I fhall only add one word in relation to another point.

I have already fhewn the falfenefs and evil tendency of your argument against excommunication, which you afferted to be a dream and trifle, without any effect, because it is our own behaviour alone which can fignify any thing to us with regard to the favour of God. Now, my lord, this philofophy ftrikes at the very vitals of the Chriftian religion: for, if this fentence can have no effect, if it is a dream and trifle, because it is our behaviour alone on which the favour of God depends; then how fhall we account for these paffages of Scripture, which attribute.our juftification to the merits and death of Chrift? As thus; "Jefus Chrift, who gave himfelf for our fins *.” "In whom we have redemption, through his blood t." "Being juftified by his blood, we shall be faved from wrath ‡." It is the conftant uniform doctrine of Scripture, that our reconciliation and peace with God, our juftification and fanctification. before God, is owing to the merits and death of Chrift. But if what you have faid be true, that it is our behaviour alone, which procures the favour of God, then, the blood of Chrift must be as truly without any effect, as excommunication is without any effect.

doc

For if the favour of God depends entirely upon our behaviour alone, then it can depend upon nothing else; and if it depend upon nothing elfe, then every thing elfe is equally trifling and without any effect as to that purpofe; and confequently every paf fage in Scripture which afcribes our acceptance with God to the merits and blood of Chrift, is as much condemned by your trine, as the effects of excommunication are condemned by it. Whether your lordship did not perceive the inconfiftency of this doctrine with that fatisfaction and redemption which the Scriptures teach; or whether you knowingly intended to oppose this doctrine, is what I fhall leave to every one's own judgment. Thus much I fhall only say, that as you have here directly contradicted the first principle of the Chriftian religion, if it is not what you intended, I hope you will, for the fake of Chriftianity, venture to declare, that though you have afferted, that it is our behaviour alone, yet it is not our behaviour alone, but more particularly the merits and death of Chrift which recommends us to the favour of God.

* Gal. i, 3.

+ Ephef. i. 7.

END OF VOL. I.

Rom. v. 9.