matters are not speedily altered, the consequence will be deplorable. Deceit and guile in yourself, with error and ignorance in the people, is all that can be expected.

P. Sir, my reasons for engaging in sacred things, are better than you may suppose. They are satisfactory to the bulk of mankind, and few if any, of the learned and honourable, call them in question. First, "They are the same as my neighbours; we all hold one opinion, and I do not choose to be singular. The way the multitude go, I charitably hope is right. Secondly, custom prevailed with me; for as I believed like others, I acted like others. Thirdly, I had never considered these things, nor hardly read them. Fourthly, we act from office, what is called ex officio, not from principle; and we are appointed to read, not to believe. Fifthly, I signed in a sense of my own, not as the words implied; and as articles of peace, not of doctrine: therefore I never preach them. Sixthly, interest was closely connected with subscribing, and I could not have separated one from the other, if I were to have strove till dooms-day." And for you to be so severe on me for the little, common failings of so many, and when I can give such good reasons for what I do, is very unbecoming.

D. If this be your best defence, mercy on you in the great day! It amounts to no other than this-that you blush at nothing, are determined to break through all bounds, and that you pay no regard to truth and sincerity. By the same way of arguing, a Protestant may sign

all the articles of Popery, a Mahometan subscribe the whole Christian faith. What a stretch of hypocrisy! A fine example to your flock. Truly you have long been a sore enemy, a public and private foe to me, and the whole congregation; and if it be considered, the harm we have all sustained, it would appear what favour has been shown you in not stripping off your gown, driving you out of the church, and leaving you to follow another kind of business. The evil you have done, I am sure the whole world can never repair. And, however you may boast of your own good constitution, you are as sickly, to the full, as I am: your whole head is sick, your whole heart is faint, there is no soundness, but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores. Your carcase is meagre and consumptive; those parts that were sound are dropped off; that true health and vigour, that comeliness and good deportment, once seen in you, exist no more. Your eyes are now blinded, your ears dull of hearing: your limbs are become feeble and inactive, your feet ever stumbling and turning out of the narrow path: nor can all your art and contrivance make what is sound to stay upon your bones. Every part that is uncorrupt is to be looked for only in me, however mean and dejected I may appear.

P. Be as severe as you please; and whether I did right or wrong, and whether my doctrine be new or old, I am sure it is the truth.

D. As for your doctrine being true, you must again bear to hear me declare it, a most danger

1 Isaiah i. 5, 6.

ous falsehood. You err in the very fundamentals of religion, and how is it possible, that what you build on a foundation of sand, should be lasting?

P. If by the foundation you mean repentance, I am confident I am clear, and that you are to be blamed for your heavy and false aspersions. I always preach repentance at the four seasons of the year, Christmas, Easter, &c. to remind the people of their duty, to prepare for death and judgement, to leave off sinning, and seriously to think of the design of our Saviour's being born, suffering, and rising again for us miserable sinners; that they may duly consider his exceeding great love, come fitly prepared to the Lord's Table, and worthily partake of that divine ordinance, thereby to obtain pardon for their sins, and joyfully to be received into glory when they depart this life: yes, sir, I have thousands to bear witness to the truth of what I say. Also the many sermons I preach against swearing, drunkenness, debauchery, sabbath-breaking, theft, covetousness, deceit, and worldly desires, which many of the congregation can reflect on with pleasure. Therefore I hope you will own your heavy and unchristian charge is false, and only the effect of pride and ill-will; probably because I have the learned and noble on my side, and you are become a mere by-word. Therefore, as you have given me liberty to speak my mind freely, I apprehend this to be the cause of your disorder.

D. I am exceeding glad to hear you speak out. I hope we shall bring things to a happy issue before long. Permit me then to tell you

frankly, that your very manner of preaching repentance, and crying out against sin, avails nothing. Your hearers are neither changed in heart, nor reformed in life; such as were sinners, are sinners still, and every evil-doer goes on as he did before. So that what you have hitherto done, will not abide the test, your stubble will be consumed, for the fire shall try every man's work, and make it manifest.1 If sometimes you speak against sin and inform sinners if they die in an impenitent state, they die eternally; before you conclude, you preach them all to heaven: "We christians, and we believers," you cry, and "brethren, I hope better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation;" when at the same time sin is gaining ground daily, and you must know, that your preaching is one great cause of it, if only by your telling them, that large allowances are to be made for breach of duty; that God is merciful, that he will accept of moderate degrees of obedience, and that a very little progress in virtue is sufficient. Now what would our reformers think of this? and what would the old prophet say to you? Read Jer. xxiii. and tremble.

P. So that all my crying out against sin, instructing the people in their duty, and preaching morality, goes for nothing. Be so kind as to inform me what you apprehend to be the best method to reclaim sinners, and how the right of foundation is to be laid.

D. I am quite ready; but whenever I speak it

1 Cor. iii. 13.

will surely stir up the enemies of God against me; and your own poor heart, my dear Pulpit, will be full of rage: you will be ready to gnash with your teeth. Besides, should you reject it, great will be your condemnation: he that knew his Master's will, and did it not, was beaten with many stripes.1

P. Why do you keep me in suspense? I am determined to hear it.

D. Then, if you would speak as the oracles of God, cry aloud, and spare not: lift up thy voice like a trumpet (saith the Prophet,) and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins: Tell them the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men: That God will bring every word into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. That whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.6 And not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.7 Tell them, that by nature we are children of wrath, and as helpless as we are guilty: no more able to deliver ourselves from the dominion of sin, than the Ethiopian to change his skin, or the leopard his spots." Tell them that, however moral and virtuous, they must be born again as well as the worst of others, or not see the kingdom of God. They must put

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