according to the conditions of the Christian faith, (which, though I did not understand it, yet I was then fully disposed to believe, from a sense of the omnipotence of God, and of my own utter blindness, ignorance, and corruptness) supposing this to be the case, how far was it possible, or probable, that such an exalted, glorious, happy, and perfect being would condescend, by suffering for us, to pay the dreadful penalty which we had incurred; or that His Almighty Father, against whom we had sinned, would accept of such reparation and satisfaction; nay, that He would even deign (as it were) to be crucified in the person of His Son, for the sake of such vile ungrateful creatures?

This appeared to me to be altogether so astonishing, so incomprehensible! such a stupendous height of love, mercy, compassion, benevolence, generosity, magnanimity, if such terms might be used in such a case; and at the same time (considering the infinite difficulty of the arrangement, which was to reconcile such contradictions and apparent impossibilities) mixed with such infinite wisdom, holiness, and justice, as entirely exceeded all bounds of human imagination! such indeed as no man could approach to in thought, without infinite presumption and sacrilege, unless he knew God in Christ. But as free and voluntary from God,

who alone had authority and power to make or accept such an arrangement, I perceived at once (by the gift of the grace of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ) that this therefore was God; that this was the one very special reason to faith, why it was not only possible, and credible, but also must be absolutely certain. It was what God alone could imagine, or contrive, or execute *!

The above views of the Gospel salvation, though lively, were yet only a few of the most obvious and striking to me. I now consider, in addition, and to my higher wonder, admiration, and adoration, that the Lord foresaw that man would fall if He created him, and tried him as He knew to be necessary and sufficient. Also, that HE knew that man must certainly perish eternally, if HE, HIMSELF, did not suffer the penalty of death and hell for him. Also, that foreknowing all this, HE still determined to create him, and to die for him, that he might live for ever, and be partaker of His own nature and happiness; and that all the universe of angels and men might see and know what was His real nature, and His ultimate will, by means of what HE would do and suffer voluntarily, as a creature in our nature; and not only by what He should command His creatures to do and to suffer. That is to say, that they might see and feel, that His real nature is holiness and happiness; truth in love. That by accepting a vicarious sacrifice and atonement, they might see that His indignation and hatred was against sin only, and not against the miserable sinners of mankind. For he whose fierce anger and just vengeance is personal, must sacrifice, must destroy that person and no other. A vicarious sacrifice, if proposed to such an one, must be an insult, as well as an absurdity.

It was the highest pinnacle of the divine goodness, power, and wisdom. I saw that HE was indeed most glorious in all His mighty works; but I saw, and felt also, through grace, that all His other glories vanished away, as it were, before this glory of glories, miracle of miracles, holy of holies, so truly descriptive of His peculiar self, which is love in truth, and truth in love. I saw undeniably, that to worship HIM in any other light than that of redemption, in any other character than in that of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, was to degrade His infinite majesty on one hand, and blasphemously to deny our own sin on the other; and lastly, to devote ourselves to eternal perdition.

Such rapturous thoughts and sentiments as these, rushing like lightning into my soul, fixed me down to my chair for a time, in a kind of stupor, or trance of mental abstraction, of

Lastly, to say no more, it becomes manifest from hence, that all things, even evil itself, is in the hands of HIM, who is wonderful in council, and excellent in working;" (Isaiah.) -Even "Glory, honour, and immortality."

Hence we may justly conclude, that if God has done and suffered so much for such a glorious purpose, and also for our particular benefit; and if He has condescended to associate us in His labours, ought not man to desire to follow His example, and to co-operate a little, and suffer a little if necessary, in order to be not only a joint worker with HIM, but also to share in His victory, honour, and eternal glory?

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admiration and astonishment. Then suddenly returning to myself, I started up, and running over to the officer who was my sole companion in this secluded situation, I informed him of the surprising change which I had undergone in the course of a few minutes, as it were, from the most absolute and inveterate infidelity, to a perfect belief of the Christian revelation, and all its wonders.

This was matter of great surprise to him, who was by profession a Christian, and had in many previous conversations combated my deistical sentiments, which I never attempted to conceal from any man, because I was entirely persuaded of their truth, and therefore could not be ashamed of them. As this gentleman was possessed of very amiable manners, we. had formed a rapid and pleasing intimacy, which was particularly cherished by our situation; I had therefore shown him my speculations, as I committed them to paper, and he had generally approved them as just in some parts, and probable in others; but being unprepared by any geometrical knowledge, he did not perceive all the force of my reasoning, nor the exactness of my parallels; he was therefore of opinion, that I should not be able to accomplish my object of proving the divinity of morality and religion by mathematical demonstration, this appearing to him opposite

and repugnant to the will of the Deity, who had left us all in some measure in darkness, respecting such a mode of demonstration, in order to prove our faith.

This objection, though not regarded at first, did not fail subsequently to startle me, who was then become more humble, cautious, and fearful, from the proof which I had just received of my own extreme fallibility, blindness, and weakness, which had kept me during so many years in chains of darkness. I also then felt all my former wickedness, my impurities, and blasphemies with double force and horror of heart; and thus dwelling more on my own unworthiness, than upon the abundant source of pardon, and comfort, and salvation which I had just discovered, I became troubled and agitated in a manner that I had not felt before. I resolved in the first place, that I would shut up my papers, and drop all such speculations as those which I had for some time followed with such intense ardour. I began to think that it was impious and presumptuous for a wretch like me, so full of all iniquity, to pretend to inform or instruct others; and that though the infinite mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, had shown me the truth in such a wonderful way, yet that my speculations being formed and written in infidelity, they were unsanctified, and therefore wicked in themselves,