It is because you are sensual, not of God, not of Christ's church, a lover of the world and the things of the world; therefore the love of the Father is not in you. You are of this world, and from beneath, altogether earthly; therefore you have no taste for things above.

P. I doubt not but my condition is as good as yours, and that I have as much knowledge and taste for things above, as the rest of my breth

D. The more is your case and their's to be deplored. For know this, that "we are called of God to follow after the apostles, and One greater than all apostles, even to be conformed to the image and example of his own Son, in all holiness, purity, patience, meekness, heavenly mindedness, and doing good. God requires it of us; and it is such only He will accept in that day."

Be ye followers of me, saith one apostle; and take the prophets for an example, saith another. Again, as ye have us for an example.* Therefore, not to be like the apostles, is to rebel against God; and to deny that we are to be followers, or imitators of God himself, is to deny the word, truth, and authority of God that has commanded it. There are but two paths to walk in, the broad and the narrow; but two masters we can serve, God or Mammon; but two likenesses we can bear, the image of God in true holiness, or the likeness of the devil in rebellion,

11 John ii. 15. 21 Cor. xi. 1. 3 James v. 10. 4 Phil. iii. 17. 2 Thess. iii. 7. 5 Eph. v. 1.

ruin, and eternal misery. Not to be like the holy men of old, apostles, prophets, martyrs, in their faith, love, purity, crucifixion to the world, and in all the fruits of righteousness,1 is to bear the image of Satan in his fall, and apostacy; and it were good for such that they had never been born."

P. You lay so much stress upon these things, that you seem to forget the christian religion is now established both by law and custom.

D. "For this very reason we are the more indispensably obliged to obey the voice of God; to understand and believe whatever is spoken according to his word; and as the whole that is required is only to conform to what we profess; it is the more inexcusable to refuse, and cry, I will not believe, till I behold miracles as a proof that I am to regard plain scripture,"

2

And what if the christian religion be established both by law and custom; is it established in the hearts and lives of those who profess it? If they have not the mind which was in Christ, walk not as his true followers, what does their established religion avail? All true christians are called forth to one fight of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope, and to lay hold on the same eternal life. It is one prize set before all, one hope of our calling," one end and aim; and we have all one Saviour, Judge, and eternal reward; and must, therefore, be partak

66

Gal. v. 22.
31 Tim. vi. 12.
51 Tim. vi. 19.

4

3

ers of one almighty help and benefit of the same eternal spirit."

"No man (saith Christ) can come to me except the Father draw him. But our Lord calls every one to himself; therefore the drawings of the Father belong to all. He bids us learn of him, and become meek and lowly: but saith, without me ye can do nothing; and I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done.5 Christ hath left us an example, saith the apostle, that we should follow his steps. " But to be like Christ, without Christ, to be in the spirit, live in the spirit, walk in the spirit,s led by the spirit, sow to the spirit, strengthened by the spirit, filled with the spirit, 10 and become one spirit with the Lord, and yet be without the spirit, is such gross ignorance, egregious folly, presumptuous and blasphemous opposition of the most plain, and express word of scripture, that might even make us tremble to think of."

11

P. I believe, as a great writer hath lately discovered, that the constant abode and supreme illumination of the Holy Spirit is in the scriptures: That he is there only as the illuminator . of the understanding, and not in the minds of any.

D. "It has been often observed, by different writers, who supposed themselves to live in the

1 John vi. 44. Isa. xlv. 22. John xii. 32. Rom. v. 18. 2 Rev. xxii. 17. 3 Matt. xi. 29. 4 John xv. 5. 5 John xiii. 15. 61 Peter ii. 21. 7 Rom. viii. 9. 8 Gal. v. 18. 25. 9 Ch. vi. 18. 10 Eph. v. 15, 18.

111

Cor. vi.

dregs of time, that these kind of discoveries were wont to abound whenever christianity became a mere nominal profession. And as the knowledge of God is but small amongst ourselves, more of these discoveries may expected every day. It is the religion of every carnal mind. Speak to the peasant, farmer, or mechanic, of seeking the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, of having an interest in Christ, of experiencing a sanctifying work of the spirit, and each will tell you" he has very good books in his house:" The rich and great are too refined to regard a bible, or the way to heaven: and how easy for men of letters to criticise truth into scepticism."

1

P. I believe you will find this writer able to prove his point.

D. "So then, the spirit of grace is not to be sent down on all Bishops, Priests, and the congregations committed to their charge." If it be in the bible, that is sufficient; the mind and conscience may remain destitute. If the Holy Ghost illuminate the written word, his light and comfort need not come near the heart. But if you confine the gift of the Holy Ghost to the leaves of a book; why not eternal life? Why must there be a real kingdom of glory any more than of grace?

P. Can we speak too honourably of the scriptures?

D. No: "You can never honour the written

word too much, the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and the highest honour done to scripture is to believe and obey it. But if you pervert the design of scripture, by putting what is written in the place of God, you dishonour scripture, and the spirit that inspired it. The scripture most certainly contains all articles of faith, refutes every evil, and enforces every thing that is good. It leaves no room for discoveries of new sins, new virtues, oral tradition, commandments of men; or any truth not revealed in that perfect treasure of unerring wisdom. To add to what is written is to mar the whole; and to put scripture out of its place, is to render the word of no effect: One evil leads the blind into a ditch; the other brings down all the plagues that are threatened."+

P. But he allows the aid of the Holy Spirit under certain restrictions. His reasonings are very cogent, and granting what he asserts, it really proves it best to admit of no inspiration.

D. Then this great divine allows a kind of inspiration; and so reasons and concludes about it, as to prove it best to admit of no inspiration at all! The world are obliged to him for his new discoveries. You need have said nothing of him, as his whole system is but the same infidelity and trifling that I have refuted before. Alas, for such a doctrine of grace! One denies the being of God, another the truth of revela

2 Matt. xv. 9.

1 Prov. vi. 23.
4 Deut. iv. 2. xii. 32. Prov. xxx. 6.

3 Mark vii. 3: Rev. xxii. 18,