NATURAL ABILITY.

circumstances of his case, they and finally be found among the were upanimous and unhesitating. wretched, who for the love of ly decided in the opinion, that money have already drowned the word of God and the dictates themselves in destruction and of his conscience were in union; perdition, and pierced themand that if he could not “ bring his selves through with everlasting mind" to an act of justice, it clear. sorrows.

MARTUS. ly evinced two facts ;

*\Ve presume that nothing more is 1. That his sorrows for the er.

here meant than that a higher estimarors of his past life did not dinourt tion should be set on the soul than on

any other personal interest. to any thing iike ingenious repentance, else he would be willing to correct them at any expense. 2. That his 66

easy

circumstances"? were held dearer to his affections Natural ability is the intellectthan the salvation of his soul, else ual and bodily strength of a man he would have felt no difficulty or to perform every action which God hesitation in practically solving requires of bim. Ability relates the fearful problem--- What shall to action : and all men, according it pofit a nan if he shall gain the to this acceptation of the word, whole world and lose his own soul; are able to perform what God reor what shall a man give in ex- quires. For, God is infioitely reachange for bis soul ???

sonable in his requirements. It But to conclude this affecting is as much impossible for God to narrative. A few days only elaps, require more of us than we bave ed before the solemn interview intellectual and corporeal strength was renewed ; and, awful to relate, 10 perform, as it is for him to be it now appeared that, instead of unjust. There is a perfect corresimplicitly obeying the voice of pondence between the commands God and of justice, without any of God, and the natural ability of darling reserve, this convicted the subjects of his command. Acand “ almost persuaded” man had cordingly he does notcommand the returned to the world--virtually idiot to be a philosopber; nor bidding the Holy Ghost, which those who are naturally blind, had aroused conscience from her deaf and dumb, to see, hear or slumbers--Go thy way for this speak. Nor does he require intime, when I have a convenient fants.io do the work of men: for scason I will call for thec." And they are unable. God requires no what is now most to be feared, natural impossibilities. Bui he reif not 'most expected, is, thal, in- quires those actions and those only stead of ever retracing his steps, which men are able to perform if he will hold fast his possessions, they choose to obey hiro. Accor

dingly be requires children to obey that he should reap a harvest, it their parents ; parents to provide was equally decreed that he should for their children; and the rich to plough his field, and sow his seed. give to the poor. In a word, God He was therefore using the apcommands all men every where pointed means, in order to secure 10 repent, and love him with all the desired end. the heart, because they have patu- Then the Interpreter took them ral ability to comply with the com- to an adjoining field, which was mand. And, I may challeoge an in- uniilled, and growing up with stance either yoder the law or weeds, while the owner was sitting gospel, of God's requiring men to idle, with his hands folded, and perform, that which exceeds their looking at his ground, to see what natural ability. The command would take place. So the laterof God never exceeds the natural preter bid the pilgrims ask him abiliiy of man. Accordingly he why he did so differently from his says, are not my ways equal ?-- neighbor, and he answered, that And, if there he first a willing he did not, like him, believe that mind it is accepted according to events take place according to any that a man bath, and not according fixed and established order; and to that he hath not.

consequently, that he thought he Dr. S. Spring.

sbould be just as likely to reap a barvest, if he did nothing to his fieid, as if he should cultivate it

with ever so much diligence; and From the Utica Repository. not wishing to bestow his labor THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS IN THE NINE- for nought he was taking his ease TEENTH CENTURY-BY BUNIANUS. and waiting to see what bis ground CHAPTER V.

would produce. Then the Interpreter took the Then said Thoughtful, I think pilgrims out into a field, which I understand the meaning of these they saw a man carefully plough- things. But the men act contrary ing, and preparing it to cast in the to what is frequently represented seed. Then he bid the pilgrims as the natural effect of their beask the man why he did so ; and ljet. The belief that every thing the man answered, that he carefule takes place according to a fixed ly prepared his ground, and sowed decree is often thought to be ahis seed, because he believed that dapted to discourage men from all things take place according to using means, instead of being ab an immutable decree; and that encouragement. this decree establishes a firm con- In. That is often said, indeed; nection between the means and the but it must be said without much end; and that if it was decreed reflection. These men act in ex.

a

act consistency with their belief. ther they do not believe the decrees The first believes that all things or they love sin & are determined take place in a regular order, to live io it. If they believed the which is established by an immuta- means and the end were connecthie decree. He believes that this ed togriher by an immutable dedecree estabiisbes a firm connec- cree, and had a sincere desire to tion between the means and the secure the salvation of their souls, end. And this beliet prompts him they would be disposed to use to use means in order to attain the the means of salvation witb all end ; for be koows that if the agence. They would expect means fail, the end will also fail. That s whatsoever a man soweth, While the other man does not be that sbail he also reap." lieve the doctrine of decrees at Then he took them to another ul. Fie does not believe that place, where a judge was seated there is any established order of upon his tribunal, and several prisevents. And consequently, he oners were standing before him, feels no inducement to use means; who had been engaged in rebeli. for be thinks every event is mal- ion against their lawful governter of chance, and that he is as ment; and on due trial had been likely to attain the end in one way convicted of their crimes, and as in another, without means, as were now about to receive their with them. It is certain, whater- sentence. The judge spoke to er may be pretended, that men them on the blessings of good govne er do use any means to attain ernment, and pointed out the can end, any further than they sup- normity of their offence, in enpose there is some established deavoring to destroy it and introconnection between the means duce anarchy and confusion. He and the end ; that is, they never pointed out the wisdom and equiuse means any further than they ty of the law, which doomed them believe in the doctrine of decrees. to confinement for life in the pubSome, indeed who wish to keep lic prison. He shewed how reaGod out of their sight, call this sonable it was that those who had a law of pature ; but that is only endeavored to sacrifice the interanother name for the fixed decree ests of a whole community, to the of the Author of nature. And gratification of their own wicked here we see the self-contradiction passions, should now have their of those who say, it it is decreed own interests given up in order they shall be saved, they shall be to secure those of the community. whether they use the means of He pointed out, for the warning of salvation or not; or if it is decreed others, the misery they had thus they shall be lost, they shall be, brought upon themselves; and let them do what they will. Ei- in a most feeling manner, pronoun

48

your minds.

eed upon them the sentence of good required their condemnation, the law. He ihen delivered them and it was right that their private into the custody of the oflicers interest should be given up in or. whose business it was 10 put the der to secure the interests of the sentence in execution, charging commi

munity, which they had enthem, at the same time, to inflict deavored to destroy. no more upon thera thay the law

In. Just so.

The judge acted demanded. Then I saw, that all a perfectly di:interested part. — the spectators were deeply moved He valued the happiness of the and with one voice acknowledged criminals according to its real the justice and humanity of the worth; but he valued the good of judge, and the propriety of the t'ie community more, because it senience which had been pronoun- is worth more.

And so he gave ced. And even the prisoners up a less good to secure a greatthemselves had nothing to say a- er good which was doing righí. gainst it, but acknowledged both And the criminals ibemselves felt his justice and his goodness. copstrained to acknowledge both

Then said the Interpreter 10 his justice and his goodness. This the pilgrims, Take notice of these case then illustrates the conduct things, and settle them deeply in of our Lord the King, in the treat

ment of his incorrigible enemies. Prl. We do so. But what is the He does not pronounce the senexplanation ?

tence of the law upon them, and In. Did you notice the appeare doom them to perpetual confineance of the judge ?

ment in his public prison, because Pil. We did.

he has any pleasure in their sufIn. Did he appear hard, or cru- serings. He is full of compassion el, or maligoant?

and of great mercy.

66 He doth Pil. Not at all. He appeared not afflict willingly, nor grieve the compassionate and merciiul, ibo' children of men. He has no pleasstrictly just.

ure in the death of the wicked." In. Did he scem to have any He values their happiness accorregard for the good of the crimin- ding to its real worth ; but he als whom he condempest?

valoes the public good more than Prl. He did seem to have the the happiness of those individu. tenderest regard for them, and was als, because it is worth more.-much moved when he pronounced And so, to secure the public good the septence.

he gives up the private good In. If he had any regard for of those individuals, and dooms their good, why did he not ac- them to suffer the punishment quit them?

which their crimes deserve. And Pil. Ile said that the public when he shall do this, in the pres

ence of the whole assembled uni- touched their hearts, they comverse, they will all be convinced plied with the invitations address. that he is just and good, in so doing. ed to them, and came to the store Even his enemies will have noth- house, and received freely whaiing to say against it; but every soever they needed. But the rest mouth will be stopped.

still continued to refuse; and some Then he took them to another of them treated the servants who place, where he showed them a invited them very ill, anıl loaded vast crowd of people, of a most them with every kind of obloquy wretched appearance, clothed in and reproach. rags, and starring with hunger.- Then said the interpreter, have Near them stood a large store you considered these things ? Why house, abundantly furnished with do these miserable creatures perprovisions and clothing for them isb with hunger? all. And several servants of the Th. There appears to be eowner of the storehouge were em. nough in the storehouse for them ployed in going round among the all, so that those who perish, do miserable crowd, and inviting not perish for want of provision them to come to the storehouse made for them, and receive a supply for all their 11. No, they perish through wants “ without money and with- their own fault. They will have out price.” But the pilgrims, be- no one to blame but themselves. held, that, when invited, they all Th. But will not the provision be with one consent began to make wasted? Why was provision roade excuse." So the servants return- for them all? Did not their lord ed and told their lord that they know that none would acceptit but could not persuade any to come. such as his invisible agent made Then their lord said, they deserve willing? indeed to perish with hunger ; In. Yes; their lord knew it. but yet, I will not have all this But the provision will not be wastprovision made, and fail in my be- ed. Their lord does nothing in nevolent purposes. Go again, and vain. And if it aaswered no othinvite them. So the servants er purpose, it was necessary that went again, and repeated their provision should be made sutlicinvitations, and added many en. ient for the whole, in order that treaties; but still without success all might be sincerely invited to till at length theic lord sent an in- come ; and that they might know visible agent who had power over that the offer was sincerely made, the heart, with directions to go to so that they might be fully conviccertain individuals of his selection ced that they could blame no one and make them - willing in the but themselves. And besides, this day of his power." So when he provision is of a peculiar nature.