word of life and word of grace. And never, never forget the freeness with which the

2 Pet. 1. 1.

+ 2 Thess. i. 3.

1 * Rooted and grounded, ερριζωμένοι και τεθεμελιωμένοι. These are the apostle's beautiful ideas, or rather expressive similitudes, each comprehended in a single word. Eph. iii, 18. § 1 Thess. i. 5.

Rom. x. 17. On which account the Scriptures are styled, the words of faith.' 1 Tim. iv. 6.

promise is made, and its good things are bestowed: you are to receive the one, and apply the other, not with a full, but with an empty hand; not as a righteous person, but as an unworthy creature.

Make the trial: exercise yourself in this great secret of true godliness; I am satisfied it will be productive of the most beneficial effects. Look unto Jesus as dying in your stead, and purchasing both grace and glory for your enjoyment. Come unto God as a poor sinner, yet with a confident dependance; expecting all spiri tual blessings through Him that loved you, and gave himself for you. He that believeth,' with this appropriating faith, shall not be confounded," nor frustrated in his expectations. He that believeth,' with this appropriating faith, shall have the witness in himself.'t Nothing will bring in such light and peace, such holiness and happiness to his soul. The Ephesians, thus believing, were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.' The dispersed of Israel, thus believing, rejoiced with joy unspeakable.'s Those were marked out as rightful heirs, these were blessed with some de lightful foretastes, and both were prepared for the complete fruition of life and immortality. O that we may be followers of their example, and sharers of their felicity!

As for these doubts which have given you so much perplexity, and cost us so long a disquisition, look upon them as some of your greatest enemies. Oppose them with all the résolution and all the vigour of your mind. Nay, look upon those unreasonable doubts as some of your greatest sins; confess them with the deepest shame, and pray against them with the utmost ardour. With equal assiduity and zeal, let us press after a steadfast, an immoveable, a triumphant faith. Faith is the ve hicle and the instrument of every good: all things

1 Εph. 1. 13. Πιστεύσαντες εσφραγίσθητε, not after that ye believed, ye were sealed,' but believing ye were sealed. In the way of believing, ye became partakers of this sealing and sanctifying Spirit: conformably to the expostulation of the apostle on another occasion, received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"

$1 Pet. 1, 8.

are possible to him that believeth." Faith is the immediate and grand end of the whole gospel: ' these things are written, that ye might believe.'t Let us therefore covet, earnestly let us covet this best of gifts, and shew all diligence to the full assurance of hope."

DIALOGUE XVII.

A River Voyage-The diversified prospect-Comparative Happiness-Advantages of Peace-A Celebration of the Gospel and its blessings, in a kind of Rhapsody-Christ's Righteousness applied to every case of distress, and every time of need.

THE next morning, Theron ordered a cold collation to be prepared, and his pleasure-boat to hold itself in readiness. Breakfast being dispatched, and some necessary orders relating to the family given; now, says he to Aspasio, let me fulfil my promise, or rather let us execute our mutual engagement, and consign the remainder of this mild and charming day to a rural excursion.

We will take our route along one of the finest roads in the world; a road incomparably more curious and durable, than the famous causeways raised by those puissant hands which conquered the globe; a road which has subsisted from the beginning of time; and, though frequented by innumerable carriages, laden with the heaviest burdens, has never been gulled, never wanted repair, to this very hour. Upon this they step into the chariot, and are conveyed to a large navigable river, about three quarters of a mile distant from the house. Here they launch upon a new element, attended by two or three servants, expert at handling the oar and managing the nets.

Is this the road, replied Aspasio, on which my friend bestows his panegyric? It is indeed more curious in its structure, and more durable in its substance, than the celebrated Roman causeways; though I must assure * Heb. vii, 11,

* Mark ix. 23.

John xx. 31.

you, the latter have a very distinguished share of my esteem. I admire them far beyond Trajan's pillar, or Caracalla's baths; far beyond the idle pomp of the pan. theon, or the worse than idle magnificence of the amphitheatre. They do the truest honour to the empire, because, while they were the glory of Rome, they were a general good; and not only a monument of her grandeur, but a benefit to mankind.

But more than all these works, I admire that excellent and divinely-gracious purpose, to which Providence made the empire itself subservient. It was a kind of road or causeway forthe everlasting gospel, and afforded the word of life a free passage to the very ends of the earth. The evangelical dove mounted the wings of the Roman eagle, and flew, with surprising expedition, through all nations. Who would have thought that insatiable ambition and the most bloody wars, should be paving a way for the Prince of humility and peace? How remote from all human apprehension was such a design, and how contrary to the natural result of things was such an event! Most remarkably therefore was that observation of the psalmist verified: "His ways are in the sea, and his paths in the great waters, and his footsteps are not known.'t

Conversing on such agreeable subjects, they were carried by the stream through no less agreeable scenes. They pass by hills clothed with hanging woods, and woods arrayed in varying green. Here, excluded from a sight of the outstretched plains, they are entertained with a group of unsubstantial images, and the wonders of a mimic creation. Another sun shines, but stripped of his blazing beams, in the watery concave; while clouds sail along the downward skies, and sometimes disclose, sometimes draw a veil over, the radiant orb. Trees, with their inverted tops, either flourish in the fair

These roads ran through all Italy, and stretched themselves into the territories of France. They were carried across the Alps, the Pyrenean mountains, and through the whole kingdom of Spain. Some of them towards the south, reached even to Ethiopia, and some of them towards the north, extended as far as Scotland. The remains of several of them continue in England to this day, though they were made, it is probable, above 1600 years ago.

+ Psal. lxxvii. 19.