plans, for pleasing and pacifying confcience, notwithstanding the neglect of known duty, or commiffion of known fin. Yet none of thefe hath deffroyed every foundation of holinefs. Even Jesuits admit of fins mortal in their nature, as meriting everlasting punishment. Both they and heathens. have urged the neceffity of a facrifice for fin. Deifts, except those who border on Atheism, and Mahometans both maintain a future ftate of fuffering. But while Socinians fafcinate men by their great pretences to holinefs, with refpect to the general tenor of the conduct; they raze its very foundations, and sweep away our most powerful obligations to practice, by denying, not only the neceffity of a real expiation, but the reality of eternal punishment.

Should Socinians plead, that the penalty of the law is not denied, because they hold the doctrine of annihilation; their reafoning would, at leaft, appear with a very bad grace, because it is undeniable that this is a figment invented by them folely for averting the force of the law. But, indeed, this doctrine, if viewed in its connexion, robs the law of its fanction entirely. For it must be remembered, that even thofe, among Socinians, who grant the refurrection of the wicked, are chargeable with a contradiction in terms. For when they proceed to explain this refurrection, it is found, that they by no means intend that the fame body which was laid in the grave is raifed again; that is, they do not mean a refurrection at all, but a new creation. The body, which, in their fenfe, is to be "punifhed with

66

terrors.

everlasting deftruction," is effentially different from that which exifted in this world. Not to urge, that here again they deny the justice of God, and indeed charge him with iniquity, in punishing what was never acceffary to guilt they really deprive even this fuppofed punishment of its For no man, when committing fin, fears the danger of fuffering in a body that he knows nothing about, but in that which is prefently a part of himself. As for any other, that he hath no intereft in or connection with; it can never deter him from fin, to affure him that this fhall, at the day of judgment, be deftroyed by being reduced to nothing. For he will reply," What you fpeak of is not my bo

dy. This you have already deftroyed, by denying that

it

it fhall be raifed again: and with refpect to another piece of clay, which, you pretend fhall in confequence occupy its place; the idea of its annihilation no wife affects me. "The final deftruction that, by your plan, death accom"plithes on this beloved frame, which is really mine, is un"fpeakably more awful than that of a new habitation in "which my foul hath never dwelt." Although Socinians. draw a veil of darkness and perplexity over their doctrine as to the foul, yet as they affert that it is in a state of torpor after death, deprived of all understanding, fentiment, or action; they virtually deftroy it. For the foul cannot be reduced to a ftate of total inactivity, without lofing its exiftence. Thus their meaning moft probably is, that the foul alfo is, in a future ftate, effentially different; and therefore, that man is to be punished, not in his own frame, but in a new one in which he hath no intereft whatsoever; nay, to be eternally punished, by being eternally put out of a capacity of fuffering punishment; or in other words, he is not to be perfonally or really punished at all.

that

Ye legiflators and judges of the earth, would you know the right method of reforming your fubjects, renounce your fond attachment to arbitrary custom, to filly precedents, to the general estimate of what is called the common sense of mankind, and to the experience of all ages and nations. Commit all your ancient codes to the flames, prohibit every penalty, and with all due fubmiffion receive instruction from thofe Chriftians, who alone deferve the honourable appellation of rational. They will inform you, that the true way to fecure obedience and respect to your authority, is, merely to demand repentance and amendment, whatever be the crimes. Throw open your prifon-gates to every one who is forry for his tranfgreffion of the law, or even for his fubjection to the penalty. This will thenceforth fecure him as an useful member of fociety. Be not ftartled at the idea. It is the dictate of the moft enlightened, refined, and comprehenfive reafon; of men, who have "heard the fecret "of God, and restrain wisdom" to themselves, who "know "the way of the Spirit," and can "difcover deep things "out of darkness." Though you fhould plead your vain policy in oppofition to this plan, yet venerable juftice requires it for undoubtedly, if the fupreme Judge be fatis

fied

fied with the repentance of rebels, as a fufficient reparation to his law, no worm can reasonably ask more from his fellow. If this be indeed the method of government adopted by the only wife God, vain man cannet devife a better.

THE END.