" of Obedience and Righteoufnefs, here is for "thee, to anfwer and fatisfy for thy Difobedi"ence and Unrighteoufnefs, if Thou become "a Child of the Covenant. Here is enough

for every Soul that comes to Him, be they "never fo many. Like the Widow's Oil in the "Book of Kings, there is enough and enough "again, as long as any Veffel is brought to « receive it *.

We need not wonder, that Gentiles, who are ignorant of the REDEEMER; that Jews, who treat Him with contemptuous Scorn; that Profeffors of Religion, who deny his eternal GODHEAD; place little, if any Confidence in his Righteoufnefs. But it is ftrange, that Chriflians, who know the S AVIOUR; who acknowledge his Divinity; and believe Him to be exalted above all Bleffing and Praise—it is exceedingly strange, that they do not rejoice in Him; make their Beast of Him; and fay, with a becoming Difdain, of every other Dependance, Get ye hence +!

Such an Affemblage of divine Perfections, muft warrant, muft demand, the moft undivided, and the most unbounded Confidence. -There never was, no, not in all Ages, nor in all Worlds, any thing greater or richer, more dignified or exalted, than the Obedience of our LORD.-Nay; it is impoffible for Men

* Lightfoot's Works, Vol. II. p. 1258. † fai, xxx. 2.2.

Men or Angels to imagine, what could be fo fuited to our Wants, fe proper for our Reliance, or fo fure to anfwer, more than anfwer all our Expectations.

Upon the Whole; let me intreat my Theron to contemplate our LORD JESUS CHRIST, under that most illuftrious Character, described by the Prophet, A PRIEST upon his THRONE *. Dignifying the facerdotal Cenfer by the regal Diadem; adding all the Honours of his eternal Divinity, to the Sacrifice of his bleeding Humanity.-Then, I promise myself, You will find it almost impoffible, not to adopt the emphatical and ardent Proteftation of the Apoftle; GOD forbid, that I fhould glory, that I should confide, fave only in the Obedience and the Cross of CHRIST JESUS my LORD!

When You made the Tour of France and Italy; and, croffing the Alps, gained the Summit of some commanding Ridge-When You looked round, with Astonishment and Delight, on the ample Plains, which, crouded with Cities, and adorned with Palaces, ftretch their beauteous Tracts below-When You furveyed the famous Rivers, that roll in filent but fhining Dignity; ftating the Boundaries of Kingdoms, and wafting Plenty through the gladdened Nations-When You fhot your tranf

H 4

ported

* Zech. vi. 13.

ported View to the Ocean, whose unmeasurable Flood meets the Arch of Heaven, and terminates the Landschape with inconceivable Grandeur-Did You, then, choose to forego the Pleasure refulting from fuch a Profpect, in order to gaze upon the naked Cragg of fome adjacent Rock? Or, could You turn your Eyes from thofe magnificent Objects, and fasten them with pleased Attention upon a shallow Puddle, that lay ftagnating at your Feet?

You, Who have beheld the Scene, can accommodate the Simile, with peculiar Advantage. For which Reason, I fhall wave the Application; and only beg leave to tranfcribe into my Paper a Wish, that is now warm on my Heart, and is often breathed in Supplication from my Lips-May the FATHER of our Spirits, and the Fountain of Wisdom, give Us an inlightened Understanding, to KNOW Him that is true: grant Us the ineftimable Bleffing, that We may BE IN Him that is true, even in his SON JESUS CHRIST. For, this SAVIOUR is the true GOD, and that Privilege is Life eternal *.

My Theron needs no Arguments to convince Him, that fuch a Prayer is an Act of rational and real Friendship; is the most genuine and fubftantial Proof, that I am

His truly affectionate

* 1 John V. 20.

ASPASIO

my Heart. I might inform You, what Pleafure they gave me, and how highly I esteem them. But You defire no fuch Compliments: You defire to see me impreffed with the Sentiments, and living under their Influence. This would be the most acceptable Acknowledgment to my Afpafio, because it would be the most happy Effect to his Theron. May every Day, therefore, bring a fresh Acceffion of fuch Gratitude to me, and of fuch Satisfaction

to You!

To watch for my Soul, and pray for my Salvation, I am thoroughly convinced, is the trueft Inftance of rational and exalted Friendfhip. Every Claim to that amiable Character, is defective and vain, if it does not extend to our spiritual Interefts, and our everlasting Welfare. For which Reason, I need not intreat you to continue and perpetuate this best

Ex

Expreffion of focial Kindness. Or if I do, itis rather to testify how much I prize the Favour, than to prompt your affectionate and ready Mind.

Your laft found me at a Friend's House, that lies pretty near the western Ocean.-Yefterday, waked by the Lark, and rifing with the Dawn*, I ftrolled into the fragrant Air, and dewy Fields. While, as Shakespeare with his usual Sprightliness expreffes himself,

-focund Day

Stood tip-toe on the misty Mountain's Top.

Sweet was the Breath of Morn, and fweet the Exhalations of the freshened FlowersGrateful were the foft Salutes of the cooling Zephyrs, attended with the Charm of earliest Birds-Delightful the Sun, painting with his orient Beams the Chambers of the Firmament, and unveiling the Face of univerfal Nature.

My Mind, but little affected with these inferior Entertainments, was engaged in contemplating

* Evandrum ex humili Tecto Lux fufcitat alma,

Et matutini Volucrum fub Culmine Cantus. Virg.

Lux alma-A lovely Expreffion! Defcribing the Mildnefs, the Beauty, and the chearing Efficacy of the rifing Sun. It is, I think, incapable of an equal Translation; but reminds me of a very fine Comparifon in our facred Eclogues, which reprefents the charming Appearance, and the benign Influence of the Gospel-church, at its firft Opening on the Gentile World-Who is this that looketh forth as the Morning? Cant. VI. 10.