whom he acknowledges He recognizes not, by devotion, his being and perfections; he believes not in divine providence, and, therefore, deprecates not thofe evils to which he is expofed; folicits not the divine favor, nor does he exprefs his gratitude for the mercies he has received.

Exposed to temptations, he prays not for ability to retain his integrity. He dedicates no part of

brance of Abraham's offering his fon Ifaac in faerifice, though under different names; and hence the imitation and custom derived to them, and migrated into almoft all other heathen nations.

The inference is obvious, that as all human victims took their rife from the fuppofed actual facrifice that Abraham made of his fon, the intent and efficacy of that facrifice must have been enquired into, and upon that perfuafion, the practice must have been established and propagated by example.

Thus they believed a fingular virtue of propitiation in thefe inhuman rites, which belief fùpported, for fo great a length of time, a barbarous cuftom among the most civilized nations, after the grand intention of this firft typical human oblation, was entirely obliterated from the memory." Weekly mifcellany, vol. I. p. 289.

Are we affaulted, fays the Rev. Mr. Hervey, by temptations; or are we averfe 'to duty? Philofophy may attempt to parry the thruft,or to

his time to the attainment of religious inftruction and improvement in virtue.

Though under the most forcible obligations to love God, he doth not profefs it to be his duty to give him his heart. Though he hath frequently finned against him, he prays not for forgiveness ;+

Air up the reluctant mind, by difclofing the deformity of vice, and urging the fitnefs of things. Feeble expedients! Juft as well calculated to accomplish the ends propofed, as is the flimfy for. tification of a cobweb, to defend us from the ball of a cannon; or, as are the gentle vibrations of a lady's fan,' to make a wind bound mavy fail!

The bible recommends no fuch incompetent fuccours. "My grace, fays its almighty author, is Sufficient for thee." 2 Cor. xii. 9.

The

Sin thall not have dominion over you." Rom. vi. 15. great JEHOVAH, in whom is everlasting ftrength, He worketh in us both to will and to do, of his good pleasure." Phil. ii. 13. Dialogues, vol.

I. p. 34.

Should a deift be even penitent for his fins, and fupplicate the divine forgiveness, what ration. al affurance hath he, that his fins will be forgiven?

Is any one convinced of guilt, (fays the amiable divine, mentioned in the preceding note) 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 the re

penitence for fin, and fanctity of heart, are no part of his creed.

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plies; the deity may, perhaps, accept your supplications and grant forgiveness.

But the fcriptures leave us not to the fad uncertainty of conjecture. They speak the language of clear affurance. GOD has "fet forth a propitiation." Rom. ii. 25. He does" forgive our iniquities." Pfal. ciii. 3. "He will remember our fins no more." Heb. viii. 12. Dialogues, vol. I. p. 34, 35.

Is it not for the honor of the divine majefty, to exercife juftice as well as mercy? Or cán it be proper for us fo extravagantly to magnify the ami.ble as to depreciate, nay, even annihilate, the awful attributes of the deity?

This, fays a poet, is the theology, not of chrif tians, but of infidels.

"Who fet at odds heaven's jarring attributes,
And with one excellence, another wound;
Main heaven's perfection,break its equal beams,
Bid mercy triumph over-God himfelf,
Undeified by their opprobrious praife;
A GOD all mercy, is a GOD unjust.”

YOUNG.

"Die man, or justice must; unless for him
Some other able, and as willing, pay
The rigid fatisfaction, death for death.”

MILTON.

- He apprehends he may fin with impunity; that he is not obligated to practice the virtues of humi lity and temperance; fobriety and chastity, nor in. deed to discharge any duty to God, to mankind, nor to himself, except with refpect to men," to do juftice, to love mercy, and to endeavor to make them happy."

Admirable fyftem of ethics! Worthy of this AGE OF REASON! The delight of the fenfualift and debauchee! Wonderfully calculated to fubdue the finful paffions of men; to dignify human nature; to procure the favor of GOD, and to prepare men for the enjoyment of his prefence !

The phrase "to do justice and to love mercy," appears evidently to be borrowed from fcripture; but left it fhould be thought fo; or be

*Micah vi. 8. "He hath thewed thee, O Man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do juftly; and to love mercy; and to walk humbly with thy God?"

It is feared this text hath, by fome chriftians, been misapprehended. Juftice, mercy and humility, are, indeed, cardinal virtues; but thould they, (in the common acceptation of the words) be poffeffed by us, we might, notwithstanding, be defective in our duty; be the flaves of vice; be polluted by fin, and devoid of the Almighty's af fection.

A perfon may be merciful, juft and humble, while he continues in a ftate of INFIDELITY;

cause it is no article of Mr. Paine's religion to "walk humbly with God," the latter part of the fentence was fuppreffed, and the former was not quoted, by reafon it declares that God had “shewn to man what is good."

However clearly Mr. Paine may be in opinion, that it is his duty to "do juftly and to love mercy," he is unable, it is imagined, to prove that thefe duties are enjoined on him by the law of

nature.

It is declared by a celebrated deift, that the great principle which nature has implanted in the

rejects the difpenfation of the gospel; is deftitute of fobriety; temperance and chastity, and indulges himself in many vices.

The phrafe, therefore, "to walk humbly with God," is very comprehenfive, and is defigned to include here, the whole of our duty; except our doing juftice and loving mercy."

Agreeable to the tenor of the facred writings, can it be faid, that we "walk humbly with God;" perform all our duty, or are entitled to falvation, unless we give our affent to the truths of divine revelation; are penitent for our fins; rely on the merits of Chrift, for the pardon of our offences; revere all the divine precepts, to the utmost of our ability, and are poffeffed of all the graces and virtues of chriftianity; holiness, RENOVATION of HEART, and a meetnefs to participate of celestial enjoyments?