510 THE SACRIFICE Or CHRIST. teaches ? No surely : These doctrines were made originallyfor innocent man, and were found insufficient to restore him after his fall. But Christ was sent, if we will believe the gospel, to do that for us which the law and light of nature coaldnot do, in that it was weak through our.flesh, that is, through our inca- pacity óffulling it : Hr was sent down to die and be sacri- ficed for the sins of men, that is, to ransom or redeem men, who by their sins had deserved death, and to turn their sinful or vici- ous hearts to the love of God and holiness, by the enlightening and persuasive influences and effectual operations of his Holy Spirit, to lead them not only into the belief and practice of the natural law of God, but also to teach them' some new doctrines and duties, such as faith in the blood of Christ; Rom. iii. 25. Seeking justification before God not by any law of works, but by the righteousness or obedience and death of Christ ; Gat, iii. -11-14. tom. v. 9, 10, 18, 19. Love and obedience to Christ as our Lord and Saviour; John xiv. 15. Heb. T. 9. Praying for the Spirit of God to enlighten, renew and sanctify us, and to help us in our addresses to God and every duty; John iii. 5, 6. Luke xi. 1 -13. Rom. viii. 26. Love to our enemies by the example of Christ, and hope of the resurrection of the bodd and eternal life through his death and rising again, andhis everlasting intercession ; Itom. viii. 11, 34. 1 Cor. xv. 20, 23. Heb. vii. 25. These are articles which the light of nature knows nothing of; and which shall certainly issue in the salvation of those who believe and practise them. Thus spoke Paulinos in the company of some of his friends. Cavenor and 1{'erventio were both present ; the former liad lately imbibed the opinions of Agrippa secretly, but amidst his new doctrines he found some doubtings still, and was solicitous and cautious about his salva- tion : Ferventio was a mortal enemy to these opinions, and main- tained the common articles of faith with a warm and vehement zeal. There was another man in company, one Charistes, a hearty christian, and a person of known moderation in religious disputes: Ferventio had little knowledgeof him indeed, but he lived most times in Paulinus's house, and was much in esteem withCavenor. Í am sorry, says Charistes, that such a sort of new chris- tianity as Agrippa's creed should ever prevail among us. Aye, says Ferventio, with anger in his looks, it is sad indeed, for our old religion is quite spoiled by it and destroyed. Why should either of you be sorry or angry, answered Cavenor, if this should appear to be truth, though it has not been the current sen- timent of our fathers ? Pray, good Paulinos, now you have told us your own belief, tell us what youwould say to such a man as Agrippa, to make it evident to his reason, that your creed is the true religion taught by Christ and his apostles, and that his
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