388 STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF HUMAN REASON. institutions and requirements ofsacrifice and trust in a Messiah, is Saviour, given to Moses and the Jews, together withmany other rites and ceremonies, in order to their acceptance with God ? And when Jesus Christ came into the world, afaith or trust in this Messiah, or trust in the mercy of God throughhim, was made a necessary qualification of our acceptance with God, besides repentance and new obedience, and an humble desire offorgive- ness of past offences. I grant indeed, that the ordinances which weregiven to Abraham, tothe Jews, and to the gentiles to whom the gospel of Christ was preached, were not required of all the world. The special rules given to Abraham obliged the family ofAbraham ; those given to Moses obliged only the Jews ; the particuliar and positive duties of christianitycould oblige no fami- lies or nations but those to whom they were once made known ; but the positive institution of sacrifices, and the hopes of some promised Saviour were appointed to Adam and Noah, and their families, and these appointments therefore belong to all nations of mankind, for they were given to them all in those two general fathers of the world. My query now is, whether or no any nations under heaven, who never heard of Christ, can have any comfortable hopes of acceptance with God if they practise not these positive duties of revelation, viz. sacrifices and trust in some Mediator or Saviour, over and abovethe naturalduties of repent- ance, asking pardon of God, andnew obedience, which the light of nature requires of every sinner ? Sores. Your query, Pithander, is of great importance'itt this controversy ; and I am glad youstarted it, that L may clear the stage for your further dispute, and make your work the easier on both sides. I will not dispute withyou about the divine institution of sacrifices after the sin of Adam, for this is very probable, though not expressly revealed : And I will readily grant, that in every further discoveryof divine mercy to sinful men, there bath been generally something of such positive insti- tutions required, as well as the natural duties of repentance and future obedience, &c. But let us consider these few things, viz. First, That God is a being of infinite goodness and holiness in himself, and delights in it inhis creatures, and therefore must delight to exercise sortie mercy toward those Who are holy, who return sincerely to his fear, and love, and holiness, and are so far partakersof his likeness, even though they happen to be ignorant of all positive institutions. , Let us consider, in the second place, that the duties of repentance, the fear and love of God, and new obedience, and a humble seeking of pardon at the hands of God, are much more proper and more important qualifications to fit a soul for the favour of his Maker, and for heavenly blessedness, than any positive rites or appointments whatsoever. And let us, in the third place, consider yet further, that Godhath made
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