You tell me, my friend, that the seraphic _Aspasio_ is quite transported with the thought of the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to the sinner, and that it should in the account of God be esteemed as his.――It may be so, transport seems to be as natural to _Aspasio_, as flying is to a bird. But surely, a more transporting, a more glorious thing it is, both to the glory of God, and the good of man, that the sinner is, through the righteous nature of Christ, formed in him, set up again in his first likeness and image of God. For if man’s righteousness is not essentially restored in him, as it was essentially in him at the first, has he not less of God in him, by his redemption, than he had at his creation? Is it to the happiness of man, and the glory of God, that God has not obtained that _dwelling_ in man, for which he alone created him?
Is it matter of transport to think, that fallen man will to all eternity live destitute of his first heavenly nature, his first divine life, which he had in, and from God? But this must be the case, if Christ’s righteousness is only outwardly imputed to him, and not essentially wrought in him.
Transports, my friend, are but poor proofs of truth, or of the goodness of the heart, from whence they proceed. _Martyrdom_ has had its _fools_, as well as its _saints_, and zealots may live and die in a joy, that has all its strength from delusion.
*You may see a man drowned in tears, at beholding a wooden crucifix, and the same man condemning another, as a wicked heretic, who only honours the cross, by being daily baptized into the death of Christ. ――――Nay, so blind is opinion-zeal, that some good Christian pastors will not scruple to tell you, that they could find no joy in their own state, no strength, or comfort in their labours of love towards their flocks, but because they know, and are assured from St. _Paul_, that God never had, nor ever will have, _mercy on all men_, but that an unknown multitude of them, are through all ages of the world, inevitably decreed by God to eternal damnation, and an unknown number of others, to an irresistible salvation.
*Wonder not then, if the _inquisition_ has its pious defenders, for _inquisition cruelty_, nay, every barbarity that must have an end, is mere mercy, if compared with this doctrines.――And to be in love with it, to draw sweet comfort from it, and wish it God-speed, is a love that absolutely forbids the loving our neighbour as ourselves, and makes the wish, that all men might be saved, no less than rebellion against God.――It is a _love_, with which, the _cursed hater_ of all men, would willingly unite and take comfort; for could he know from St. _Paul_, that millions, and millions of mankind, are created and doomed to be his eternal slaves, he might be as content with this doctrine, as some good preachers are, and cease _going about, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour_; as knowing, that his kingdom, was so sufficiently provided for, without any labours of his own.
*Oh, the sweetness of _God’s election_, crys out the ravished preacher! Oh, the sweetness of _God’s reprobation_! might the hellish Satan well say, could he believe that God had made him a _free gift_ of such myriads, and myriads of men, of all nations, tongues and languages, from the beginning to the end of the world, and reserved so small a number for himself.
*What a complaint, and condemnation is there made in scripture, of those who sacrificed their sons and daughters unto devils? And yet this reprobation doctrine, represents God as sacrificing myriads of his own creatures, made in his own image, to an everlasting hell.
*There is not an absurdity of heathenish faith and religion, but what is less shocking than this doctrine. And yet so blindly are some zealous doctors of the gospel bigotted to it, as to set it forth, as the glorious manifestation of the supreme sovereignty of God!
_Little children_, saith St. _John_, _let no man deceive you_; [N. B.] _He that doth righteousness, is righteous_, [N. B.] _even as he is righteous_. Therefore to expect, or trust to be made righteous, merely by the righteousness of another, outwardly imputed to us, is, according to the apostle, _deceiving ourselves_.
So sure therefore, as the _mediation_ of Christ, is by himself declared to be for this end, _that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect ♦in one_; so sure is it, that an _outwardly_ imputed Christ, is as absurd in itself, and as contrary to scripture, as an _outwardly imputed_ God.
♦ duplicate word “in” removed
_Farewell._
* * * * *