Thirty-Second Argument.

consequently, are not our ideas of the traduction of the soul as clear as those which we can form of the generation of the body?

Having dwelt so long upon the manner in which mankind naturally propagate original corruption, together with their whole species, I hope I may reasonably resume the conclusion of my argument, and affirm, that if Adam corrupted the fountain of human nature in himself, we, the streams, cannot but be naturally corrupted.

THIRTY-SECOND ARGUMENT.

God being a Spirit, reason and revelation jointly inform us, that his law is spiritual, and extends to our thoughts and tempers, as well as to our words and actions. At all times, and in all places, it forbids every thing that is sinful, or has the least tendency to sin; it commands all that is excellent, and enjoins it to be done with the utmost perfection of our dispensation. Therefore, if we have not always trusted and delighted in God, more than in all things and persons; if for one instant we have loved or feared “the creature more than the Creator,” we “have” had “another god beside the Lord,” Colossians 3:5; Philippians 3:19. Have we once omitted to adore him “in spirit and in truth” inwardly, or at any time worshipped him without becoming veneration outwardly? we have transgressed as if we had “bowed to a graven image,” John 4:24. Though perjury and imprecations should never have defiled our lips; yet, if ever we mentioned God’s tremendous name thoughtlessly, or irreverently, in prayer, reading, or conversation, we have “taken it in vain,” and the Searcher of hearts “will not hold” us “guiltless,” Philippians 2:10. And if it has not been our constant practice and delight to “enter his courts with praise,” and spend the whole Sabbath in his blessed service, we have polluted that sacred day, and the guilt of profaneness may justly be charged upon us, Isaiah 58:18.

Did we ever show any disrespect to our superiors, or unkindness to our equals and inferiors? we have violated the precept that commands us to “honour all men,” and be punctual in the discharge of all social and relative duties, 1 Peter 2:17. Did we ever weaken our constitution by excess, strike our neighbour in anger, wound his character with an injurious word, or only suffer hatred to rise in our breast against him? we have committed a species of murder: for “whosoever shall say to his brother, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire;” and “whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer,” Matthew 5:22; 1 John 3:15. Are we “the friends of the world?” an apostle brands us with the name of “adulterers,” because we are false to our heavenly Bridegroom, James 4:4. And if we have only “looked on a woman to lust after her,” Christ declares we “have committed adultery with her already in our heart,” Matthew 5:28. Have we overcharged our customers, exacted upon any one in our bargains, insisted on a full salary for work done by halves, defrauded the king of any part of his taxes, or taken advantage of the necessity and ignorance of others to get by their loss? we swell the numerous tribe of reputable thieves, and genteel robbers, Matthew 22:21. Neglecting to keep our word and baptismal vow, or speaking an untruth, is “bearing false witness against our neighbour,” ourselves, or Christ, who styles himself “the Truth,” Revelation 22:15. And giving place to a fretful, discontented thought, or an irregular, envious desire, is a breach of that spiritual precept, which made St. Paul say, “I had not known lust,” or a wrong desire, “to be sin, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet,” Romans 7:7. Such being the extreme spirituality of the law, who can plead that he never was guilty of breaking one, or even all of the ten commandments? And if we have broken them all, either in their literal or spiritual meaning, and are threatened for every transgression with a curse suitable to the Lawgiver’s infinite Majesty, who can conceive the greatness of our guilt and danger? Till we find a sanctuary under the shadow of a Saviour’s wings, are we not as liable to the strokes of Divine vengeance, as a felon, guilty of breaking all the statutes of his country, is liable to the penalty of human laws? If this is not the case, there is no justice in the court of heaven, and the laws given with so much terror from the Almighty’s throne, like the statutes of children, or the pope’s bulls, are only bruta fulmina, words without effect, and thunders without lightnings.

Some indeed flatter themselves that “the law, since the Gospel dispensation, abates much of its demands of perfect love.” But their hope is equally unsupported by reason and Scripture. The law is the eternal rule of right, the moral picture of the God of holiness and love. It can no more vary, than its eternal, unchangeable original. The Lord “will not alter the thing that is gone out of his mouth.” He must cease to be what he is, before his law can lose its power to bind either men or angels; and all creatures shall break, sooner than it shall bend; for if it commands us only to “love God with all our heart, and our neighbour as ourselves,” what JUST