leffen the odium, that is generally affixed to it, and which you yourself have not been wanting in. :4 Do you think Sir, your time and talents would not be better employed, as you are a watchman, in fhewing the people their tranfgreffions, and endeavouring to make them fenfible of the evil of fin, by proving and demonftrating from the purity and perfection of the law of God, that all are under fin, both profeffor and profane; and that there is no other name given under heaven among men, besides that of Jefus, whereby we can be faved; and that without hedding of blood, even the blood of Chrift, there is no remiffion of fin; than by wafting your time, and mifufing your abilities, in order to explode the received doctrines of the gofpel, and obtrude upon the churches of Christ, tenets and opinions which have been condemned again, and again, as heretical and dangerous? Would not this be the most likely means, agreeable to the nature of that ordinance in particular you have addreffed the diffenters upon, of alarming the carelefs, roufing the flothful, of of exalting the adorable Redeemer in :he eyes of poor finners, and begetting love and affection to him in their hearts? And where, and when this is the cafe, will not his blood be precious, and his, name dear? May we not well expect that all who fee themselves to be faved from ruin by his dying for them, will gladly, and willingly take every opportunity of commemorating that death? Whereas on the contrary, where perfons know little of this Saviour, and of that falvation his death has procured, what wonder they neither much remember him nor his death? This is a method of preaching Sir you have no reafon to be ashamed of, you have a prefident in Peter, and the difciples with him on the day of Pentecoft in particular, as well as at other. times. They charged fin home upon their confciences, in language littledifferent from that of Nathan the prophet to the King of Ifrael, by wicked hands ye have crucified and flain the Lord of glory and when pricked in their hearts from a fenfe of their fin, they directed them to a rifen and highly exalted Saviour, through faith in whom, they they might obtain remiffion of fins. Now obferve Sir how this manner of preaching, and doctrine fucceeded, three thousand fouls were added to them in one day; and as these were fenfible of their falvation by Jefus, fo they felt their hearts warm in love towards him, and hence they brake bread from house to house, and to keep fresh in their memory his dying love, they celebrated the ordinance appointed for that end, at least every Lora's day. And I am firmly perfuaded Sir, if ever our wishes fucceed, and the table of the Lord become crouded with acceptable guests, fo defirable a reformation must be effected, by a more warm, and zealous preaching of Chrift, and him crucified. Here their converfation ending, Theologos pleaded the neceffity of profecuting his journey, his horfe was ordered out, and he complaifantly took his leave. DIALOGUE DIALOGUE VII. P HILOXENUS having took leave of Theologos, returned into the room, and faid, well my dear friends, I hardly expected fo much converfation at breakfast this morning, and efpecially of the controverfial kind; however we are greatly obliged to you my dear Amyntas, who have fo well fuftained the onset, and maintained our common caufe. Amyntas. My dear Philoxenus, I claim no thanks, nor efteem them due for doing that which is my indifpenfible duty to do, even to maintain the caufe of God and truth, in the best manner I can; I have too often quitted the field with a difhonourable wound, and too tender of my own reputation, have fuffered fin without reproof, and have heard the glorious truths of the gofpel oppofed, and derided, without entering my proteft. Let the boafting fons of reafon who affume a right of reduc |