Jews; they have broke the holy commandment de livered on Mount Sinai.-Not among Christians; for if God should enter into judgment with us, we could not answer him one of a thousand. In the kingdom of Ethiopia, or in the country of the Moors, where will you find the native whites?

The Son of God found none among the race of Adam that were entitled to the character of righteous. He who gave himself a ransom for all, makes no application to such persons. Why; because he sullenly disesteemed personal goodness, or was unable to distinguish the excellency of inherent virtue? No, but be cause he knew that, amiable as these qualifications are, they have no existence in the human heart, till the sin. ner, reconciled by his death, be sanctified also by his Spirit.

You remember, perhaps, that remarkable answer which the Spartans once returned to a threatening embassy from some of the neighbouring states: nothing could be more concise, and, I think, nothing was ever more spirited and significant.

Ther. Those neighbours gave them to understand by their ambassadors, that if they entered their territories, they would burn their towns, make the inhabitants prisoners, and spread destruction wherever they advanced.' To which insolent menace the brave Lacedæmonians made no other reply than-If.

Is this the story to which you refer.

Asp. The very same. And when you are speaking of human righteousness as the cause of our acceptance with the eternal God, I would borrow the language of a Spartan. If, shall be my reply.-If, seclusive of the obedience, and independent on the Spirit of Christ, you can furnish yourself with this endowment: or, if you can carry your righteousness to that perfection which may equal the purity of the law, and comport with the majesty of the Lawgiver, then trust in it; let it be the ground of your confidence, and seek no better foundation.

Matt. ix. 13.-I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'

But whoever shall, in this manner, seek for his recommendation to the favour of God, will act like the mistaken countryman in Horace, who, being unable to ford the river, took up a resolution to wait till the stream was all run by :

At ille

Labitur, et labetur in omne volubilis Ævum.❤

Ther. Here, I fancy, we must take leave of your countryman. If he adheres to his resolution, we shall find him in the very same situation when breakfast is over, and may resume our subject just where it is discontinued.

DIALOGUE VII.

Hay-making-Pleasures of nature freely enjoyed-Blessings of grace bestowed with equal freeness-Theron's plan of acceptance with God consists of sincerity, repentance, and good works, recommended by the merits of Christ-This shewn to be a false foundation-No such thing as a good work till we are accepted through the Redeemer,"

Ther. To me, who have spent the greatest part of the winter in town, these scenes of the country are inexpressibly pleasing. Take, who will, the gilded saloon, and the silken settee, so long as I can shelter myself under the canopy of such a spreading beech, and use one of its coarse misshapen roots for my seat.

It is true, we see no longer those splendid brocades and elegant toupees which distinguish the Park and the Mall. But we have, full in our view, a multitude of honest rustics, pursuing their cheerful labours in yonder meadow; some mowing the luxuriant herbage; some raising it into regular cocks; others loading their waggons with the hay, or clearing the ground with their rakes. The ground, cleared of its soft incumbrance, appears fresh and green, like another spring; while the exhalations of the tedded grass, floating in the air, give a rural perfume to the gale: and which, my Aspasio, which are the most valuable objects? The little labourers of the hive, that enrich themselves and regale

* Vain man, desist: such flatt'ring hopes forego:
It flows, and flows, and will for ever flow.

their masters, or the gay flutterers of the garden, whose whole life is nothing but sport, and their highest character is to be insignificantly pretty?

Asp. In this retirement we hear none of the wanton and corrupting airs of the opera; no, nor the majestic and ennobling melody of the oratorio; but we have a band of music stationed in the grove, and a concert of native harmony warbling from the boughs. We are entertained with the music which charmed the human. ear long before Jubal+ found out his instruments, and thousands of years before Handel composed his notes. The bullfinch, and a multitude of little tuneful throats, strike the key: the thrush below, and the sky-lark responsive from above, diversify and exalt the strain; the blackbird, somewhat like the solemn organ, with notes perfectly mellow, and gracefully sonorous, crowns the air while the turtle's melancholy voice, and the mur muring water's plaintive tone, deepen and complete the universal symphony.

This is the music which constituted the first song of thanksgiving, and formed the first vocal praise that the all-gracious Creator received from his new-made. world this is neither the parent of effeminacy, nor a pander for vice; but refines the affections, even while it amuses the imagination.

Ther. All the entertainments of nature are calculated to secure our innocence, as well as to gratify our fancy. And what is, another very agreeable circumstance, these gratifications, which afford the sublimest pleasure, are exhibited gratis: while those which enervate the mind, and debauch the affections, must be dearly purchased, Every one cannot gain admittance into the boxes or the pit when some celebrated tragedy is brought upon the stage; but every one may behold the beauteous exhibitions of spring, and the finished productions of autumn; all may contemplate the ma

Majestic and ennobling.'-This, I think, is the true charac ter, and expresses the real tendency of the oratorio. Nevertheless, it may not be improper to observe, that if we carry a trifling or irreligious spirit to the entertainment; if we attend to the musical airs, but disregard those sacred truths which enter into the composition; such a behaviour will be little better than a profanation of holy things; I fear it will be a species of taking God's adorable and glorious name in vain.

↑ Gen. iv. 21.

chinery of nature and the wonders of creation, thereby enjoying a far more exquisite amusement, without any of the guilt, or any of the danger.

The inhabitants of yonder villages have never beheld the splendid procession which solemnizes the coronation of a monarch, nor the gaudy illuminations which distinguish the anniversary of his birth; but they see, almost every morning, a much nobler spectacle displayed in the east: they see the great ruler of the day, or rather the envoy from day's eternal Sovereign, making his entry amidst the spaces of the sky: the heavens are strewed with colours, which outvie the pinks and carnations: the grass is decked with dew-drops, and every plant is strung, as it were, with pearls. All around the darkness retires, and sweet refreshing gales arise. At length the magnificent luminary appears. And what is all the ostentatious pomp of kings? what is all the glitter of the most brilliant court, compared with his transcendent lustre? This spectacle we may behold, without loss of time, or prejudice to health; nay, we cannot behold it without improving one and redeeming the other: so beneficial are even the pleasures which nature yields: so serviceable the very di versions to which she invites!

Asp. Thus gracious is the Almighty Maker in the constitution of material things. The substantial and the valuable are open to every one-are accessible by all only the tinsel and the trappings are the property of a few-the poor prerogative of wealth.

No less gracious is God in the disposal of spiritual favours. These are infinitely more excellent, and yet are equally free. We are invited to buy them, without money and without price.' What do you give for the benefits of the rising sun, or the delights of this rural melody? The case is much the same, with regard to the righteousness by which we are justified, and all the blessings of salvation.

Ther. This brings to our remembrance the country. man whom we left on the banks of the river; and, for aught I can see, Theron and the rustic are pretty much Isa. Iv. 1.

upon a footing; the first as far from acceding to your notions, as the last is from gaining his point.

Asp. Have you any objection, Theron, to these gifts of nature, because they are neither purchased by your money, nor produced by your own toil?

Ther. But who can ever expect to obtain pardon, and acceptance, and eternal salvation, at so cheap a rate? It seems to be all delusion, Aspasio.

Asp. So cheap! Then you would pay somewhat, I perceive, by way of price. But give me leave to ask, What price did you pay to God your Maker, for fashioning you in your mother's womb? what price have you paid to God your Preserver, for upholding you ever since you was born? or what price do you think of paying the supreme Proprietor, for the ground on which you tread, for the air in which you breathe, for the light by which you see? Just the same price must you advance to God your Saviour for all his justifying merits.

Both these and those proceed from the same Benefactor. They are all absolutely necessary, either for the welfare of the body or the happiness of the soul; and they are all vouchsafed on the same free terms: for thus saith the prophet, His going forth,' in the dispensation of the gospel, is prepared as the morning." Christ, with all his precious privileges, shall come unto us as the rain; as the latter and former rain unto the earth. However, if you are acquainted with a different or a better way, be so good as to communicate your knowledge.

Ther. Some, you may observe, depend upon their inoffensive behaviour. They live peaceably; they do no harm to their neighbours; they are guilty of no gross offence against God: and why should they not hope to obtain his favour? They apprehend the prophet Samuel establishes their hope when he makes this solemn appeal, Whose ass have I taken? whose ox have I taken? or whom have I defrauded?'+ Nay, they imagine, that our Lord himself has authorized their expectation, by giving this character of Nathaniel, An Israelite Hos, vi. 3. 1 Sam. xii. 3.