provides for the propagation of every virtue. This per. suasion of the divine good-will overcomes our natural reluctance, and excites a fervent desire to please our most merciful Father. This experience of the abun dant grace of Christ, attracts and assimilates the soul, turning it into his amiable likeness, as the wax is turned to the imprinted seal.' What will be the language of such a person?

Did my exalted Master empty himself and become poor, that his most unworthy servant might be "filled. with all the fulness of God?" And shall not I cheerfully deny myself the expensive pleasures of the world, that I may have somewhat to bestow on his needy children? Has the death of Christ, as a punishment, satisfied the most rigorous justice for my sins; as a price, has it redeemed me from every evil, and as a sacrifice made my peace with God most high? And shall I not, by these mercies of my dying Lord, be in. duced to present all the members of my body, and all the faculties of my soul, as a "living sacrifice" to his honour; to be employed in his service, and resigned to his will? Do I believe that my Saviour has not only rescued me from hell, but established my title to all the blessings included in the promises, and all the felicity laid up in heaven? And can I neglect to seek those invaluable blessings, or forbear to aspire after this immense felicity? Can I be so ungrateful as to affront, so insensible as to forget, the infinitely beneficent Author of both? Am I persuaded that the Prince of Peace has entered into glory as my "forerunner," and has prepared mansions of bliss for my final reception? and shall I not follow him thither in my hopes and my affections; be as a pilgrim below, and have my conver sation above? Is not this a most sweet and effectual method of gaining my heart, and if my heart, then all my powers, to his blessed self?"

Such, my dear Theron, will be the effects of faith; therefore it is not in vain, much less to the discouragement of real virtue, that the Scripture lays such a stress upon faith; so frequently urges the importance and necessity of faith; represents faith as the principal * Eph. iii. 19. † Rom. xii. 1. Heb. vi. 20.

work of the divine Spirit, and the great instrument of receiving salvation; because it is a sure, a sovereign means of purifying the heart," and never fails to work by love.'t Was faith, as some people are apt to imagine, like a candle put under a bushel, or like the lamps which burn in sepulchres, it would then be an insignificant labour to inculcate it, and no better than an empty flourish of words to celebrate it; but nothing is more certain, than that faith is a vital, an operative, a victorious principle.

Christ is a storehouse of all good. Whatever is necessary to remove our guilt, whatever is expedient for renewing our nature, whatever is proper to fit us for the eternal fruition of God, all this is laid up in Christ; and all this is received by faith for application, use, and enjoyment. Accordingly, when Zaccheus believed, he commenced a new man; his bowels yearned with compassion; the rapacious publican became a friend to the needy, and a father to the poor. When the Macedonians believed, how eminently was their spirit ennobled, and their practice improved! Though pressed with afflictions, their souls overflowed with joy; and even in the deepest poverty, they signalized themselves by the abundance of their liberality. When the first converts believed, the change in their be haviour was so remarkable, the holiness of their lives so exemplary, that they won the favour, and commanded the respect of all the people. In short, it is as impossible for the sun to be in his meridian sphere, and not to dissipate darkness, or diffuse light, as for faith to exist in the soul, and not exalt the temper, and melio. rate the conduct. That my dear Theron may be estalished in faith, may increase in faith, may abound in faith, is the most affectionate wish that thought can suggest, or friendship adopt. May his faith therefore

+ Gal. v. 6.

Luke xix. 8.

Acts xv. 9. 52 Cor. vili. 2. Here is, especially in the original, as fine an antithesis, perhaps, as ever was penned. Since my last notes were so copious, I shall forego the pleasure of particularizing the beauties of this clause. I leave it to the lover of sacred literature, to admire the apostle's expression, to be charmed with the spirit of the Macedonian believers, and to derive edification from both.

VOL. II.

Acts ii. 47.
N

be established like the mountain oaks, increase like the progressive stream, till it spreads and abounds like the overflowing flood!

I intended to have closed my letter, and confirmed my point, by a very memorable story; but however your patience may persevere, my time fails, and my hand is weary. The next post, if nothing unexpected intervenes, shall bring you the sequel. May it, when brought to my friend, be as a nail fastened in a sure place,' and give the rivet of conviction to all these important truths! In the mean time, or rather at all times, I remain,

Cordially and invariably yours,

ASPASIO.

LETTER XI.

Aspasio exemplifies the last particular in two very memorable instances; especially in the conduct of Abraham, offering up his son Isaac.

DEAR THERON,

Aspasio to Theron.

FAITH in the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ is a fundamental principle in that invaluable system of sacred and divine philosophy, the Gospel; by which the heavenly Teacher is continually training up mil. lions of rational and immortal creatures, for the true perfection of their nature; for the final fruition of their God; or, in other words, for a state of consum. mate happiness and ever.asting exaltation. In this school, may you and I be humble students, and daily proficients! While others are ambitious of glittering distinctions, and sounding titles, may it be our highest aim, our greatest glory, to answer the character of believers! By this character, the supreme Lord distinguishes his chosen people, and denominates the heirs

These images we may venture to style beautiful, because they are borrowed from the apostle; βεβαιουμένοι εν τη πιστει. Col. ii. 7. προκοπή της πίστεως. Phil. 1. 25. υπε ραυξάνει η πιστις. 2 Thess. 1. 3ο

of salvation. This character stands fairest in the book of life, and brightest in the annals of eternity. This character, however neglected or disesteemed among men, will be remembered and had in honour, when the pompous names of statesman and generalissimo are known no more.

As faith is of such singular and extensive efficacy in genuine Christianity, methinks I would have all our meditations terminate on its glorious object, and be calculated to invigorate so beneficial a principle. When we reflect on that stupendous act, the creation of the world out of nothing, let us remember, it was his act who' obtained eternal redemption for us.' When we contemplate that immense theatre of wonders, the hea. vens and their shining hosts, let us not forget that they are all his work, who brought in everlasting righte ousness' for us. Do we turn our thoughts to the ocean, that spacious and magnificent canal, which covers more than half the globe? It was formed by his word, and is obedient to his will, who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.' Do we take a view of the earth, that grand and inexhaustible magazine, which furnishes such a multiplicity of conveniences. for so many millions of creatures? It is all his property, and wholly at his disposal, who emptied himself for our sake, and had not where to lay his head.' For thus saith the inspired philosopher, thus saith the oracle of revelation, All things were made by Him, and for Him.'t

The great Creator has enriched this habitable globe with a profusion of good; He has adorned it with a variety, an order, and a beauty, which are perfectly charming; He has ennobled it with a dignity, a sublimity, and a grandeur, which are at once delightful and astonishing. In all this, reason cannot but discern a clear manifestation of power, a bright display of wisdom, and a rich demonstration of benignity. But will the Creator himself vouchsafe to be made flesh on purpose that He may obey and die for his guilty creatures? This is what neither the utmost penetration of men, nor the very superior intelligence of angels, ↑ Exevwσev cauTov. Phil. ii. 7.

+ Col. i. 16.

could ever have demonstrated, discovered, or con. ceived. This exceeds whatever the elements have produced, whatever the sun has beheld, as much as the extent and magnificence of the planetary system exceed the dimensions and the furniture of a shepherd's hut. To reveal this is the blessed peculiarity of the gospel: to know and believe this is the distinguishing prerogative of a Christian: to apply this, to dwell upon this, to connect this with all our observations of the uni verse, should be our favorite and habitual employ. This will improve wonder into devotion, and raise the entertainments of science into the joy of salvation: this will render every philosophical speculation a strengthener of our faith, and make the various scenes of nature a guide to grace, and a step to glory. When this is done, then all things attain their proper end; and as they are by Christ, so they are for Christ.

But I forget myself, my business, and my promise. I am to establish the point by incontestable fact, not to embellish it by loose harangue. With pleasure I address myself to discharge the obligation, and exemplify, in a very memorable instauce, the power of faith on religious practice. From whence shall I fetch my exemplification? From the memoirs of the indefatigable apostle of the Gentiles? Here I find one most concisely, and at the same time most forcibly, displayed.

'After these things were ended,' says the sacred his. torian, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jeru salem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.' Who can observe and not admire this plain, unambitious manner of relating a series of labours the most signally successful, and most extensively useful! Nothing in human conduct ever surpassed the greatness of the one, and perhaps nothing in historical composition ever equalled the simplicity of the other.

St. Paul had already reduced Ephesus and Asia to the obedience of Christ; he had already brought Macedonia and Achaia into subjection to the gospel; he had long ago erected the standard, and spread the tri

* Acts xix. 21.