_A._ My notions are, “True religion is the loving God with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourselves; and in that love abstaining from all evil, and doing all possible good to all men.” Now, it is not possible in the nature of things, that any should be _led by these notions_, into either a disregard or disesteem of the _common_ duties and offices of life.
_Q._ 4. But may they not be _led by them_ into such a degree at least, of disregard for the common duties of life, as is inconsistent with that attention to them, and diligence in them, which Providence has made necessary?
_A._ No. Quite the reverse. They lead men to discharge all those duties with the strictest diligence and closest attention.
_Q._ 5. Does not christianity require this attention and diligence in all stations and in all conditions?
_A._ Yes.
_Q._ 6. Does it not declare, that the performance even of the lowest offices of life, _as unto God_, is truly _a serving of_ Christ? and will not fail of its reward in the next world?
_A._ It does. But whom are you confuting? Not me. For this is the doctrine I preach continually.
3. Query the second. “Whether the enemy of christianity may not find his account, in carrying christianity, which was designed for a rule to _all_ stations and _all_ conditions, to such _heights_ as make it fairly practicable by a _very few_, in comparison, or rather by none?”
I answer, 1. The _height_ to which we carry christianity (as was but now observed) is this, _Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbour as thyself_. 2. The enemy of christianity cannot find his account, in our carrying it to _this height_. 3. You will not say on reflection, that christianity, even in this height, is practicable by _very few_, or rather _by none_: You yourself will confess, this _is_ a rule (as God designed it should) for _all_ stations, and _all_ conditions.
Query the third. “Whether, in particular, the carrying the doctrine of justification _by faith alone_ to such a height, as not to allow that a sincere and careful observance of moral duties is so much as a _condition_ of our acceptance with God, and of our being justified in his sight: Whether this, I say, does not naturally lead people to a _disregard_ of those duties, and a low esteem of them; or rather to think them no part of the christian religion?”
I trust justification _by faith alone_, has been so explained above, as to secure, not only a high esteem, but also a careful and sincere observance of all moral duties.
4. Query the fourth. “Whether a due and regular attendance on the public offices of religion, paid by good men in a serious and composed way, does not answer the true ends of devotion, and is not a better evidence of the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, than those sudden agonies, roarings, screamings, tremblings, droppings down, ravings, and madnesses, into which their hearers have been cast?”
I must answer this ♦query likewise part by part.
♦ “querry” replaced with “query”
_Q._ 1. Whether a due and regular attendance on the public offices of religion, paid in a serious and composed way, by good [_i. e._ well meaning] men, does not answer the true ends of devotion?
_A._ I suppose by _devotion_ you mean public worship; by the _true ends_ of it, the love of God and man: and by a _due and regular attendance on the public offices of religion, paid in a serious and composed way_, the going as often as we have opportunity to our parish church, and to the sacrament there administred. If so, the question is, “Whether _this attendance_ on _those offices_, does not produce the love of God and man?” I answer, sometimes it does; and sometimes it does not. I myself thus attended them for many years; and yet am conscious to myself, that during that whole time, I had no more of the love of God than a stone. And I know many hundreds, perhaps thousands of serious persons, who are ready to testify the same thing.
_Q._ 2. But is not this a better evidence of the co-operation of the Holy Spirit, than those _sudden agonies_?
_A._ All these persons, as well as I, can testify also, that this is no evidence at all of the co-operation of the Holy Spirit. For some years I attended these public offices, _because I would not be punished_ for non-attendance. And many of these attended them, _because their parents did before them_, or _because they would not lose their character_. Many more, because they confounded the means with the end, and fancied this _opus operatum_ would bring them to heaven. How many thousands are now under this strong delusion? Beware, you bring not their blood on your own head?
_Q._ 3. However, does not this attendance better answer those ends, than those roarings, screamings, &c.?
I suppose you mean, “Better than an attendance on that preaching, which has often been accompanied with these.”