this Doctrine. Once, I held it in the utmost Contempt; and pitied the Simplicity of (as I then ftyled them) its deluded Admirers. But, I am now become fuch a Fool, that I may be truly wife, and fubftantially happy. I have seen my ruined State; and I blefs GOD for this fovereign Reftorative. It is the Source of my strongeft Confolations, and the very Foundation of my eternal Hopes.

Ther. Excufe me, Afpafio; if the Vivacity of my Temper, and the feemingly uncouth Tenet, kindled me into a more humorous Gaiety, than became the Occafion. You fpeak of the Point, with fo much Serioufnefs, and in fuch weighty Terms, as check my Levity, and command my Respect. Be pleafed to execute, what You have promised; and the most engaged Attention of my Mind, fhall atone for the petulant Sallies of my Tongue.

Afp. To conceive a Diflike of any Doctrine, only because Perfons of a particular Denomination, have been very officious to promote its Reception; this is hardly confiftent with an impartial Inquiry after Truth.

Ther. I grant it, Afpafio. And I fhould be afhamed of my Oppofition, if it was founded on fo flight a Bottom. But, abstracted from all Party-Confiderations, I can fee nothing in this fuppofed Article of our Faith, that may

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recommend it to the unprejudiced Inquirer.What can be more aukward than the Term, or more irrational than the Sentiment?

Afp. The Word imputed, when used in this Connection, may poffibly convey a difagreeable Sound to the Ears of fome People. Because, they look upon it, as the peculiar Phraseology of a few fuperftitious Sectarists; and reject it, merely on the Foot of that unreafonable Surmife.But, how can you be difgufted at the Expreffion, Theron; who have fo often read it, in the most approved and judicious Writers? St. Paul, who might affirm with Relation to his Epiftles, much more truly than the Painter concerning his Pourtraits, I write for Eternity*; fcruples not to use this aukward Language, feveral Times in the fame Chapter +. Milton, the Correctness of whofe Taste, and the Propriety of whofe Style, no Perfon of Genius will ever question; delights to copy, in various Parts of his incomparable Poem, the Apostle's Diction.-Authorized by fuch Precedents, it is fuperior to Cavil, and warranted beyond all Exception.

As

* Alluding to the Painter, who, apologizing for the flow Procedure and fcrupulously nice Touches of his Pencil, faid; Eternitati pingo, I paint for Eternity. And those Strokes had need be correct, which are intended to furvive, fo long as Time itself shall last.

+ See Rom. iv. In which fingle Chapter, fome Branch of the Word λoyoda, to be imputed, occurs no less than ten or eleven Times,

As to the Sentiment, I take it to be the very fundamental Article of the Gofpel: and I believe, whoever is acquainted with ecclefiaftical History, will allow, that it bore the principal Sway, in extricating Us from Popish Darkness, and introducing the Reformation.—What says our LORD, with regard to the Love of GOD, and the Love of our Neighbour? On thefe two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Much the fame would I venture to fay, concerning the Imputation of our Sins to CHRIST, and the Imputation of CHRIST's Righteousness to Us: On these two Doctrines, hang all the Privileges and the whole Glory of the Gospel.

Ther. In our laft Converfation, I must own, I faw a strong Resemblance between the Works and the Word of GOD. But I never obferved any Thing in Nature, that bore the least Analogy to imputed Sin, or imputed Righteoufnels. To me your two Doctrines feem very unaccountable and irrational.

Afp. That our Sins fhould be charged upon the only begotten Son of GOD, and that his Righteoufnefs fhould be made over to finful Worms, is ftrange, exceeding strange. The Pfalmift calls it, marvelous Loving-Kindness *. The Apostle styles it, Love that passeth Knowledge. And it has fometimes, I muft freely confefs,

confefs, been almoft ready to stagger 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. All Nature is full of ftrange and mysterious Effects; confequently, is a Voucher for the mysterious Truths of Christianity.

How furprising are the Experiments of Electricity, and the occult Qualities of the LoadStone! How furprising thofe countless Legions of Effluvia, which transpire from a small odoriferous Body! and those infinite Myriads of luminous Particles, which iffue from a smaller flaming Subftance*! There's not a Blade of Grafs, but furpaffes the Comprehension of all Mankind; and not a fingle Atom, but is big with Wonders.-Infomuch, that the intelligent Obferver can no where fix his Thoughts, without being astonished, transported, and even loft in Admiration.

Since the Procedure of Providence in this visible System, is a continued Series of stupendous and unfearchable Operations; need We be alarmed,

* Dr. Nieuwentyt has computed, That, from a lighted Candle, about the Size of fix to the Pound, there issues, ini 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 utmost Stretch of Imagination!

alarmed, can We reafonably be offended, if the Scheme of Redemption is equally ftupendous, is far more amazing? Yet, though amazing, I hope, it will not appear, what You was pleased to infinuate, irrational.

Suppofe, We ftate the Signification of the Terms; and adjuft 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 Courfe. Without this previous restrictive 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, and never come to a Determination.

Afp. Juftification is an Act of GOD Almighty's Grace; whereby He acquits his People from Guilt, and accounts them righteous*;

for

Should any Reader object to the Definition; apprehending, 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 Point is more circumftantially confidered.