To any one who is seriously impressed with a sense of the critical state in which we are here placed, a short and uncertain space in which to make our peace with God, and then the last judgment, and an eternity of unspeakable happiness or misery, it is indeed an awful and an affecting spectacle, to see men thus busying themselves in these vain speculations of an arrogant curiosity, and trifling with their dearest, their everlasting interests. It is but a feeble illustration of this exquisite folly, to compare it to the conduct of some convicted rebel, who, when brought into the presence of his Sovereign, instead of seizing the occasion to sue for mercy, should even neglect and trifle with the pardon which should be offered to him, and insolently employ himself in prying into his Sovereign's designs, and criticising his counsels. Our case indeed is, in another point of comparison, but too much like that of the convicted rebel. But there is this grand difference--that at the best, his success must be uncertain, ours, if it be not our own fault, is sure; and while, on the one hand, our guilt is unspeakably greater than that of any rebel against an earthly monarch; so, on the other, we know that our Sovereign is "Long-suffering, and easy to be intreated;" more ready to grant, than we to ask, forgiveness. Well then may we adopt the language of the poet: What better can we do, than - - - prostrate fall Before him reverent; and there confess Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek? CHAPTER III. _Chief defects of the Religious System of the bulk of professed Christians, in what regards our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit--with a Dissertation concerning the use of the Passions in Religion._ SECT. I SCRIPTURE DOCTRINES. That "God so loved the world, as of his tender mercy to give his only Son Jesus Christ for our redemption:" That our blessed Lord willingly left the glory of the Father, and was made man; That "he was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:" That "he was wounded for our transgressions; that he was bruised for our iniquities:" That "the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all:" That at length "he humbled himself even to the death of the Cross, for us miserable sinners; to the end that all who with hearty repentance and true faith, should come to him, might not perish, but have everlasting life:" That he "is now at the right hand of God, making intercession" for his people: That "being reconciled to God by the death of his Son, we may come boldly unto the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need:" That our Heavenly Father "will surely give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him:"