my younger years. Blessed Jesus, forgive me that ever I should be so easily led astray from thy word, and part with the blessings of thy atoning sacrifice, and thy sanctifying Spirit. I lie at thy foot a humble penitent, and willing convert to thy divine truths, which these my dear friends have been sent this day by providence to set before me in so powerful and convincing a light: And may I never dare to make the least departure from them again, though under the strongest temptations, but live and die under their blessed influence."

SECT. VIH. A Question about a Minister's preaching Agrippa's Doctrine resolved, with hearty Petitions for Agrippa and all his Followers.

This last scene had something in it so tender and pious, so powerful and affecting, that the whole company felt a saered and uncommon pleasure. Paulinus and Ferventio abundantly expressed the joy of their hearts, nor was Charistes wanting in thankfulness to God on this occasion. Cavenor, when the devout rapture a little subsided, turned himself to Paulinus and Charistes, and in a most moving manner expressed the everlasting obligations he lay under to their discourses. You have recovered me, said he, by the grace of God, from the dangerous snare in which I was held captive, and reduced me to the faith of the gospel. 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 blessed Spirit of God concur with my design? I thank you also, good Ferventio, for that share you have had in my conversion; for though I could not but suspect some want of charity in your discourse, and perhaps I replied a little too roughly, yet your words had so much spirit in them, and carried with them such smart flashes of light, as made their way to my conscience, helped to awaken my stupor, roused me out of my indolence and mistake, and made me more susceptive of better instructions.

I am glad, said Ferventio, if any thing I have said hath been blessed by the providence of God to any useful purpose; and I hope I have not lost my share of profit by all this conversation. Yet I beg leave before the company parts, to ask Charistes one question relating to the foregoing part of his discourse. He has informed us of his charitable sentiments towards persons who are called christians, and yet do not believe those two great and blessed doctrines of christianity: I cannot deny, Sir, but there are some appearances of reason in what you have spoken, and perhaps it is not proper to pronounce an universal sentence of condemnation upon these men. I grant some of my expressions may have been too positive, warm, and severe, and I shall think more of your manner of reasoning, in order to enlarge my charity towards persons under great errors. But

what would you say, Sir, to one who pretends to be a minister of the gospel, who denies these doctrines, and preaches to the people Agrippa's creed? For my part, I declare my opinion freely, I cannot believe him to be a minister of Christ or his gospel, and I should think it my duty to discourage his preaching to the utmost, and persuade all my friends to avoid him as they would avoid poison, or the pestilence. I think it is preaching another gospel, as St. Paul calls it; Gal. i. 6-9. or such a perversion of the gospel of Christ, that if any man whatsoever, or an angel from heaven shall preach it, I believe the great apostle would say, Let him be accursed.

Truly, Sir, replied Charistes, though I have learned to attend with reverence and profit upon the labours of ministers who have had very different sentiments upon many points in christianity, yet I think I should never encourage men to set up for ministers of the gospel, who renounce two of the chief doctrines for which a gospel ministry seems to be instituted, who abandon two of the chief mediums by which sinners are invited and encouraged to repent and return to God, and who leave out of their preaching the two chief blessings for which Christ and the Spirit were revealed to the world. I could never think it my duty to give them any countenance in their work: I could never say, God speed, lest I should be partaker of their evil deeds; 2 John 10, 11. Yet since I am not an apostle, I would not pronounce a curse upon them, but I would pray for them with sincere and hearty addresses to the mercy-seat, that they might be taught better themselves before they proceeded to teach others, lest if the blind lead the blind through a false way, in the midst of day-light and sun-beams and many warnings, they should both fall into the pit and perish in their chosen darkness.

May the God of light and truth open the eyes of all such as go astray, guide them into the paths of grace and peace, and incline them to submit their souls to his conduct in the way of happiness! May they be so wise as to take heed, that they resist not any degrees of scriptural light breaking in upon their minds in their searches after knowledge, lest they provoke God to abandon them to their own darkness for ever. He is a jealous God, tender of the honours and offices of his Son, and of the dignity of his blessed Spirit in his divine operations. Far be it from me in the midst of my charitable language, to speak any thing that should encourage the dangerous opinions of Agrippa and his disciples: But I heartily lift up these petitions of them, that the good Spirit of God would shew them their mistakes, and recover them from every snare of the devil. May he release their souls from every criminal prejudice, and guard their enquiries from every dangerous error, that being converted to the faith of Jesus, as our great sacrifice of atonement, and seeking

and enjoying the sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, they may become honourable professors of the gospel in the peculiar glories of it, and being thus trained up for heaven, may at last be possessed of complete salvation.

These pious wishes of Charistes were pronounced with such an air of devotion and goodness, that all the gentlemen present added their hearty amen to them. Ferventio was so much pleased with all his discourse and his agreeable manner, that since be found Charistes amidst all his charity maintained a zeal for the truths of the gospel, he took a good liking to the man, and entreated further acquaintance with him. Here the conversation ended, and the company broke up with mutual civilities.

AN HUMBLE ATTEMPT

TOWARDS THE

REVIVAL OF PRACTICAL RELIGION AMONG CHRISTIANS,

BY A SERIOUS ADDRESS

то

MINISTERS AND PEOPLE.

4