*18. Upon your own principles therefore you must allow us to be, at least, innocent. Do you find any difficulty in this? You speak much of pre-possession and prejudice; beware you are not entangled therein yourselves. Are you not prejudiced against _us_, because we believe and strenuously defend that system of doctrines which you oppose? Are you not enemies to _us_, because you take it for granted we are so to _you_? Nay, God forbid! I once saw one, who, from a plentiful fortune, was reduced to the lowest extremity. He was lying on a sick bed, in violent pain, without even convenient food, or one friend to comfort him: so that when his merciful landlord, to compleat all, sent one to take his bed from under him, I was not surprized at his attempt to put an end to so miserable a life. Now, when I saw that poor man, weltering in his blood, could I be angry at him? Surely no. No more can I at _you_. I can no more hate than I can envy you. I can only lift up my heart to God for _you_ (as I did then for him) and, with silent tears, beseech the Father of mercies, that he would look on you in your blood, and say unto you, _Live_. *19. “Sir, (said that unhappy man, at my first interview with him) I scorn to deceive you or any man. You must not tell me of your bible; for I don’t believe one word of it. I know there is a God, and believe he is all in all, the _Anima mundi_, the “vastam Mens agitans molem, & magno se corpore miscens.” “But farther then this, I believe not; all is dark, my thought is lost. But I hear (added he) you preach to a great number of people every night and morning. Pray, what would you do with them? Whither would you lead them? What religion do you preach? What is it good for?” I replied, “I do preach to as many as desire to hear, every night and morning.” You ask, “What I would do with them?” I would make them virtuous and happy, easy in themselves, and useful to others. “Whither would I lead them?” To heaven; to God the Judge, the lover of all, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant. “What religion do I preach?” The religion of love; the law of kindness brought to light by the gospel. “What is this good for?” To make all who receive it enjoy God and themselves: To make them like God; lovers of all; contented in their lives; and crying out at their death, in calm assurance, _O grave where is thy victory! thanks be unto God, who giveth me the victory, thro’ my Lord Jesus Christ_. 20. Will you object to such a religion as this; that it is not reasonable? Is it not reasonable then to love God? Hath he not given you life, and breath, and all things? Does he not continue his love to you, filling your heart with food and gladness? What have you not received of him? And does not love demand a return of love? Whether therefore you do love God or no, you cannot but own it is reasonable so to do; nay, seeing he is the parent of all good, to love him with all your heart.