Loveg. I am persuaded Sir, he did not, but he ill conceives of the evil consequences of his own doctrine. Every expression which has a tendency to withdraw our minds from the perfect purity of God's law, must also prove equally subversive of the Gospel of Christ; and we may easily judge what an unhallowed influence this must produce on the hearts of men.→ But pray Sir, did the Doctor shew you any part of the Scriptures which settles this point? I should have supposed that a doctrine so very essential in itself, would have been very plainly revealed.

Lov. Sir, his references were rather general than particular.

Loveg. I should suppose that such general references would best suit the cause. But did he not call this new-invented law, by the name of the remedial law?

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Lov. I think that was the term he gave it... Loveg. No wonder that an unscriptural name was wanted for such an unscriptural doctrine;* and I suppose the inventors of that phrase took it from the word remedy. A fine law truly, a remedy for man's corruptions, by allowing a partial practice of them! Pray Sir, what would you think, if the laws of the country were as badly framed as these supposed modern laws of God; if the laws against theft, violence, and adultery, were to be "made easy for the practice of the present age" and if a little latitude were to be given as a remedy on all these occasions, what would be the result of it?

Lov. Sir, I am sure the Doctor never meant to encourage such immoralities.

I am aware of an objection on this score, as it relates to the word Trinity. Some will ask the question, in what part of Scripture is that to be found? I answer, no where; its utility alone exists in superseding the need of long circumlocuitous expressions, that have been defined a thousand times over: though others have followed their example in calling themselves Unitarians, in contradistinction to Trinitarians, while they know that every Trinitarian is as much an Unitarian as themselves.

See the title-page of the new Whole Duty of Man.

A Loveg. Sir, though the purity of his intentions is indubitable, yet what have been the consequences of such sort of doctrines? Why a system of lax morality has been introduced in the room of genuine Christianity. People have thereby been rendered careless and secure, in a state of mind, far inferior to what is demanded in the word of God. In short, preaching up the merit of good works, has produced nothing but the practice of bad ones. Such has been the case ever since the old standard doctrines of the Bible and of the Church of England have been neglected; the Churches themselves, in most places, have been shamefully forsaken; and while the ordinances of the Sabbath, and the sanctuary, have been thus thrown aside, we cannot wonder at the abounding wickedness of the day..

Lov. But Sir, the Doctor's church is very decently filled, though not so crowded as yours.

Loveg. I have heard it is Sir, and I am happy that the people give that token of their esteem for such a respectable character. But look into other churches, where the same or nearly the same sort of doctrine is preached by other clergy, much less respectable than himself. 67

Lov. Sir, the Doctor is as much displeased at the careless lives of the clergy as you can be. You never see him out of temper, but when he is speaking about some of them in his own neighbourhood. And I assure you Sir, he never speaks of you, or Mr. Merryman, and some other clergy, of your acquaintance, but in terms of high respect: though in some instances, he thinks you are mistaken in your doctrines; and from the same principle that you object to his, that they have a tendency to make men lax in their morals: though at the same time, he is not a little astonished that there has been such a reformation accomplished in your Parish; and he is quite surprized to see what a good man Mr. Merryman has been made, by your preaching.i

Wor, But Sir, will you tell us plainly, if we ask

the question, have there been any instances of the influence of the Doctor's preaching on the hearts of his hearers, similar to those, which through the bles. sing of God, have been exemplified among others, who preach salvation by the entire mercies of Christ, to a ruined world?

Lov Sir, the Doctor laments that circumstance exceedingly. He says, he has had the satisfaction of keeping and confirming the good in the habits of virtue; but he acknowledged, even with tears, that as yet, he did not know that he had reclaimed any that were really vicious from the error of their ways; though he thinks he knows a few instances of some, who are less vicious than formerly.

Loveg. Indeed dear Sir, both you and the Doctor are strangely mistaken, if you suppose that the Doctrines we preach, when properly understood, can in anywise have an immoral tendency upon our hearers. For, in regard to repentance, which you call one of the conditions of our salvation, and which consequently must be left in a great measure to corrupted man to perform by himself; yet we on the contrary believe, according to our excellent liturgy, that it is God who "creates in us a new and contrite heart!" And again, while we believe we are by the Spirit of God, made to "abhor that which is evil;" under such sensations we are satisfied it will be impossible for any of us to live in it, the existence of sin being the only hell we feel or fear. In short Sir, we believe that repentance is regeneration; it means a change of mind, and it is impossible that a man can live in sin when thus by the grace of God he is utterly set against it, by being thus" renewed in the spirit of his mind."

So in regard to believing, which you suppose to be another condition, which is to be performed by us. As we are persuaded that none but humble penitents will be true believers, so none but such will fly from sin to Christ and no one can fly from sin, that he may live in it, any more than a man can fly from the plague, that he may catch it. Again Sir, while you

conceive it to be a condition that rests with us, we conceive it to be a grace of the Holy Spirit, wrought in us; and that such a faith must purify the heart, as thereby we are united to Christ; and while we thus "abide in him, and he in us, we shall bring forth much fruit." Read the fifteenth of St. John's Gospel Sir, at your leisure, and that will tell you what we mean by faith; it is the most holy principle that can possibly rule the heart of man.

Lov. Sir, I never thought that you meant to preach faith without works; but as for me, I confess I thought that, I confess I scarcely know what I thought; but I cannot stand my ground. If I am wrong, the Lord have mercy upon me, and set me right! I hope I have not willingly set myself against the righteousness of God my Savior; but I must acknowledge, if we are such fallen creatures as you say the Bible represents us to be, I cannot see how ever we can repent or believe, while our natures are so depraved,

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Mrs. Lov. O my dear George! how glad I am to hear you say so! Do you not remember how much the Doctor himself seemed to be perplexed, when I asked, what they who felt their hearts so hardened and unbelieving must do, and who still wished to be changed? and he answered, they should pray to God for his grace; and then you know I said, that if God is to give us these graces, we cannot bring them to him, till we first receive them from him.

Wor. Why, we had it from good authority, that when the Doctor was ill the other day, and he refused the assistance of Mr. Jackadandy; when it was thought he would die, he was obliged to give up all his hopes of conditional salvation. For that he had performed these supposed conditions so ill, that his sins of omission, like those of St. Augustin, were more frightful in his sight, than those of commission, Loveg. And let me further aşk you dear Sir, have you in yourself that sufficient repentance on which you presume to qualify you for Christ?

Lov. [To his wife.] My dear, I fear I spoke too

hastily to you, when you mentioned your concern, after you had first heard Mr. Lovegood. I mean to think more seriously about these matters. . I hope you will forgive me; and if I cannot think quite as you do, I will never oppose you any more.

Mrs. Lov. Oh my dearest George !-[She weepshe weeps they all weep-and while these sympathetic tears interrupt the continuation of the Dialogue, the concluding narration of the history of this faithful and affectionate pair, must necessarily be deferred.]