CONFERENCE I. 387 hour, nor govern, themselves by any rules ofsobriety, but allow and practise injustice and intemperance, or who never repent of former sins, nor Ask God to forgive them. On the other hand, those who know and fear, who loveand honour theonly true God, and are desirous to know his will, and to obey it as far as they know it, who are sober with regard to their own conduct, and just and merciful with regard to their neighbours, who are sensi- ble theyoften fail in their duty, and sincerely repent of sin, who implore forgiveness of God, and hope in his mercy; these per- sons, I say, must certainly be in the main approved ofGod, not- withstanding their many failings. And I think God is too merci- ful a being to condemn such persons to everlasting punishment, or finally to reject those who sincerely love and obey him, though in strict justice their many sins and failings may deserve it. Pithander will please to remember also, that God himself has told us by the apostle Peter ; Acts x. 35. In every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him, though it is not supposed that any man can do it full perfection. LOG. Well, Pithander, what have you to say against these reasonings ? For my part, I think they carry great force with them . and we may both readily give our assent. I will there- fore begin my argument, ifyou please ? PITH. I am very unwilling to oppose what Sophronius has Said : But I hope he will not take it ill, if I ask the favour of an answer to one question, before I give my complete assent to it, and before our debate begin. Sores. With utmost freedom, Sir, propose any objection, and I will either give a fair answer to the difficulty you propose, or submit to the force of it, and retract my opinion in this matter ; for I am always ready to learn and receive instruction from any man, and particularly from gentlemen of your cloth : though I dare subject my understanding and conscience to no master but Christ. PITH. Then, Sir, since you thus roundly profess yourself a Christian, I would take the freedom to enquire, whether in every discovery of grace andmercy which God has made to sinful man- kind, he hath not always enjoined some positive institution and duty, over and above the mere duties which the light of nature or reason could dictate to innocent or sinful man ? When he gave our first parents any hope of favour after their sin, did he not enjoin sacrifices, at least as a shadow or token ofatonement ?. Did he not appoint some faith or hope in a Mediator or Saviour, viz. the seed of the woman, that should break the headof the serpent, or destroy the works of the devil? Was not this positive institu- tion of sacrifices continued also to Noah and to Abraham, together with someclearer accounts of a Messiah given to Abraham, and a demand ofhope or trust in him ? Were not the same positive nh 2
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=