the memorable journal of the difciples going to Emmaus ; are finished models of the impaffioned and affecting. Here is nothing fludied; here are no flights of fancy; no embellishments of oratory. If we fometimes choofe a plaintive train, fuch as foftens the mind, and fooths an agreeable melancholy, are any of the claffic writers fuperior, in the eloquence of mourning, to David's pathetic elegy on his beloved Jonathan ; to his moft paffionate and inconfolable moan over the lovely but unhappy Abfalom; or to that melodious wo, which warbles and bleeds in every line of Jeremiah's Lamentations?

Are we admirers of antiquity? Here we are led back, beyond the univerfal deluge, and far beyond the date of any other annals. We are introduced to the earliest inhabitants of the earth. We take a view of mankind in their undisguised primitive plainnefs, when the days of their life were but little fhort of a thoufand years. We are brought acquainted with the origin of nations; with the creation of the world; and with the birth of time itself.

Are we delighted with vast achievements? Where is any thing comparable to the miracles in Egypt, and the wonders in the field of Zoan? to the memoirs of the Ifraelites paffing through the depths of the fea; fojourning amidst the inhofpitable deferts; and conquering the kingdom of Canaan? Here we behold the fundamental laws of the univerfe, fometimes fufpended, fometimes reverfed; and not only the current of Jordan, but the course of nature controlled.

If we want maxims of wisdom, or have a tafte for the laconic ftyle-how copiously may our wants be fupplied, and how delicately our tafte gratified! efpecially in the book of Proverbs, Ecclefiaftes, and fome of the minor prophets. Here are the mcft fage leffons of inftruction, adapted to every circumstance of life; formed upon the experience of all preceding ages; and perfected by the unerring Spirit of infpiration. Thefe are delivered with fuch remarkable concifenefs, that one might venture to fay, every word is a fentence; at least every fentence may be called an apophthegm, fparkling with brightnefs of thought, or weighty with folidity of fenfe. The whole, like a profufion of pearls, containing, in a very fmall compafs, a value almost immenfe; all heaped up (as an ingenious writer obferves) with a confufed magnificence, above the little niceties of

order.

If we look for ftrength of reasoning, and warmth of exhortation, or the manly boldnefs of impartial reproof; let us have recourse to the acts of the apoftles, and to the epistles of Paul. These are a fpecimen, or rather these are the standard, of them all.

Another recommendation of the Scriptures, is, that they afford the most awful and most amiable manifestations of the Deity. His glory fhines, and his goodnefs fmiles, in thofe divine pages, with unparelleled luftre. Here we have a satisfactory explanation of our own ftate. The origin of evil is traced; the caufe of all our mifery discovered; and the remedy, the infallible remedy, both clearly shown, and freely offered. The atonement and interceffion of Christ lay a firm foundation for all our hopes; while gratitude for his dying love fuggefts the most winning incitements to every duty. Morality, Theron, your (and, let me add, my) admired morality, is here delineated in all its branches, is placed upon its proper bafis, and raised to its highest elevation. The Holy Spirit is promifed to enlighten the darknefs of our understandings, and ftrengthen the imbecility of our wills. What an ample-Can you indulge me in this favourite topic?

THERON.

It is, I affure you, equally pleafing to myself. Your enlargements, therefore need no apology.

ASPASIO.

What ample provifion is made, or referred to, by these excellent books, for all our fpiritual wants! and, in this refpect, how indifputable is their fuperiority to all other compofitions! Is any one convinced of guilt, as provoking Heaven, and ruining the foul? Let him afk reafon to point out a means of reconciliation, and a refuge of fafety. Reafon hefitates, as he replies; "the Deity may, perhaps, accept our fupplications, and grant forgiveness. But the Scriptures leave us not to the fad uncertainty of conjecture. They fpeak the language of clear affurance. God hath fet forth a propitiation he does forgive our iniquities he will remember our fins no more.

Are we affaulted by temptation, or averfe to duty? Philofophy may attempt to parry the thrust, or to ftir up the reluctant mind, by difclofing the deformity of vice, and urging the fitnefs of things. Feeble expedients, just as well calculated to accomplish the ends propofed, as the flimfy fortification of a cobweb to defend us from the ball of a

cannon. The Bible recommends no fuch incompetent fuccours. "My grace," fays its almighty Author, "is fufficient for thee." "Sin fhall not have dominion over you." The great Jehovah, in whom is everlasting strength "worketh in us both to will, and to do of his good pleasure. Should we be vifited with ficknefs, or overtaken by any calamity, the confolation which Plato offers, is, that fuch difpenfations coincide with the universal plan of divine gov. ernment. Virgil will tell us, for our relief, that afflictive vifitations are, more or lefs, the unavoidable lot of all men. Another moralift whifpers in the dejected fufferer's ear, "Impatience adds to the load: whereas a calm fubmiffion renders it more fupportable." Does the word of revelation difpenfe fuch spiritlefs and fugitive cordials? No those facred pages inform us, that tribulations are fatherly chaftisements, tokens of our Maker's love, and fruits of his care; that they are intended to work in us the peaceable fruits of righteousness; and to work out for us an eternal weight of glory.

:

Should we, under the fummons of death, have recourse to the most celebrated comforters in the heathen world; they would increase our apprehenfions, rather than mitigate our dread Death is reprefented, by the great mafter of their fchools, as the most formidable of all evils. They were not able to determine, whether the foul furvived the body. Whereas, this infpired volume ftrips the monfter of his horrors, or turns him into a meffenger of peace; gives him an angel's face, and a deliverer's hand; and afcertains to the fouls of the righteous, an immediate tranflation into the regions of blifs.

THERON.

Another very diftinguishing peculiarity of the facred writings juft occurs to my mind; the method of communicating advice, or adminiftering reproof, by parables: a method which levels itfelf to the lowelt apprehenfion, without giving offence to the moft fupercilious temper. Our Lord was asked by a student of the Jewish law, "Who is my neighbour ?" which implied another question, "How is he to be loved?" The inquirer was conceited of himself, yet ignorant of the truth, and deficient in his duty. Had the wife inftructer of mankind abruptly declared, “ Thou neither knoweft the former, nor fulfillelt the latter," probably the querift would have reddened with indignation, and departed in a rage. To teach, therefore, and not dif

guft; to convince the man of his error, and not exasperate his mind, he frames a reply, as amiable in the manner as it was well adapted to the purpose.

A certain perfon going down from Jerufalem to Jericho, fell among thieves. Not content to rob him of his treafure, they trip him of his garments; wound him with great barbarity; and leave him half dead. Soon after this calamitous accident, a traveller happens to come along that very road and what renders him more likely to afford relief, he is one of the minifters of religion; one who taught others the lovely leffons of humanity and charity; and who was, therefore, under the strongest obligations to exemplify them in his own practice. He juft glances an eye upon the deplorable object; fees him ftretched on the cold ground, and weltering in his blood; but takes no farther notice; nay, to avoid the trouble of an inquiry, he paffes by on the other fide. Scarcely was he departed, when a Levite approaches. This man comes nearer, and looks on the miserable fpectacle; takes a leifurely and attentive furvey of the cafe and though every gafh in the bleeding flesh cried and pleaded for compaffion, this minister of the fanctuary neither fpeaks a word to comfort, nor moves a hand to help. Laft of all comes a Samaritan; one of the abhorred nation, whom the Jews hated with the moft implacable malignity. Though the Levite had neglected an expiring brother; though the priest had withheld his pity from one of the Lord's peculiar people; the very moment this Samaritan fees the unhappy fufferer, he melts into commiferation. He forgets the embittered foe, and confiders only the dif treffed fellow creature. He fprings from his horfe, and refolves to intermit his journey. The oil and wine intended for his own refreshment, he freely converts into healing ungents. He binds up the wounds; fets the difabled frang. er upon his own beaft; and with all the affiduity of a fervant, with all the tenderness of a brother, conducts him to an inn. There he depofits money for his present use; charges the host to omit nothing that might conduce to the recovery or comfort of his gueft; and promifes to defray the whole expense of his lodging, his maintenance, and his

cure.

What a lively picture of the moft difinterested and active benevolence! a benevolence which excludes no perfons, not even strangers or enemies, from its tender regards; which dildains no condefcenfion, grudges no coft, in its labours of

love! Could any method of conviction have been more forcible, and at the fame time more pleafing, than the interrogatory propofed by our Lord, and deduced from the narrative?"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves?" Or can there be an advice more fuitable to the occafion, more important in its nature, or expreffed with a more fententious energy, than that which is contained in these words; "Go thou, and dolikewife?" In this cafe, the learner inftructs, the delinquent condemns himself. Bigotry bears away its prejudice; and pride, (when the moral fo fweetly, fo imperceptibly infinuates,) even pride itself, lends a willing ear to admonition.

all

ASPASIO.

It has been very justly remarked, that this eloquence of fimilitude is equally affecting to the wife, and intelligible to the ignorant. It shows, rather than relates, the point to be illuftrated. It has been admired by the best judges in ages; but never was carried to its highest perfection, till our Lord fpoke the parable of the prodigal; which has a beauty that no paraphrafe can heighten; a perfpicuity that renders all interpretation needlefs; and a force which every reader, not totally infenfible, muft feel.

THERON.

The condefcenfion and goodness of God are every where confpicuous. In the productions of nature, he conveys to us the most valuable fruits, by the intervention of the lovelieft bloffoms. Though the prefent is in itself extremely acceptable, he has given it an additional endearment, by the beauties which array it, or the perfumes which furround it. In the pages of revelation, likewife, he has communicated to us the most glorious truths, adorned with the excellencies of compofition. They are, as one of their writers very elegantly fpeaks, "like apples of gold in pictures of filver."

ASPASIO.

Who then would not willingly obey that benign command! "Thou fhalt talk of them when thou fitteft in thine houfe, and when thou walkeft by the way; when thou lieft down, and when thou rifeft up."

When I confider the language of the fcriptures, and fometimes experience the holy energy which accompanies them, I am inclined to fay, "Other writings, though polifhed with the nicest touches of art, only tinkle on the ear,