with a divine effect: or perhaps some other providential means, which might have brought about the same desirable end. And yet I think it is not an improbable conjecture, that many of those who heard Peter's first sermon, might formerly have been the hearers of John the Baptist, preaching repentance in the wilderness of Judea; and that some former convictions they then received, were afterwards more strongly and powerfully revived.

Slapd. Nor need we deny that which the scriptures have positively revealed, respecting the Apostle Paul, the Philippian jailor, and Zaccheus the publican, whose immediate conversions were accomplished by an immediate operation of a divine power on each of their minds. And yet others who were evidently made partakers of the same grace, were wrought upon in a very different manner. The timid Nicodemus, who through fear, could not venture to come to Jesus, but by night, was certainly seeking for something he felt he needed from him; otherwise he would have entirely kept away. Yet afterwards, when the light of divine truth had shone more powerfully npon his mind, he became more confident in his profession, and proved it by his more courageous zeal, when with Joseph of Arimathea, he evidently proved, he was not ashamed to own our crucified Lord, when he brought his costly spices at his funeral.

The same gradual increase was evidenced upon the mind of the pious centurion, whose "prayers, and whose alms came up as a memorial before God, a long time before he heard from Peter, "words whereby he should be saved;" and probably a similar instance of divine grace was manifested to Lydia also, who attended "where prayer was wont to be made" before she heard St. Paul, and whose heart the Lord afterwards more fully opened. And surely there can be no doubt that such as were brought to accept the salvation of

the Gospel, by a mere gradual change from darkness to light are not less the children of the light and of the day than others.

Whim. I must say, that in this I entirely differ from you both. I doubt not but that all of them knew the very moment in which they were converted, though they may afterwards have forgotten it: but I shall never forget the very spot on which I received the forgiveness of my sins. It was out in a thunder-storm. I thought— Cannot God make the sun shine through that black cloud? and almost directly, the sun shone out as bright as ever I beheld it. And then again, I thought-Cannot God in the same manner break into my soul, and forgive me all my sins and immediately as if it had been a voice from Heaven, it came to me, "Thy sins are forgiven thee." And from that very moment, I had peace with God. And as to my wife, she received her pardon one night when she was asleep; for she heard the voice of an angel, as plainly speak to her as if she had been wide awake, "Daughter, be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee:" and this is the way she came by her pardon. And Peggy Goosecap at a love feast, had such a spirit of prayer poured down upon her that she did not know when to leave off; and she continued praying till her senses quite left her, and when her senses returned, she found herself delivered from all sin by a powerful application of that text, "Go and sin no more.”

Slapd. Why then in your conceit people pray best when they have lost their senses!

Bri. Now, Sir, will you give a poor babe leave to say, when texts of scripture are brought home to people's minds in such a fanciful manner, in my opinion very delusive consequences may be the result. I first ask, by what authority do I take such passages, as though they were designed as an express revelation individually to me? If my recollection reminds me of them, does it not

become me to examine whether I possess the same humble, penitent, believing frame of mind, as they possessed to whom they were originally addressed? then the same blessing is certainly mine, as well as theirs. Nor does a strong or fanciful recollection of them add in the least to the blessing contained in them. If otherwise, the

stronger fancy operates, the stronger a lying delusion may operate upon my mind: for none but penitent believers will ever be pardoned, however a deluded fancy may deceive them. Not that I deny the superintendency of the Holy Spirit, to bring home different passages of scripture to the mind; but it is a duty we owe to ourselves, to consider them in all their own bearings, before we take the consolation of them to ourselves.

Whim. Well, Sir, if you still think the Holy Spirit may bring texts of scripture to the mind, I hope I and my wife had them properly brought home to our minds. But surely you don't deny the power of prayer; and at that meeting I mentioned, it is wonderful how Sally Fancy received forgiveness, while they were praying over her, that she might be set at liberty; telling the Lord, he must do it, because they prayed in faith, and that if Christ did not do it directly, they would tell his Father of him :" and it was just then that the light broke in upon her soul.

Bri. But, Sir, is this the proper language for sinners to make use of before the eternal throne of God, when our minds should be filled with the deepest reverence and awe?

Whim. O Sir! they only use the same sort of language that the importunate widow did before the unjust Judge.

Bri. But are we to conceive that such metaphors and allusions can produce a proper apology for such daring expressions? Can the importunate language

of that widow, before an unjust judge, sanction a similar address before an infinitely just and holy God?

Whim. Perhaps some of the exhorters may go too far. But I am sure he pardoned them, or he would not have justified Sally Fancy, which immediately took place; so that she got up from her knees, and began singing with the preachers directly. And just then, another wonian received forgiveness, and began to sing with several others. But as it happened, they struck up in such different tunes, that it was impossible to find what was sung; and if it had not been for that and another circumstance, just at that time, there would have been singing all the chapel over.

Slapd. I have a little curiosity to ask what that other circumstance could have been?

Whim. Why two persons, who were told what marvellous doings were carrying on at the chapel about that time, in hopes of being convinced of sin, just then came in, but for want of faith, in that instance, they could not obtain it; and yet one of them prayed so earnestly, that he was all in a sweat, and his eyes were ready to start out of his head; and one of these men felt so much, that it was as much as two people could do, to hold him down, for he wanted to run away before he was convinced; but the constables kept all as quiet as they could.*

Slapd. Really, Sir, if I had been there, I should have thought myself in Bedlam.

Whim. Bedlam, Sir! why what could have been more glorious! And while I was praying in one corner of the chapel, I had such strong faith given me, for Jennet

It is too true, that the civil magistrate has been under the necessity of employing the peace officers, to guard against the evil consequences of these wild proceedings, so contrary to the decency and order the gospel inspires.

Meagrim, one of the class-leaders, that she instantly received the second blessing of Christian perfection, and I am sure it was at that very moment I prayed in faith that it might be given her, and now she is as free from sin, as she will be in heaven.

Slapd. What, while she is still carrying about with her "a body of sin and death!"

Bri. I confess, Mr. Whimsey, I never could understand your doctrine of perfection, and it appears to me such a sort of imperfect perfection after all, that a person will do better without it than with it; for as to the milder remediable law, that some of you talk about, that if we do as well as we can, instead of doing as well as we should, that is all the law now requires; if some of your friends are contented with such a loose law, I confess I am not.*

Slapd. It is to be hoped that every real Christian has a perfect, or an upright heart; but alas! we have so much to contend with, from the remains of corruption, that the best of us have need to cry, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

Whim. O Sir! Jennet Meagrim said, she directly felt sin destroyed in her, root and branch, and that it went through her like a flash of lightning, and immediately she cried out for joy, "He is come! he is come!"

Slapd. Pray, Sir, don't you think a deal of all this is produced by violent and improper efforts upon the animal passions, that is rather prejudicial than beneficial to that real good, which God communicates to the heart?

Whim. Sir, what can be better, than to be perfectly freed from all sin?

Bri. May I ask, Sir, when I lived with you, was it an imagination or a reality, that made Mrs. Whimsey's maid fancy that she was perfect, when three days after,

* See Dialogue XXX.