here does not seem fo ftrong, nor the Connexion fo plain as to reach the Confcience of every Chriftian with Evidence and Power. But if Paulinus were to explain it, I dare venture even in his Prefence to fay that he would make the Force of St. John's reasoning appear much more evident and conftraining thus: Jefus Chrift the Son of God, whom this Evangelift more than once reprefents as God himself, took human Flesh and Blood upon him, that he might be capable of dying as a Ranfom for his Brethren, the Sons of Men; and he actually laid down his Life as a Surety to fave them from dying: Surely then we who are the Followers of Chrift fhould be ready to lay down our Lives for our Brethren, when Providence calls us to it. I need not ask you, Cavenor, which of these Doctrines carries the plaineft and ftrongest Inference and Motive with it for our Love to our Fellow-Chriftians, even in the moft glorious and felfdenying Inftances of it?

Thus far have I been fhewing fome of the Advantages which the Death of Christ, confidered as an Atonement for Sin, has to engage us in all Chriftian Duties, above the View of his Death in any other Confideration. Let me now fpeak a Word or two to fhew how sweet and powerful an Influence the Doctrine of our Regeneration and Santification by the Spirit of God has to encourage.

us

us to Repentance and Holiness, and to make us truly Penitent and Holy, above those Views and Purposes of the mere extraordinary Operations of the Spirit which Agrippa reprefents.

Agrippa tells us that by the miraculous Gifts of the Spirit of God, the Divine Promife of Pardon upon our Repentance is confirm'd and establifh'd: And I grant, Cavenor, that this has, or fhould have, a very proper moral Influence on Men to repent, and 'tis a Spring of powerful Perfuafion to Sinners to return to God. But when a poor convinced awaken'd Sinner finds his Nature ftrongly inclined to Evil, and the Thoughts of his Heart running after Vanity and Folly; when he experiences in himfelf a natural Averfion to what is Holy and Divine, as well as Weakness to what is good; when he feels how feeble are all his beft Vows and Refolutions, tho' repeated a hundred times over; when he finds himfelf furrounded with a thousand Temptations in this World on all fides, to allure his Heart away from God, and to difcou rage him in his Purfuit of Piety and Virtue, he is ready to fink under the mighty Difcouragements, and to give up all for loft; for he finds himself by no means able to subdue his own Corruptions, nor to vanquish the Temptations which on every fide attack him. Here it is he wants a mighty Helper:

And

And if he can read among the Bleffings of the Gospel the promised Aids and Influences of the bleffed Spirit to be given to them who afk it, in order to mortify his Sins, to ftrengthen him for every Duty, to change his evil Nature, and renew the Image of God in him, and enable him to vanquish his huge Temptations; this puts new Life and Courage into his Heart, and awakens. and invigorates all the Springs of Activity within him. He works out his own Salvation with all holy Diligence, because God has promised his Spirit to work in him both to will and to do. Luk. xi. Rom: viii. Phil. ii. &c.

And what think you now, Cavenor? Are not these Advantages toward all the Duties of the Chriftian Life which are de-rived from the Doctrine of Paulinus vaftly tranfcendent to all the Principles of Agrippa's. Creed?

Here Cavenor feem'd to ftand musing in a fort of astonish'd Silence, and at last with Tears in his Eyes broke out into a paffionate Addrefs to Heaven. "Forgive me, O my "God, that ever I confented to forfake thofe

66

holy Doctrines which I was taught in my

younger Years. Bleffed Jefus, forgive me "that ever I fhould be fo easily led aftray "from thy Word, and part with the Bleffings "of thy atoning Sacrifice, and thy fanctify"ing Spirit. I lie at thy Foot a humble Peni"tent, and a willing Convert to thy Divine

Truths,,

:

"Truths, which these my dear Friends have "been fent this Day by Providence to fet "before me in fo powerful and convincinga

Light And may I never dare to make

"the leaft Departure from them again, tho' "under the strongest Temptations, but live "and die under their bleffed Influence."

SECT. VIII.

A Question about a Minifter's Preaching Agrippa's Doctrine refolved, with bearty Petitions for Agrippa and all his Followers.

T

HIS laft Scene had fomething in it fo tender and pious, fo powerful and affecting, that the whole Company felt a facred and uncommon Pleafure. Paulinus and Ferventio abundantly express'd the Joy of their Hearts, nor was Chariftes wanting in his Thankfulness to God on this Occafion. Cavenor, when the devout Rapture a little fubfided, turn'd himself to Paulinus and Chariftes, and in a most moving Manner expreffed the everlasting Obligations he lay under to their Difcourfes. You have recover'd me, faid he, by the Grace of God,

· from

from the dangerous Snare in which I was held Captive, and reduced me to the Faith of the Gofpel. Pray, Paulinus, permit me to copy out your Queries, that I may convey them to Agrippa. Who knows what happy Influence they may have towards his Recovery too, if the bleffed Spirit of God concur with my Defign? I thank you also, good Ferventio, for that fhare you have had in my Converfion; for tho' I could not but fufpect fome want of Charity in your Discourse, and perhaps I reply'd a little too roughly, yet your Words had fo much Spirit in them, and carried with them such smart Flashes of Light, as made their way to my Confcience, help'd to awaken my Stupor, rouz'd me out of my Indolence and Mistake, and made me more fufceptive of better Inftructions.

I am glad, faid Ferventio, if any thing I have faid hath been blefs'd by the Providence of God to any useful Purpose; and I hope I have not loft my Share of Profit by all this Converfation. Yet I beg leave before the Company parts, to afk Charistes one Question relating to the foregoing Part of his Difcourfe. He has informed us of his charitable Sentiments towards Perfons who are called Chriftians, and yet do not believe those two great and bleffed Doctrines of Christianity: I cannot deny, Sir, but there are fome Appearances of Reason in what you have spoken, and perhaps 'tis not pro-.

per