when He fpeaks of Fighting the good Fight running the Race + of Faith.

A Sinner, feeking for Heaven and Salvation, I would not compare to an active Gentleman rifing from his Seat; but rather to a hip-wrecked Mariner, labouring to gain fome Place of Safety.-He efpies a large Rock, which rears its Head above the boisterous Flood. To this He bears away, and to this He approaches: but, whirling Winds, and dafhing Waves, drive Him back to an unhappy Diftance.-Exerting all his Strength, He advances nearer ftill; and attempts to climb the defirable Eminence. When, a fweeping Surge interpofes, and drenches Him in the rolling Deep.-By determined Efforts, He recovers the Space He had loft. Now, He faftens on the Cliff, and has almoft escaped the Danger. But, there is fuch a Numbnefs in his Limbs, that He cannot maintain his Hold; and fuch an impetuous Swell in the Ocean, that He is once more diflodged, and plunged afresh into the raging Billows.-What can He do? His Life, his precious Life, is at stake. He muft renew, ftill renew, and never intermit his Endeavours. Neither let Him abandon Himself to Defpair. The MASTER fees Him, amidst all his fruitlefs Toil. Let Him cry earnestly; LORD, fave me! I perish! And HE, who commandeth the Winds and the Waves, will put forth his beneficent Hand; will refcue Him from the devouring Sea; and fet his Feet upon the Rock. Enabling him to believe, to the Salvation of his Soul.

Such, my Friend, so painful, so affiduous, are frequently the Conflicts of an awakened Sinner; before

it

1 Tim. vi. 12.

+ Heb. xii. 1, 2.

*

and

it is given Him to reft, in peaceful Security, on the Rock of Ages, CHRIST JESUS. Of this You may, fome Time or other, be affured, not only from my Lips, but from your own Experience.

Ther. What may happen in fome future Period of Time, is beyond my Power to forefee. At prefent, I am apt to think, We must put a stop to the theological Lecture. Don't You remember our Engagement with Altinous? And You will own, that Punctuality in performing our Promifes, is at least a moral Virtue, if it be not a chriftian Grace. * Phil. i. 29.

DIA

3

DIALOGUE VI.

SPASIO's Affairs called Him to Lon don. He ftaid in Town a few Days. But as foon as Bufinefs was finished, he quitted the City, and haftened to his Friend's Country-feat.-Upon his Arrival, He found fome agreeable Company, who came on purpose to spend an Evening with the Family. This Incident, gave a Refpite from Controversy, and prevented the immediate Profecution of their Debate. As the next Morning proved mifty, and unfit for walking abroad, Theron invited Afpefio to pafs an Hour in his Study.

It was fituate at the Extremity of a large Gallery which, while it conducted the Feet to a Repofitory of Learning, interpofed between the Ear, and all the Disturbance of domeftic Affairs. So that You are accommodated with every Thing, that may regale a ftudious Mind; and incommoded with nọthing, that may interrupt a fedate Attention.Afpafio readily confented to the Propofal; but defired, firft, to take a Turn in this beautiful Oblong, and divert Himfelf with the Decorations of the Place.

6

Afp.

Afp. A very fhort Survey, Theron, is fufficient to difcover the Correctness of your Judgment, and the true Delicacy of your Taste.-Here, are no impertinent and frivolous Exhibitions, of romantic Tales, or poctic Stories. Here, are no indecent Pieces of Imagery, that tend to corrupt a chafte, or inflame a wanton Fancy.-On the contrary, I am prefented with a Collection of Maps, accurately drawn by the moft able Hands; and with feveral remarkable Tranfactions of Antiquity, moft eloquently told in the Language of the Pencil.-You have happily hit that grand Point, which the Gentleman of Refinement, as well as the Author of Genius, fhould ever keep in his View-The Union of the Beneficial with the Delightful *.

Ther. Indeed, my Afpafio, I have often been difappointed, fometimes even shocked, in the Gardens, the Porticos, and the Walks of fome modern Virtuofi. Their Pourtraits and Statues are little else, but an Affemblage of elaborate Trifles. Ixion ftretched upon the Wheel, or Phaeton precipitated from the Chariot. Apollo ftringing his Lyre, or Jupiter (I beg his fupreme Highnefs's Pardon, for not giving Him the Precedence in my Catalogue) beftriding his Eagle, and balancing his Bolts.— Pray, where is the Advantage of being introduced to this fabulous Tribe of Gentry? What noble Idea can they awaken, or what valuable Impreffion leave upon the Mind? The beft We can fay of fuch Performances, is, That they are Limning and Sculpture expensively thrown away.

This

* Omne tulit Punctum, qui miscuit Utile Dulci. HOR.

This celebrated Trumpery, One can bear with, however. But, when the Painting and Sculpture, instead of cultivating Virtue, and improving our Morals, are calculated to be the very Bane of bcthwill You call this an elegant Entertainment? No: 'tis a Nuifance. 'Tis a Peft.-In the Statues, I grant, every Dimple finks, and every Mufcle fwells, with the exactest Propriety. The Countenance is animated with Life, and the Limbs are ready to ftart into Motion.-The Picture, I am fenfible, is as highly finished as the Effigy. The Distributions of Light and Shade most artfully adjufted. The Diminutions of the Perfpective true to a Nicety. Nor can any Thing exceed the eafy Flow of the Robe, unless it be the graceful Attitude, and almoft fpeaking Afpect, of the principal Figure.-But, is this masterly Execution an Equivalent for the most malignant Effects? For fullying the Purity of my Fancy, and poisoning the Powers of my Imagination?

Is it an Indication of the Owner's judicious Tafte, to prefer Regularity of Features in the hammered Block, before orderly and harmonious Affections in his own Breast? Does it befpeak a refined Difpofition, or a benevolent Temper, to be fo extravagantly enamoured with the Touches of a lascivious Pencil; as to expose them in the most frequented Paffages, and obtrude them on every unwary Gueft?-Surely, this can create no very advantageous Opinion of a Gentleman's intellectual Difcernment. Much lefs can it raife an amiable Idea of his moral Character *. On fuch

* "Tis Pity, but the Advice of Cicero, (that great Mafter of elegant Tafte, and polite Manners) was received

VOL. I,

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as